INCOME TAXES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

INCOME TAXES [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

5.           INCOME TAXES

The actual income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 differed from the "expected" income tax expense for those periods (computed by applying the United States federal corporate tax rate of 35 percent to income before income tax expense) as follows:

	Three months ended March 31,
	2013			2012
Computed "expected" income tax expense	$	7,178,137		$	9,764,400
Increases (decreases) in tax resulting from:
Tax-exempt interest income		(942,975	)		(1,155,161	)
Dividends received deduction		(194,572	)		(128,336	)
Proration of tax-exempt interest and dividends received deduction		170,632			192,525
Other, net		25,225			1,124
Income tax expense	$	6,236,447		$	8,674,552

The Company had no provision for uncertain income tax positions at March 31, 2013 or December 31, 2012.  The Company did not recognize any interest or other penalties related to U.S. federal or state income taxes during the three months ended March 31, 2013 or 2012.  It is the Company's accounting policy to reflect income tax penalties as other expense, and interest as interest expense.

The Company files a U.S. federal income tax return, along with various state income tax returns.  The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2009.  The Company's 2011 income tax return has been audited and no changes were proposed.