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Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Income Taxes

Note 10 – Income Taxes

For the six month period ended June 30, 2012, our effective tax rate was approximately 38%, an increase from the 35% effective tax rate for the comparable 2011 period. Such differences between the effective tax rates and the applicable U.S. federal statutory rate arise primarily from the effect of state and local income taxes and tax credits available to the Company. The increase in the effective tax rate is primarily due to a decrease in expected tax credits realized for 2012 compared to previous fiscal periods. The Company received credits in 2011 related to the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (“WOTC”) program but this program has not yet been renewed in 2012. The Company will continue to receive additional credits related to prior periods but will not have the benefit of credits for 2012 new hires unless the program is renewed. Additionally, the Company realized significant tax credits during 2011 from the New Hire Retention Credit, a one-time general business credit at the Federal level that was authorized by the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act of 2011. The new hire retention credit allowed an employer a credit of up to $1,000 for each eligible worker that was retained for at least 52 consecutive weeks of qualified employment. The Company earned new hire retention credits for the six month period ended June 30, 2011, but did not earn additional amounts in 2012 as the credit expired at December 31, 2011. If the WOTC program is renewed retroactive to the beginning of the year in 2012, our effective tax rate could be reduced below the current 38%.

We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which results in recognizing income tax expense based on the amount of income taxes payable or refundable for the current year. Additionally, we evaluate regularly the tax positions taken or expected to be taken resulting from financial statement recognition of certain items. Based on our evaluation, we have concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in our financial statements. Our evaluation was performed for the tax years ended December 31, 2008 through 2011 (with regard to U.S. federal income tax returns) and December 31, 2007 through 2011 (with regard to various state and local income tax returns), the tax years which remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions as of June 30, 2012.

We may from time to time be assessed interest or penalties by taxing jurisdictions, although any such assessments historically have been minimal and immaterial to our financial results. When we have received an assessment for interest and/or penalties, it has been classified in the financial statements as selling, general and administrative expense.