INCOME TAXES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

Tax Rate for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

The effective income tax rate was 25.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2020, which was determined using a forecasted rate based upon taxable income for the year. The effective income tax rate for the quarter was impacted by a discrete income tax expense item related to the shortfall associated with share-based awards.

The Company estimates that its 2020 annual tax rate before discrete items, will be between 30% and 35%. The Company anticipates that it will be able to utilize certain net operating loss carryforwards to reduce future payments of federal and state income taxes.

On March 27, 2020, the United States enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act"). The CARES Act is an emergency economic stimulus package that includes spending and tax breaks to strengthen the United States economy and fund a nationwide effort to curtail the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act includes significant business tax provisions that, among other things, includes the removal of certain limitations on utilization of net operating losses, increases the loss carry back period for certain losses to five years, and increases the ability to deduct interest expense, as well as amending certain provisions of the previously enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Company continues to evaluate the impact the CARES Act will have on the Company’s tax obligations.

Tax Rate for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

The effective income tax rate was 39.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2019, which was determined using a forecasted rate based upon taxable income for the year. The effective income tax rate is typically higher in the first quarter of the year primarily due to: (i) the seasonality of the business which results in a lower reported figure for income before income taxes; and (ii) the disproportionate impact that discrete items may have on such lower reported income before income taxes figures.

Net Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

As of March 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019, net deferred tax liabilities were $555.5 million and $549.7 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.