Income Taxes |
Note 8 Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes in the second quarter of 2009 was $225million, or an effective rate of 37.4%, compared with $216million, or an effective rate of 37.2%, in the second quarter of 2008. The provision for income taxes in the first six months of 2009 was $234million, or an effective rate of 37.8%, compared with $507million, or an effective rate of 36.8%, in the first six months of 2008. The effective tax rate for the first six months of 2009 was unfavorably impacted by increases in unrecognized income tax benefits and increases in tax attributable to accumulated and undistributed foreign earnings. The effective rate for the first six months of 2008 was favorably impacted by a lower tax rate related to the gain on the termination of the Reynolds-Gallaher International Sarl joint venture.
The effective rate exceeds the federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to the impact of state taxes and certain other nondeductible items, offset by the domestic production activities deduction of the American Jobs Creation Act, enacted on October22, 2004.
The gross accruals for unrecognized income tax benefits, including interest and penalties, reflected in other noncurrent liabilities were $164million and $159million at June30, 2009 and December31, 2008, respectively. RAI accrues interest and penalties related to accruals for income taxes and reflects these amounts in tax expense. The gross amount of interest accrued at June30, 2009 and December31, 2008, was $53million and $50million, respectively. The gross amount of penalties accrued was $12million at June30, 2009 and December31, 2008.
Gross increases in unrecognized tax benefits related to tax positions were $3million for the six months ended June30, 2009, attributable to current year tax positions.
Gross decreases in unrecognized tax benefits were $1million for the six months ended June30, 2009, attributable to prior-year tax positions.
As of June30, 2009, $58million of unrecognized tax benefits and $45million of interest and penalties, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate.
Included in the provision for income taxes for the three months and six months ended June30, 2009, was $2million and $4million of additional tax expense, including $1million and $3million of interest expense, net of federal benefit, and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits, respectively. Comparable amounts for the three and six months ended June30, 2008, were $1million and $9million of additional tax expense, including $1million and $2million of interest expense, net of federal benefit, and penalties, respectively.
RAI and its subsidiaries may be subject to income taxes in the United States, certain foreign jurisdictions and multiple state jurisdictions. A number of years may elapse before a particular matter, for which RAI has established an accrual, is audited and finally resolved. The number of years with open tax audits varies depending on the tax jurisdiction. RAIs major taxing jurisdictions and related open tax audits are discussed below.
RAI filed a federal consolidated income tax return for the years 2005 through 2007. RAI expect |