Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Note 11 – Income Taxes

For the six month period ended June 30, 2011, our effective tax rate was 35.0%, a decrease from the 38.5% effective tax rate for the comparable 2010 period. In order to determine our quarterly provision for income taxes, we use an estimated annual effective tax rate, which is based on estimated taxable income and statutory tax rates in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Differences between the effective tax rates and the applicable U.S. federal statutory rate arise primarily from the effect of state and local income taxes and tax credits available to the Company. The decrease in the effective tax rate is primarily due to an increase in estimated tax credits for 2011. The Company has currently, and expects to continue to realize tax credits during the remainder of 2011 from, among other tax credits available, the New Hire Retention Credit, which is a one-time general business credit at the Federal level that was authorized by the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act of 2010. The new hire retention credit allows an employer a credit of up to $1,000 for each eligible worker that was retained for at least 52 consecutive weeks of qualified employment. Based on credits earned through the second quarter of 2011, the Company has estimated the credits to be realized until the program ends at December 31, 2011. An adverse change in the annual projection of the realized tax credits could have a significant impact on the effective tax rate for the respective periods and could therefore negatively impact such period's results of operations and financial condition.

We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which results in recognizing income tax expense based on the amount of income taxes payable or refundable for the current year. Additionally, we evaluate regularly the tax positions taken or expected to be taken resulting from financial statement recognition of certain items. Based on our evaluation, we have concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in our financial statements. Our evaluation was performed for the tax years ended December 31, 2007 through 2010 (with regard to U.S. federal income tax returns) and December 31, 2006 through 2010 (with regard to various state and local income tax returns), the tax years which remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions as of June 30, 2011.

We may from time to time be assessed interest or penalties by taxing jurisdictions, although any such assessments historically have been minimal and immaterial to our financial results. When we have received an assessment for interest and/or penalties, it has been classified in the financial statements as selling, general and administrative expense.