9. Income Taxes

The components of the Company’s income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, equity in affiliates and noncontrolling interests by taxing jurisdiction for the years ended December 31, were:


	2011			2010			2009
Loss:
US	$	(20,262	)	$	(3,707	)	$	3,915
Non-US		(13,775	)		1,259			(4,949	)
	$	(34,037	)	$	(2,448	)	$	(1,034	)

The provision (benefit) for income taxes by taxing jurisdiction for the years ended December 31, were:


	2011			2010			2009
Current tax provision
US federal	$	—		$	—		$	—
US state and local		894			368			1,246
Non-US		557			4,840			318
		1,451			5,208			1,564
Deferred tax provision (benefit):
US federal		45,110			428			8,681
US state and local		7,750			501			2,347
Non-US		(12,576	)		(6,302	)		(4,056	)
		40,284			(5,373	)		6,972
Income tax provision (benefit)	$	41,735		$	(165	)	$	8,536

A reconciliation of income tax expense using the statutory Canadian federal and provincial income tax rate compared with actual income tax expense for the years ended December 31, is as follows:


	2011			2010			2009
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes, equity in affiliates and noncontrolling interest	$	(34,037	)	$	(2,448	)	$	(1,034	)
Statutory income tax rate		31.0	%		31.0	%		33.0	%
Tax benefit using statutory income tax rate		(10,551	)		(759	)		(341	)
State and foreign taxes		1,450			1,909			3,045
Non-deductible stock-based compensation		7,144			4,941			5,160
Other non-deductible expense		1,482			890			732
Change to valuation allowance on items affecting taxable income		44,230			(7,986	)		2,656
Additional tax reserve		—			4,100			—
Noncontrolling interests		(2,368	)		(3,123	)		(1,767	)
Other, net		348			(137	)		(949	)
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	41,735		$	(165	)	$	8,536
Effective income tax rate		122.6	%		6.7	%		825.5	%

(1)

Included in the change in valuation allowance in 2010 is $3,188 relating to the reversal of the valuation allowance as a result of a non-taxable acquisition.

See Note 10 for income taxes for discontinued operations.

The 2011 effective income tax rate was significantly higher than the statutory rate due primarily to an increase in the valuation allowance of $44,230 and non-deductible stock based compensation of $7,144.

The 2010 effective income tax rate was significantly lower than the statutory rate due primarily to an additional tax reserve of $4,100, non-deductible stock-based compensation of $4,941, state and foreign income taxes of $1,909 offset by a decrease in the Company’s valuation allowance of $7,986.

The 2009 effective income tax rate was significantly higher than the statutory rate due primarily from the increase in the Company’s valuation allowance of $2,656, non-deductible stock-based compensation of $5,160 and State and foreign income taxes of $1,564.

Income taxes receivable were $313 and $712 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and were included in accounts receivable on the balance sheet. Income taxes payable were $5,381 and $4,969 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and were included in accrued and other liabilities on the balance sheet. It is the Company’s policy to classify interest and penalties arising in connection with the under payment of income taxes as a component of income tax expense. For the year ended 2010, $1,093 is included in the current provision of income tax expense relating to interest and penalties as a result of an identified uncertain tax position. For the years ended 2011and 2009, income tax expense does not include any amounts for interest and penalties.

The tax effects of significant temporary differences representing deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, were as follows:


	2011			2010
Deferred tax assets:
Capital assets and other	$	33,567		$	7,292
Net operating loss carry forwards		50,274			41,313
Interest deductions		21,792			18,201
Deferred acquisition consideration		5,070			—
Stock compensation		2,356			896
Unrealized foreign exchange		753			268
Capital loss carry forwards		16,921			17,289
Accounting reserves		7,026			6,118
Gross deferred tax asset		137,759			91,377
Less: valuation allowance		(118,655	)		(66,459	)
Net deferred tax assets		19,104			24,918
Deferred tax liabilities:
Deferred finance charges		(514	)		(526	)
Capital assets		(417	)		(300	)
Goodwill amortization		(53,181	)		(18,816	)
Total deferred tax liabilities		(54,112	)		(19,642	)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	$	(35,008	)	$	5,276
Disclosed as:
Deferred tax assets	$	15,767			24,966
Deferred tax liabilities		(50,775	)		(19,690	)
	$	(35,008	)	$	5,276

Included in accrued and other liabilities at December 31, 2011 and 2010 is a deferred tax liability of $51 and $48, respectively. Included in other current assets at December 31, 2011 and 2010 is a deferred tax asset of $387 and $3,363, respectively.

The Company has US federal net operating loss carry forwards of $70,955 and non-US net operating loss carry forwards of $49,732, these carry forwards expire in years 2015 through 2031. The Company also has total indefinite loss carry forwards of $165,875. These indefinite loss carry forwards consist of $58,704 relating to the US and $109,171 which are related to capital losses from the Canadian operations. In addition, the Company has net operating loss carry forwards for various state taxing jurisdictions of approximately $201,366.

The Company records a valuation allowance against deferred income tax assets when management believes it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. Management considers factors such as the reversal of deferred income tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, the character of the income tax asset; tax planning strategies, changes in tax laws and other factors. A change to these factors could impact the estimated valuation allowance and income tax expense.

The valuation allowance has been recorded to reduce our deferred tax asset to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized, and is based upon the uncertainty of the realization of certain US, non-US and state deferred tax assets. The increase in the Company’s valuation allowance charged to the statement of operations for each of the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2009 was $44,230 and $2,656, respectively. In 2010 the Company reduced its valuation and recorded a benefit in the statement of operations of $7,986.

Deferred taxes are not provided for temporary differences representing earnings of subsidiaries that are intended to be permanently reinvested. The potential deferred tax liability associated with these undistributed earnings is not material.

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded a liability for unrecognized tax benefits as well as applicable penalties and interest in the amount of $4,717, respectively. The Company identified an uncertainty relating to the future tax deductibility of certain intercompany interest and fees, to the extent that such future benefit will be established, the resolution of this position will have no effect with respect to the financial statements.


Changes in the Company’s reserve is as follows:
Balance December 31, 2008	$	617
Charges to income tax expense		—
Balance December 31, 2009		617
Charges to income tax expense		3,007
Balance December 31, 2010		3,624
Charges to income tax expense		—
Balance December 31, 2011	$	3,624

We do not expect our unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly over the next 12 months.

The Company has completed US federal tax audits through 2006 and has completed a non-US tax audit through 2004.