INCOME TAXES Footnote
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes [Note Text Block]
INCOME TAXES
International Paper made income tax payments, net of refunds, of $68 million and $118 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The following table presents a rollforward of unrecognized tax benefits and related accrued estimated interest and penalties for the nine months ended September 30, 2016: 
In millions
Unrecognized
Tax Benefits
 
Accrued Estimated
Interest and Tax
Penalties
Balance at December 31, 2015
$
(150
)
 
$
(34
)
Activity for three months ended March 31, 2016
26

 
(1
)
Activity for the three months ended June 30, 2016
20

 
5

Activity for the three months ended September 30, 2016
6

 
8

Balance at September 30, 2016
$
(98
)
 
$
(22
)

The Company currently estimates, that as a result of ongoing discussions, pending tax settlements and expirations of statutes of limitations, the amount of unrecognized tax benefits could be reduced by approximately $5 million during the next 12 months.

Included in the Company’s income tax provisions for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, are $(91) million and $(109) million of income tax benefits, respectively, related to special items. The components of the net provision related to special items were as follows: 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
In millions
2016
 
2015
Special items
$
(37
)
 
$
(70
)
Tax-related adjustments:
 
 
 
Internal restructurings
(63
)
 
(62
)
Return to accrual
23

 
23

2010-2012 IRS audit closure
(14
)
 
—

Income tax provision (benefit) related to special items
$
(91
)
 
$
(109
)