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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Income Taxes 
Income Taxes

5. Income Taxes

        The difference between the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35% and the Company's effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was principally due to state income taxes.

        The Company had approximately $0.7 and $0.6 million of total unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, which were included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Audit outcomes and the timing of audit settlements are subject to significant uncertainty. It is reasonably possible that a further change in the unrecognized tax benefits may occur within the next twelve months related to the settlement of an audit or the lapse of applicable statutes of limitations; however, an estimated range of the impact on the unrecognized benefits cannot be quantified at this time.

        The Company's policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax liabilities as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations. The amount of interest and penalties charged to income tax expense as a result of the unrecognized tax benefits was a benefit of less than $0.1 million and an expense of less than $0.1 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

        The Company is subject to taxation in various jurisdictions. The Company continues to remain subject to examination by U.S. federal authorities for certain open tax years and has been informed by the Internal Revenue Service that an examination is being scheduled to cover its amended tax returns for 2007 and 2008, and its 2009 tax return. The Company is also subject to examination by various state authorities for the years 2006 through 2010.