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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2013
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Basis of Presentation | Basis of Presentation These interim statements should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements and related notes of Comfort Systems included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the "Form 10-K"). The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements were prepared using generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and applicable rules of Regulation S-X of the SEC. Accordingly, these financial statements do not include all the footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Form 10-K. We believe all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of these interim statements have been included and are of a normal and recurring nature. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full fiscal year.
Use of Estimates | Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the use of estimates and assumptions by management in determining the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenue and expenses and disclosures regarding contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates used in our financial statements affect revenue and cost recognition for construction contracts, the allowance for doubtful accounts, self-insurance accruals, deferred tax assets, warranty accruals, fair value accounting for acquisitions and the quantification of fair value for reporting units in connection with our goodwill impairment testing.
Cash Flow Information | Cash Flow Information We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash paid (in thousands) for:
|  | Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
|  | 2013 |  | 2012 |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |
Interest |  | $ | 269 |  | $ | 320 |  | $ | 789 |  | $ | 984 |
Income taxes for continuing operations |  |  | 1,928 |  |  | 1,578 |  |  | 5,051 |  |  | 3,107 |
Income taxes for discontinued operations |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 5 |
Total |  | $ | 2,197 |  | $ | 1,898 |  | $ | 5,840 |  | $ | 4,096 |
Income Taxes | Income Taxes We are subject to income tax in the United States and Puerto Rico and we file a consolidated return for federal income tax purposes. Income taxes are provided for under the liability method, which takes into account differences between financial statement treatment and tax treatment of certain transactions. Deferred income taxes are based on the difference between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities. The deferred income tax provision represents the change during the reporting period in the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities, net of the effect of acquisitions and dispositions. Deferred tax assets include tax loss and credit carry-forwards and are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. We regularly evaluate valuation allowances established for deferred tax assets for which future realization is uncertain. We perform this evaluation each quarter. Estimations of required valuation allowances include estimates of future taxable income. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which the activity underlying these assets becomes deductible. We consider projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. If actual future taxable income is less than the estimates, we may not realize all or a portion of the recorded deferred tax assets. Significant judgment is required in assessing the timing and amounts of deductible and taxable items. We establish reserves when, despite our belief that our tax return positions are fully supportable, we believe that certain positions may be challenged and potentially disallowed. When facts and circumstances change, we adjust these reserves through our provision for income taxes. To the extent interest and penalties may be assessed by taxing authorities on any underpayment of income tax, such amounts have been accrued and are classified as a component of income tax expense in our consolidated statements of operations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 our tax expense is $14.4 million with an effective tax rate of 38.8% as compared to tax expense of $6.0 million with an effective tax rate of 46.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The effective rate for 2013 is higher than the federal statutory rate of 35.0% primarily due to state income taxes (3.8%). The effective rate for 2012 is higher than the federal statutory rate of 35.0% primarily due to the impact of the noncontrolling interest of EAS which for tax purposes is treated as a partnership (4.4%), state income taxes (3.2%) and an increase in tax reserves (3.1%). Tax reserves are analyzed and adjusted quarterly as events occur to warrant such changes. Adjustments to tax reserves are a component of the effective tax rate.
Financial Instruments | Financial Instruments Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, other receivables, accounts payable, notes to former owners and a revolving credit facility. We believe that the carrying values of these instruments on the accompanying balance sheets approximate their fair values.
Segment Disclosure | Segment Disclosure Our activities are within the mechanical services industry which is the single industry segment we serve. Each operating subsidiary represents an operating segment and these segments have been aggregated, as the operating units meet all of the aggregation criteria.
Reclassifications | Reclassifications Certain reclassifications have been made in prior period financial statements to conform to current period presentation. These reclassifications are of a normal and recurring nature or are due to discontinued operations accounting related to the shutdown of our Delaware operation in 2012. Neither have resulted in any changes to previously reported net income for any periods.
Accounting Adjustment | Accounting Adjustment The accompanying financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 include the correction of prior period accounting errors which resulted in additional net after-tax income in the period of approximately $1.3 million. We determined that the errors primarily impacted years prior to 2010. These corrections are reflected on a pretax basis in revenue, cost of sales and selling, general, and administrative expenses, which include $3.3 million, $0.8 million and $0.3 million, respectively. We have considered the guidance found in ASC 250-10 and ASC 270-10 (SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 99, Materiality, Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements), in evaluating whether a restatement of prior financial statements is required as a result of the misstatement to such financial statements. ASC 250 requires that corrections of errors be recorded by restatement of prior periods if the error is material. We quantitatively and qualitatively assessed the materiality of the errors and concluded that the errors were not material to our estimate of earnings for the year ended December 31, 2013, and any of our previously issued financial statements. This conclusion is based on current internal forecasts of operating results for the year ended December 31, 2013 as well as actual operating results for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011. Actual results for the year ended December 31, 2013 could differ from those forecasted and result in a different conclusion.

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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for cash and cash equivalents, including the policy for determining which items are treated as cash equivalents. Other information that may be disclosed includes (1) the nature of any restrictions on the entity's use of its cash and cash equivalents, (2) whether the entity's cash and cash equivalents are insured or expose the entity to credit risk, (3) the classification of any negative balance accounts (overdrafts), and (4) the carrying basis of cash equivalents (for example, at cost) and whether the carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates fair value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash Equivalents -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 305 -SubTopic 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2122427 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4273-108586 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Financial Reporting Release (FRR) -Number 203 -Paragraph 02-03 + Details
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