INCOME TAXES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

NOTE E – INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rate was 24.6% and 25.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. State tax rates vary among states and average approximately 6.0% to 6.5%, although some state rates are higher and a small number of states do not impose an income tax.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the difference between the Company’s effective tax rate and the federal statutory rate resulted from state income taxes, nondeductible expenses, changes in the cash surrender value of life insurance, federal research and development tax credits, changes in tax valuation allowances, and tax benefit from the vesting of stock awards.

As of March 31, 2022, the Company’s deferred tax liabilities, which will reverse in future years, exceeded the deferred tax assets. The Company evaluated the total deferred tax assets at March 31, 2022 and concluded that, other than for certain deferred tax assets related to foreign and state tax credit carryforwards and state net operating losses, the assets did not exceed the amount for which realization is more likely than not. In making this determination, the Company considered the future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, future taxable income, and tax planning strategies. Valuation allowances for deferred tax assets totaled $2.2 million at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company paid federal and state income taxes of $27.2 million and received refunds of less than $0.1 million of state income taxes that were paid in prior years. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company paid federal and state income taxes of $6.5 million and received refunds of less than $0.1 million that were paid in prior years.