INCOME TAXES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

11. INCOME TAXES

The Company determines its periodic income tax benefit or expense based upon the current period income and the annual estimated tax rate for the Company adjusted for any change to prior period estimates. The estimated tax rate is revised, if necessary, as of the end of each successive interim period during the fiscal year to the Company's current annual estimated tax rate.

For the three months ended September 30, 2015, the income tax (benefit) provision reflects an effective tax rate of 34.8 percent compared to an effective tax rate of 38.6 percent for the comparable period in the prior year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the income tax (benefit) provision reflects an effective tax rate of 35.2 percent compared to an effective tax rate of 39.0 percent for the comparable period in the prior year.