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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Income Taxes [Abstract]  
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]
Income Taxes
In determining the quarterly provision for income taxes, management uses an estimated annual effective tax rate which is based on the expected annual income and statutory tax rates in the various jurisdictions in which it operates. The Company’s effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to state and local taxes, and differing statutory tax rates applied to the income of non-U.S. subsidiaries. The Company records the tax effect of certain discrete items, including the effects of changes in tax laws, tax rates and adjustments with respect to valuation allowances or other unusual or nonrecurring tax adjustments, in the interim period in which they occur, as an addition to, or reduction from, the income tax provision, rather than being included in the estimated effective annual income tax rate. In addition, jurisdictions with a projected loss for the year or a year-to-date loss where no tax benefit can be recognized are excluded from the estimated annual effective income tax rate.
The Company is required to assess its deferred tax assets and the need for a valuation allowance at each reporting period. This assessment requires judgment on the part of management with respect to benefits that may be realized. The Company will record a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets when it is considered more likely than not that all or a portion of our deferred tax assets will not be realized.
The income tax expense from continuing operations of $7.0 million and $4.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and income tax expense from continuing operations of $17.1 million and $8.1 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, reflect estimated federal, foreign and state taxes. For the three months ended June 30, 2011, the Company’s effective tax rate was 40%, compared to 36% for the three months ended June 30, 2010. For the nine months ended June 30, 2011, the Company's effective tax rate was 37%, compared to 36% for the nine months ended June 30, 2010.
The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns with the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Internal Revenue Service has commenced an examination of the U.S. income tax return of FCStone Group, Inc. ("FCStone") for its fiscal year ended August 31, 2009. FCStone is a wholly-owned subsidiary acquired on September 30, 2009. Additionally, both INTL and FCStone are under separate state examinations for various periods, ranging from August 31, 2006 through September 30, 2009.