Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

INCOME TAXES (Notes)

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INCOME TAXES (Notes)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Our 2020 estimated annual effective tax rate before discrete items as of September 30, 2020 is 35.5%. The estimated annual effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate of 21.0% primarily due to the deduction for percentage depletion in excess of cost depletion related to our Mining and Pelletizing segment operations, as well as non-deductible transaction costs, executive officers' compensation, global intangible low-taxed income and income of noncontrolling interests for which no tax is recognized. The 2019 estimated annual effective tax rate before discrete items as of September 30, 2019 was 9.6%. The increase in the estimated annual effective tax rate before discrete items is driven by the change in the mix of income, as well as transaction costs and other acquisition-related charges that were incurred only in 2020.    For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded discrete items that resulted in an income tax benefit of $5.0 million and $8.6 million, respectively. The discrete adjustments are primarily related to the release of uncertain tax positions due to favorable resolution of an international audit issue. The discrete adjustments also include interest on uncertain tax positions and the refunds received during the year of amounts sequestered by the Internal Revenue Service on previously filed AMT credit refund claims. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded discrete items that resulted in an income tax benefit of $0.5 million and $1.3 million, respectively.