INCOME TAXES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES 

The Company records a tax provision or benefit on an interim basis using an estimated annual effective tax rate. This rate is applied to the current period ordinary income or loss to determine the income tax provision or benefit allocated to the interim period. Losses from jurisdictions for which no benefit can be recognized and the income tax effects of unusual or infrequent items

are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate and are recognized in the impacted interim period. The estimated annual effective tax rate may be significantly impacted by projected earnings mix by tax jurisdiction. Adjustments to the estimated annual effective income tax rate are recognized in the period when such estimates are revised.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 was 32.8% and 35.1%, respectively, compared to 26.6% and 36.3% for the comparable periods in 2018.

As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had recorded $4.6 million and $3.2 million, respectively, of liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits and $1.2 million and $0.8 million of interest, respectively.

The Company's tax years 2014-2016 are currently under audit by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). While the examination has recently commenced and ultimate outcomes are unknown, the Company believes the examination will not result in material adjustments to previously filed returns.

Due to expiring statute of limitation periods, the Company believes that total unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by

$1.0 million within the next 12 months.