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INCOME TAXES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
INCOME TAXES  
INCOME TAXES
10. INCOME TAXES

 

The Company determines its periodic income tax provision based upon the current period income and the annual estimated tax rate for the Company adjusted for discrete items including tax credits and changes to prior year estimates. The estimated tax rate is revised, if necessary, as of the end of each successive interim period during the fiscal year to the Company's current annual estimated tax rate.

 

Income tax provision for the third quarter of 2018 reflects an effective tax rate of 22.9 percent, compared to an effective tax rate of 32.4 percent for the comparable period in the prior year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the effective tax rate reflects an income tax provision of 19.7 percent compared to 29.1 percent for the comparable period in the prior year. The decrease in the effective tax rate is primarily due to the corporate income tax rate reduction from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Act) enacted in the fourth quarter of 2017 to be effective January 1, 2018. The effective tax rate in both periods includes the effect of beneficial permanent differences including tax-exempt interest income and beneficial discrete adjustments related to stock-based compensation awarded to employees.

 

As part of implementation of the provisions of the Act, the Company recorded adjustments relating to changes in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017. The Company filed its 2017 Federal income tax return in the second quarter of 2018; accordingly, all items related to 2017 are substantially complete.

 

The Company continues to analyze information related to its accounting for the income tax effects of the Act as it pertains to the 2018 deduction for executive compensation, including the impact for compensation that is paid pursuant to a binding contract that would have been deductible under the prior tax regulations. Based on our current interpretation of the transition rules, we believe the Company will be able to deduct executive compensation related to these plans.

 

As additional guidance and clarifications are provided under the transition rules, we will make appropriate changes in our analysis within the measurement period as provided in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118.