XML 38 R12.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Income Taxes  
Income Taxes

6.  Income Taxes

 

Our effective income tax rates for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were 31.7% and 34.5%, respectively. Permanent items that lowered our effective income tax rates from the federal statutory rate were not materially different in amounts during both years and relate mainly to company-owned life insurance policies, domestic production activities deductions and foreign income levels that are taxed at rates lower than the U.S. statutory rate of 35%. Lower income tax rates in certain states and foreign jurisdictions contributed to our lower effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2015.