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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Income Taxes [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
12.  Income Taxes

The difference in the Company's effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was primarily due to changes in the Company's financial results under generally accepted accounting principles and the reversal of the majority of the Company's valuation allowance, which occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2014. The Company recorded an aggregate deferred federal, state and local tax benefit of $31.6 million and $164.0 million as a result of the operating loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The Company evaluates its deferred tax assets each quarter to determine if a valuation allowance is required based on whether it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax asset would not be realized. Accordingly, the Company recorded an additional valuation allowance of $7.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015 related to tax credits. If the Company continues its trend of increasing losses before income taxes, the valuation allowance may be increased in future periods. The Company's valuation allowance as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is $16.3 million and $9.2 million, respectively.

The Company's current tax expense continues to mainly reflect its cash tax position for states that do not allow for or have suspended the use of net operating losses for the period.

The Company recorded interest charges related to its tax contingency reserve for cash tax positions for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 which are included in income tax benefit for the period.  Tax returns for years 2011 through 2014 are subject to future examination by tax authorities.  In addition, the net operating losses from prior years are subject to adjustment under examination.