Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

5. Income Taxes

        The difference between the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35% and the Company's effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was principally due to state income taxes.

        The Company had approximately $0.7 million of total unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 which was included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

        The Company's policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax liabilities as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations. The amount of interest and penalties charged to income tax expense as a result of the unrecognized tax benefits was less than $0.1 million for each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

        The Company is subject to taxation in various jurisdictions. The Company's federal tax returns for 2009 and 2010 are currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company's state tax returns remain subject to examination by various state authorities for the years 2007 through 2011.