(6) INCOME TAXES

The company recorded an income tax (benefit) provision of ($0.1 million) and $9,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The income tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of the annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items, if any, that are taken into account in the relevant period. Each quarter, the estimate of the annual effective tax rate is updated, and if the estimated effective tax rate changes, a cumulative adjustment is made. There is a potential for volatility of the effective tax rate due to various factors.

ASC 740, Income Taxes, provides for the recognition of deferred tax assets if realization of such assets is more likely than not. As of December 31, 2017, our deferred tax assets were fully offset by a valuation allowance. Based upon the weight of available evidence, which includes recent operating performance, and forecasting our future results, we released a portion of the valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets during the period ending March 31, 2018. Since the deferred tax assets are expected to be utilized in the current year and in connection with interim reporting requirements, we have adjusted our annual effective tax rate to recognize the benefit ratably over all quarters of 2018. We will continue to reassess valuation allowance considerations on a quarterly basis.

No taxes were paid in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.