Income Taxes

The gross liability for unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $14,936 and $14,018, respectively, exclusive of interest and penalties, of which $12,999 and $12,162 would affect the effective tax rate if the Company were to recognize the tax benefit.

The Company classifies interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the combined amount of accrued interest and penalties related to tax positions taken on tax returns was $1,414 and $1,066, respectively.



	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Gross liability for unrecognized tax benefits, exclusive of interest and penalties	$	14,936	$	14,018
Interest and penalties on unrecognized benefits	1,414		1,066
Total gross uncertain tax positions	$	16,350	$	15,084
Amount included in Current liabilities	$	4,097	$	4,757
Amount included in Other long-term liabilities	12,253		10,327
	$	16,350	$	15,084

The Company’s effective tax rate was 34.1 percent and 34.7 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company's tax rate was 35.1 percent and 35.4 percent, respectively. The decrease in the tax rate for the three months ended September 15, 2015 relates to a decrease in state taxes due to state tax planning. The Research and Development Tax Credit had expired for both nine month periods ended September 15, 2015 and 2014.

The Company files income tax returns in the United States on a consolidated basis and in many U.S. state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is subject to examination of income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other domestic and foreign tax authorities. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examination for years before 2011 and is no longer subject to state, local or foreign income tax examinations by authorities for years before 2007.

The Company estimates it will recognize $4,097 of gross unrecognized tax benefits which is expected to be paid within one year due to the expiration of the statute of limitations and resolution of income tax audits and is netted against the current payable account. These unrecognized tax benefits are related to tax positions taken on certain federal, state, and foreign tax returns. However, the timing of the resolution of income tax examinations is highly uncertain, and the amounts ultimately paid, if any, upon resolution of the issues raised by the taxing authorities may differ materially from the amounts accrued for each year. While it is reasonably possible that some issues under examination could be resolved in the next twelve months, based upon the current facts and circumstances, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the timing of such resolution or the total range of potential changes as it relates to the current unrecognized tax benefits that are recorded as part of the Company’s financial statements.