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Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

INCOME TAXES

v2.4.1.9
INCOME TAXES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Ìý
Income Taxes
NOTE 9 - INCOME TAXES
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Equity Income (Loss) from Ventures includes the following components:
Ìý
Ìý
(In Millions)
Ìý
Ìý
2014
Ìý
2013
Ìý
2012
United States
Ìý
$
(1,884.2
)
Ìý
$
837.7

Ìý
$
838.6

Foreign
Ìý
(7,719.5
)
Ìý
(348.4
)
Ìý
(1,340.4
)
Ìý
Ìý
$
(9,603.7
)
Ìý
$
489.3

Ìý
$
(501.8
)

The components of the provision (benefit) for income taxes on continuing operations consist of the following:
Ìý
Ìý
(In Millions)
Ìý
Ìý
2014
Ìý
2013
Ìý
2012
Current provision (benefit):
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
United States federal
Ìý
$
(159.9
)
Ìý
$
101.3

Ìý
$
71.1

United States stateÌý& local
Ìý
(0.6
)
Ìý
4.0

Ìý
7.6

Foreign
Ìý
17.2

Ìý
87.9

Ìý
50.2

Ìý
Ìý
(143.3
)
Ìý
193.2

Ìý
128.9

Deferred provision (benefit):
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
United States federal
Ìý
(258.9
)
Ìý
23.3

Ìý
221.2

United States stateÌý& local
Ìý
(43.0
)
Ìý
3.0

Ìý
1.4

Foreign
Ìý
(856.8
)
Ìý
(164.4
)
Ìý
(95.6
)
Ìý
Ìý
(1,158.7
)
Ìý
(138.1
)
Ìý
127.0

Total provision on income (loss) from continuing
ÌýÌýÌýÌýoperations
Ìý
$
(1,302.0
)
Ìý
$
55.1

Ìý
$
255.9


Reconciliation of our income tax attributable to continuing operations computed at the U.S. federal statutory rate is as follows:
Ìý
Ìý
(In Millions)
Ìý
Ìý
2014
Ìý
2013
Ìý
2012
Tax at U.S. statutory rate of 35 percent
Ìý
$
(3,361.3
)
Ìý
35.0
Ìý%
Ìý
$
171.3

Ìý
35.0
Ìý%
Ìý
$
(175.6
)
Ìý
35.0
Ìý%
Increase (decrease) due to:
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Foreign exchange remeasurement
Ìý
(4.1
)
Ìý
—

Ìý
(2.6
)
Ìý
(0.5
)
Ìý
62.3

Ìý
(12.4
)
Non-taxable income related to noncontrolling interests
Ìý
290.1

Ìý
(3.0
)
Ìý
(1.5
)
Ìý
(0.3
)
Ìý
61.0

Ìý
(12.0
)
Impact of tax law change
Ìý
13.0

Ìý
(0.1
)
Ìý
—

Ìý
—

Ìý
(357.1
)
Ìý
71.2

Percentage depletion in excess of cost depletion
Ìý
(87.9
)
Ìý
0.9

Ìý
(97.6
)
Ìý
(19.9
)
Ìý
(109.1
)
Ìý
21.7

Impact of foreign operations
Ìý
592.0

Ìý
(6.2
)
Ìý
(10.2
)
Ìý
(2.1
)
Ìý
65.2

Ìý
(13.0
)
Income not subject to tax
Ìý
(46.5
)
Ìý
0.5

Ìý
(106.6
)
Ìý
(21.8
)
Ìý
(108.0
)
Ìý
21.5

Goodwill impairment
Ìý
22.7

Ìý
(0.2
)
Ìý
20.5

Ìý
4.2

Ìý
202.2

Ìý
(40.3
)
State taxes, net
Ìý
(43.6
)
Ìý
0.5

Ìý
5.6

Ìý
1.1

Ìý
7.3

Ìý
(1.5
)
Settlement of financial guaranty
Ìý
(343.3
)
Ìý
3.6

Ìý
—

Ìý
—

Ìý
—

Ìý
—

Manufacturer’s deduction
Ìý
—

Ìý
—

Ìý
(7.9
)
Ìý
(1.6
)
Ìý
(4.7
)
Ìý
0.9

Valuation allowance
Ìý
1,660.6

Ìý
(17.3
)
Ìý
73.0

Ìý
14.9

Ìý
634.5

Ìý
(126.5
)
Tax uncertainties
Ìý
0.2

Ìý
—

Ìý
19.6

Ìý
5.3

Ìý
(14.8
)
Ìý
2.9

Prior year adjustment in current year
Ìý
(10.4
)
Ìý
0.1

Ìý
(11.4
)
Ìý
(3.6
)
Ìý
(5.7
)
Ìý
1.1

Other items — net
Ìý
16.5

Ìý
(0.2
)
Ìý
2.9

Ìý
0.6

Ìý
(1.6
)
Ìý
0.4

Income tax (benefit) expense
Ìý
$
(1,302.0
)
Ìý
13.6
Ìý%
Ìý
$
55.1

Ìý
11.3
Ìý%
Ìý
$
255.9

Ìý
(51.0
)%

The components of income taxes for other than continuing operations consisted of the following:
Ìý
Ìý
(In Millions)
Ìý
Ìý
2014
Ìý
2013
Ìý
2012
Other comprehensive (income) loss:
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Pension/OPEB liability
Ìý
$
39.8

Ìý
$
100.0

Ìý
$
13.8

Mark-to-market adjustments
Ìý
3.6

Ìý
2.0

Ìý
1.7

Other
Ìý
(1.1
)
Ìý
(12.4
)
Ìý
2.6

Total
Ìý
$
42.3

Ìý
$
89.6

Ìý
$
18.1

Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Paid in capital — acquisition of noncontrolling interest
Ìý
$
—

Ìý
$
102.1

Ìý
$
—

Paid in capital — stock based compensation
Ìý
$
(4.8
)
Ìý
$
3.5

Ìý
$
(12.8
)
Discontinued Operations
Ìý
$
—

Ìý
$
(2.0
)
Ìý
$
10.4


Significant components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities as of DecemberÌý31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:
Ìý
Ìý
(In Millions)
Ìý
Ìý
2014
Ìý
2013
Deferred tax assets:
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Pensions
Ìý
$
108.3

Ìý
$
88.4

MRRT starting base allowance
Ìý
—

Ìý
300.3

Postretirement benefits other than pensions
Ìý
63.0

Ìý
58.0

Alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards
Ìý
267.7

Ìý
299.2

Investments in ventures
Ìý
6.0

Ìý
—

Asset retirement obligations
Ìý
48.9

Ìý
61.7

Operating loss carryforwards
Ìý
1,083.5

Ìý
524.4

Product inventories
Ìý
32.3

Ìý
16.4

Property, plant and equipment and mineral rights
Ìý
901.6

Ìý
56.0

State and local
Ìý
41.9

Ìý
—

Lease liabilities
Ìý
14.1

Ìý
31.9

Other liabilities
Ìý
153.6

Ìý
138.3

Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowance
Ìý
2,720.9

Ìý
1,574.6

Deferred tax asset valuation allowance
Ìý
(2,224.5
)
Ìý
(864.1
)
Net deferred tax assets
Ìý
496.4

Ìý
710.5

Deferred tax liabilities:
Ìý

Ìý

Property, plant and equipment and mineral rights
Ìý
(20.0
)
Ìý
(1,400.8
)
Investment in ventures
Ìý
(198.0
)
Ìý
(196.4
)
Intangible assets
Ìý
(7.3
)
Ìý
(33.5
)
Income tax uncertainties
Ìý
(49.5
)
Ìý
(48.5
)
Product inventories
Ìý
(16.6
)
Ìý
(12.8
)
Other assets
Ìý
(80.2
)
Ìý
(93.0
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
Ìý
(371.6
)
Ìý
(1,785.0
)
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)
Ìý
$
124.8

Ìý
$
(1,074.5
)

The deferred tax amounts are classified in the Statements of Consolidated Financial Position as current or long-term consistently with the underlying asset or liability that generates the basis difference between financial reporting and tax. Following is a summary:
Ìý
Ìý
(In Millions)
Ìý
Ìý
2014
Ìý
2013
Deferred tax assets:
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
United States
Ìý
$
165.9

Ìý
$
7.2

Foreign
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Current
Ìý
2.2

Ìý
29.4

Long-term
Ìý
12.0

Ìý
41.5

Total deferred tax assets
Ìý
180.1

Ìý
78.1

Deferred tax liabilities:
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
United States
Ìý
—

Ìý
175.3

Foreign
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Current
Ìý
4.0

Ìý
6.1

Long-term
Ìý
51.3

Ìý
971.2

Total deferred tax liabilities
Ìý
55.3

Ìý
1,152.6

Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)
Ìý
$
124.8

Ìý
$
(1,074.5
)

At DecemberÌý31, 2014 and 2013, we had $267.7 million and $299.2 million, respectively, of gross deferred tax assets related to U.S. alternative minimum tax credits that can be carried forward indefinitely.
We had gross domestic (including states) and foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $1.9 billion, and $6.0 billion, respectively, at DecemberÌý31, 2014. We had gross state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards at DecemberÌý31, 2013 of $157.9 million and $3.5 billion, respectively. The U.S. Federal net operating losses will begin to expire in 2035 and state net operating losses will begin to expire in 2019. The foreign net operating losses will begin to expire in 2015. We had foreign tax credit carryforwards of $5.8 million at DecemberÌý31, 2014 and DecemberÌý31, 2013. The foreign tax credit carryforwards will begin to expire in 2020. Additionally, there is a net operating loss carryforward of $540.7 million for Alternative Minimum Tax. No benefit has been recorded in the financials for this attribute as ASC 740 does not allow for the recording of deferred taxes under alternative taxing systems. However, the future economic realizable benefit for this attribute is expected to be approximately $108.1 million.
We recorded a $1,361.0 million net increase in the valuation allowance of certain deferred tax assets where management believes that realization of the related deferred tax assets is not more likely than not. Of this amount, a $18.2 million increase relates to ordinary losses of certain state operations for which future utilization is currently uncertain, a $291.0 million decrease relates to the reversal of our valuation allowance on MRRT tax credits due to the repeal of the MRRT legislation, and a $28.6 million decrease relates to the change in available Alternative Minimum Tax credits after carryback of current year losses. A $1,273.2 million increase relates to foreign deferred tax assets that management has determined it is more likely than not that the assets will not be realized. A $402.5 million increase relates to U.S. regular tax net operating losses where it has been determined that the full benefit of these losses will not be realized as we are perpetual Alternative Minimum taxpayers.
At DecemberÌý31, 2014, we had no cumulative undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries included in consolidated retained earnings. At December 31, 2013, cumulative undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries included in consolidated retained earnings amounted to $1.2 billion. The change in undistributed earnings resulted from transactions executed during 2014 which triggered the realization of losses with respect to the value in our investment in Cliffs Quebec Iron Mines. Accordingly, no provision has been made for U.S. deferred taxes related to future repatriation of earnings.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
(In Millions)
Ìý
Ìý
2014
Ìý
2013
Ìý
2012
Unrecognized tax benefits balance as of JanuaryÌý1
Ìý
$
74.4

Ìý
$
55.5

Ìý
$
102.1

Increases for tax positions in prior years
Ìý
3.4

Ìý
13.6

Ìý
2.7

Increases for tax positions in current year
Ìý
2.5

Ìý
5.3

Ìý
11.1

Increase due to foreign exchange
Ìý
(0.2
)
Ìý
—

Ìý
—

Settlements
Ìý
(0.5
)
Ìý
—

Ìý
(60.4
)
Lapses in statutes of limitations
Ìý
(3.7
)
Ìý
—

Ìý
—

Other
Ìý
(1.2
)
Ìý
—

Ìý
—

Unrecognized tax benefits balance as of DecemberÌý31
Ìý
$
74.7

Ìý
$
74.4

Ìý
$
55.5


At DecemberÌý31, 2014 and 2013, we had $74.7 million and $74.4 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits recorded. Of this amount, $25.2 million and $25.9 million were recorded in Other liabilities and $49.5 million and $48.5 million were recorded as Other non-current assets in the Statements of Consolidated Financial Position for both years. If the $74.7 million were recognized, the full amount would impact the effective tax rate. We do not expect that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change significantly within the next twelve months. At DecemberÌý31, 2014 and 2013, we had $2.1 million and $1.2 million, respectively, of accrued interest and penalties related to the unrecognized tax benefits recorded in Other liabilities in the Statements of Consolidated Financial Position.
On July 18, 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-11. Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (ASU 2013-11). ASU 2013-11 requires the netting of unrecognized tax benefits against a deferred tax asset for a loss or other carryforward that would apply in settlement of the uncertain tax positions except where the deferred tax asset or other carryforward are not available for use. The adoption of the pronouncement does not have an impact in the presentation of our financial statement.
Tax years that remain subject to examination are years 2010 and forward for the U.S., 2006 and forward for Canada, and 2007 and forward for Australia.