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INCOME TAXES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
INCOME TAXES [ABSTRACT]  
INCOME TAXES

(8)       INCOME TAXES

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the accounting literature for income taxes, which requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future income tax consequences of transactions that have been included in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Quarterly, the Company assesses the likelihood that its net deferred tax assets will be recovered. Based on the weight of all available evidence, both positive and negative, the Company records a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets when it is more-likely-than-not that a future tax benefit will not be realized.

During the first quarter of 2014, a benefit of $1.2 million was recorded due to the closing of statutes of limitations in Canada.

As of March 31, 2014, the Company had $53.3 million of gross deferred tax assets (after a $9.9 million valuation allowance) and net deferred tax assets (after deferred tax liabilities) of $51.2 million related to the U.S. and international tax jurisdictions whose recoverability is dependent upon future profitability.

The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was 11.9% and 11.4%, respectively.

The Company's U.S. income tax returns filed for the tax years ending December 31, 2009 to present remain open tax years. The Company has been notified of the intent to audit, or is currently under audit, of income taxes in the U.S. for tax years 2009, 2011 and 2012, Canada for tax years 2009 and 2010 and the Netherlands for tax year 2010. Although the outcome of examinations by taxing authorities are always uncertain, it is the opinion of management that the resolution of these audits will not have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.