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INCOME TAXES (Block)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure Abstract  
Income Tax Disclosure Text Block

7. INCOME TAXES

Tax Rate For The Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

The effective income tax rate was not a meaningful percentage number for the three months ended March 31, 2015, which was impacted by discrete tax expense from: (1) legislation that increased the deferred tax liabilities associated with non-amortizable assets such as broadcasting licenses and goodwill; and (2) a tax benefit shortfall associated with share-based awards. The impact of discrete items to the income tax rate is typically substantially greater in the first quarter of the year as income before taxes is the lowest as compared to subsequent quarters.

Tax Rate For The Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

The effective income tax rate was 34.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2014, which was less than expected primarily due to a discrete tax benefit from legislatively reduced income tax rates in certain states. This rate decrease was offset by an adjustment for expenses that are not deductible for tax purposes and an increase in net deferred tax liabilities associated with non-amortizable assets such as broadcasting licenses and goodwill.

Net Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities

As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, net deferred tax liabilities were $61.3 million and $61.2 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.