6.	INCOME TAXES:

The Company recorded tax benefits of $(490) thousand and $(635) thousand for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The reported tax benefits for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, are based upon estimated annual effective tax rates of 39.1% and 40.3%, respectively. The effective tax rates reflected our combined Federal and state income tax rates, foreign income tax provisions and the recognition of U.S. deferred tax liabilities for differences between the book and tax basis of goodwill.

We assess the realizability of our deferred tax assets and assess the need for a valuation allowance on an ongoing basis. The periodic assessment of the net carrying value of our deferred tax assets under the applicable accounting rules is highly judgmental. We are required to consider all available positive and negative evidence in evaluating the likelihood that we will be able to realize the benefit of our deferred tax assets in the future. Such evidence includes scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and the results of recent operations. Since this evaluation requires consideration of events that may occur some years into the future, there is significant judgment involved, and our conclusion could be materially different should certain of our expectations not transpire.

When assessing all available evidence, we consider the extent to which we have generated pre-tax income or losses over the most recent three-year period to be an important piece of objective evidence. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the recorded deferred tax asset valuation allowance balance was $4.5 million.

Our policy is to classify interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. This policy has been consistently applied in all periods. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 we recognized, as part of income tax expense, $2 thousand in interest and penalties related to our unrecognized tax benefits. No such amounts were recognized in the three-month period ended March 31, 2016. We have reviewed the tax positions taken, or to be taken, in our tax returns for all tax years currently open to examination by a taxing authority. We have identified no uncertain tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the twelve months ending September 30, 2017. We remain subject to examination until the statute of limitations expires for each respective tax jurisdiction.