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INCOME TAXES (Block)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure Abstract  
Income Tax Disclosure Text Block

7. INCOME TAXES

Tax Rates For The Nine Months And Three Months Ended September 30, 2015

The effective income tax rates were 38.9% and 37.1% for the nine months and three months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. These rates were impacted 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. The income tax rate has been trending down as expenses not deductible for tax purposes have decreased due to the issuance to senior management of a higher percentage of awards that were market based. Effective with this quarter, the estimated annual income tax rate increased due to the impact of acquisitions on the Company’s state income apportionments to states with higher income tax rates. This increase was offset by a discrete state income tax credit due to recent legislation that allowed for the release of a partial valuation allowance in a certain single member state.

Tax Rates For The Nine Months And Three Months Ended September 30, 2014

The effective income tax rates were 42.1% and 43.5% for the nine months and three months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. These rates were impacted by an adjustment for expenses that are not deductible for tax purposes, an increase in net deferred tax liabilities associated with non-amortizable assets such as broadcasting licenses and goodwill and a tax benefit shortfall associated with stock-based awards. The rate was reduced by a tax benefit associated with statutory tax rate changes in certain states.

Net Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, net deferred tax liabilities were $70.8 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.