FIRST DATA CORP 10-Q

Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Note 8: Income Taxes

The following table presents the Company's income tax expense and effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018:

The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to net tax benefits of $23 million which includes equity compensation related tax benefits, tax benefits associated with current year research and development credits, and no tax expense recorded on income associated with noncontrolling interests from pass through entities. These benefits were partially offset by state income taxes, disallowed tax benefit on certain executive compensation deductions, and current U.S. taxation on certain non-U.S. income.

The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was lower than the statutory tax rate of 21% primarily due to net tax benefits of $7 million that include reductions to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, equity compensation related tax benefits, tax benefits associated with current and prior year research and development credits and no expense on income associated with noncontrolling interests from pass through entities. These benefits were partially offset by expenses associated with state income taxes, disallowed tax benefit on certain executive compensation deductions, and current U.S. taxation on certain non-U.S. income.

The Company's liability for unrecognized tax benefits was approximately $97 million as of March 31, 2019. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that the liability for unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by up to $17 million over the next twelve months beginning April 1, 2019 as a result of possible closure of federal tax audits, potential settlements with certain states and foreign countries, and the lapse of the statute of limitations in various state and foreign jurisdictions.

Three months ended March 31,

(in millions)

Income tax expense

Effective income tax rate