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Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Income Taxes  
Income Taxes

Note 12. Income Taxes

At the end of each interim period, we estimate our annual effective tax rate and apply that rate to our interim earnings. We also record the tax impact of certain unusual or infrequently occurring items, including changes in judgment about valuation allowances and the effects of changes in tax laws or rates, in the interim period in which they occur.

The computation of the annual estimated effective tax rate at each interim period requires certain estimates and significant judgment including, but not limited to, the expected operating income for the year, projections of the proportion of income earned and taxed in state and foreign jurisdictions, permanent and temporary differences between book and taxable income, and the likelihood of recovering deferred tax assets generated in the current year. The accounting estimates used to compute the provision for income taxes may change as new events occur, additional information is obtained or as the tax environment changes.

Our effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was 38.9% compared with 38.2% for the comparable prior year period. The effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2011 included a discrete charge of $0.2 million attributable to the revaluation of deferred taxes in connection with state tax rate changes, while the effective income tax rate for the comparable prior year period included a discrete benefit of $1.7 million resulting from the revaluation of deferred taxes in connection with a legal entity reorganization.