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INCOME TAXES (Block)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure Abstract  
Income Tax Disclosure Text Block

8.       INCOME TAXES

Tax Rates For The Six Months And Three Months Ended June 30, 2012

 

The effective income tax rates were 57.1% and 57.4% for the six months and three months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. These rates were impacted by an adjustment for expenses that are not deductible for tax purposes and a tax benefit associated with a reduction in liabilities for uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of the statute of limitations in certain jurisdictions.

 

Tax Rates For The Six Months And Three Months Ended June 30, 2011

 

The effective income tax rates were 147.9% and 159.7% for the six months and three months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. These effective income tax rates reflect: (1) a reversal of the full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets; and (2) certain discrete items of tax. The income tax benefit from the reversal of the full valuation allowance was offset by a prior period correction in the current period that increased deferred income tax expense by $6.0 million (see Note 8 below for further discussion).

Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities

 

       As of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, net deferred tax liabilities were $3.5 million and $8.3 million, respectively. The income tax accounting process to determine the deferred tax liabilities involves estimating all temporary differences between the tax and financial reporting bases of the Company's assets and liabilities, based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the period in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. The Company estimated the current exposure by assessing the temporary differences and computing the provision for income taxes by applying the estimated effective tax rate to income.        

Prior Period Tax Provision Correction

       Included in the six and three months ended June 30, 2011 is a prior period correction to the year ended December 31, 2008 of $6.0 million that was made to record an income tax benefit to other comprehensive income (loss) and to increase deferred income tax expense by the same amount.  The prior period financial statements were not restated as this correction was considered to be immaterial to both the Company's previously reported and current results of operations and financial position and had no impact on previously reported cash flows from operating, financing or investing activities.