INCOME TAXES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

11.

INCOME TAXES

We use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that such tax rate changes are enacted.

The measurement of a deferred tax asset is reduced, if necessary, by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The utilization of our NOL carryforwards will be limited in future years as prescribed by Section 382 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. As of both September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had provided a valuation allowance against certain state net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards of $0.3 million.

We use a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. We have not identified any uncertain income tax positions that could have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. We recognize interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax exposures as a component of income tax expense; we did not have any such amounts accrued as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. We are subject to taxation in various jurisdictions and all of our income tax returns remain subject to examination by tax authorities due to the availability of NOL carryforwards.

For interim periods, we recognize an income tax provision/(benefit) based on our estimated annual effective tax rate, calculated on a worldwide consolidated basis, expected for the entire year. If we project taxable losses in any specific taxing jurisdiction, those losses are excluded from the calculation of the worldwide estimated annual effective tax rate and a resulting tax benefit is not recognized. The interim annual estimated effective tax rate is based on the statutory tax rates then in effect, as adjusted for estimated changes in temporary and estimated permanent differences, and excludes certain discrete items whose tax effect, when material, is recognized in the interim period in which they occur. These changes in temporary differences, permanent differences, and discrete items result in variances to the effective tax rate from period to period. We also have elected to exclude the impacts from significant pre-tax non-recognized subsequent events from our interim estimated annual effective rate until the period in which they occur. Our estimated annual effective tax rate changes throughout the year as our on-going estimates of pre-tax income, changes in temporary differences, and permanent differences are revised, and as discrete items occur. Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”), as defined in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, generated from our recently acquired Canadian operations is subject to U.S. taxes, with certain defined exemptions, thresholds and credits. For financial reporting purposes we have elected to treat GILTI inclusions as a period cost.

The estimated consolidated effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2018, calculated after excluding the taxable losses projected in our Canadian operations for which no tax benefit can be recognized, was 20.9% of pre-tax income reported in the period, calculated based on the estimated annual effective rate anticipated for the year ending December 31, 2018 plus the effects of certain discrete items occurring in the third quarter. Our effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was impacted primarily by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which was enacted on December 22, 2017 and lowered the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, beginning in 2018. Our effective tax rate was also impacted by the discrete impact of current period awards of stock-based compensation, stock option exercises, and disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options, all of which impact the consolidated effective rate in the period in which they occur.

The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was 25.9% of pre-tax income reported in the period, calculated based on the estimated annual effective rate anticipated for the year ending December 31, 2017. Our effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was impacted primarily by the Domestic Production Activities Deduction, as well as the impact of current period awards of stock-based compensation, stock option exercises, and disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options, all of which impact the consolidated effective rate in the period in which they occur.

The estimated consolidated effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, calculated after excluding the taxable losses projected in our Canadian operations for which no tax benefit can be recognized, was 20.8% of pre-tax income reported in the period, calculated based on the estimated annual effective rate anticipated for the year ending December 31, 2018 plus the effects of certain discrete items occurring in 2018. Our effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was impacted primarily by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which was enacted on December 22, 2017 and lowered the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, beginning in 2018. Our effective tax rate was also impacted by the discrete impact of current period awards of stock-based compensation, stock option exercises, and disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options, all of which impact the consolidated effective rate in the period in which they occur.

The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was 28.7% of pre-tax income reported in the period, calculated based on the estimated annual effective rate anticipated for the year ending December 31, 2017. Our effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was impacted primarily by the Domestic Production Activities Deduction, as well as the impact of current period awards of stock-based compensation, stock option exercises, and disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options, all of which impact the consolidated effective rate in the period in which they occur.