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Income Taxes
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3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2014
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| Income Taxes [Abstract] | |
| Income Taxes |
12. INCOME TAXES
The Company records income tax expense or benefit during interim periods based on its best estimate of the annual effective tax rate. Certain items are given discrete period treatment and, as a result, the tax effects of such items are reported in full in the relevant interim period.
Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was $26.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively. The effective tax rate (calculated as the ratio of income tax expense to income before income taxes) was approximately 38.0% and 38.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2014 reflects the release of a valuation allowance for state tax credits that the Company expects to utilize during the year and an income tax deduction for qualified production activities, offset by a change in estimate related to the Company’s filing position in various jurisdictions.
The amount of unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions was $0.3 million as of March 31, 2014 and $0.2 million as of December 31, 2013. Recognition of these benefits would have a favorable impact on the Company’s effective tax rate. The increase during the three months ended March 31, 2014 is due to a change in estimate related to the Company’s filings in certain jurisdictions.
The 2014 annual effective tax rate can be affected as a result of variances among the estimates and amounts of full-year sources of taxable income (both among the various states and activity types), the realization of tax credits, adjustments that may arise from the resolution of tax matters under review, variances in the release of valuation allowances and the Company’s assessment of its liability for uncertain tax positions.
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