Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

7. Income Taxes

The U.S. federal statutory tax rate was 21% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 35% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. The Company’s effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was 26.6% and 28.0%, respectively, of pretax income compared to the effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 of 44.8% and 45.6%, respectively.

The difference between the U.S. federal statutory tax rate and the Company’s effective tax rate

for the three months ended

September 30, 2018, was primarily due to state income taxes and, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the difference was primarily due to state income taxes and the inability to utilize losses experienced in certain Canadian operations.

The difference between the U.S. federal statutory tax rate and the Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was primarily caused by the inability to utilize losses experienced in certain Canadian operations. The difference between the U.S. federal statutory tax rate and the Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was caused by the inability to utilize losses experienced in certain Canadian operations, partially offset by excess tax benefits of approximately $1.0 million pertaining to the vesting of stock awards and the exercise of stock options.

The Company had unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $0.4 million as of September 30, 2018 and $0.8 million as of December 31, 2017, which were 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 because of the unrecognized tax benefits was not significant for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.

The Company is subject to taxation in various jurisdictions. The Company’s tax returns for 2015, 2016 and 2017 are subject to examination by U.S. federal authorities. The Company’s tax returns are subject to examination by various state authorities for the years 2013 through 2017.