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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Income Taxes [Abstract]  
Income Taxes

 

Note F — Income Taxes

 

The Company’s effective income tax rate generally exceeds the U.S. Federal statutory tax rate of 35%. The effective tax rate is calculated as the amount of income tax expense divided by income before income tax expense. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012,  the Company’s effective tax rates were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013

 

 

2012

 

Three months ended September 30

 

38.2% 

 

 

44.4% 

 

Nine months ended September 30

 

38.8% 

 

 

41.5% 

 

 

The effective tax rate for the 2013 and 2012 periods ended September 30 exceeded the U.S. Federal tax rate of 35% primarily due to U.S. state tax expense.

 

Murphy Oil’s tax returns in multiple jurisdictions that include the Company are subject to audit by taxing authorities. These audits often take years to complete and settle. As of September 30, 2013, the earliest year remaining open for audit and/or settlement in the United States is 2010Although the Company believes that recorded liabilities for unsettled issues are adequate, additional gains or losses could occur in future periods from resolution of outstanding unsettled matters.

 

Under U.S. GAAP the financial statement recognition of the benefit for a tax position is dependent upon the benefit being more likely than not to be sustainable upon audit by the applicable taxing authority. If this threshold is met, the tax benefit is then measured and recognized at the largest amount that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company has not recorded any effect for unrecognized income tax benefits for the periods reported.