Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

7. Income Taxes

The Company's effective tax rate was 30.8% and 34.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was impacted by an increase in the deferred tax rate as a result of state tax law changes enacted during this period.

GAAP provides guidance regarding the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure in the financial statements of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. The Company had no unrecognized tax benefits at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

In the ordinary course, the Company is subject to review by domestic and foreign taxing authorities, including the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). The IRS has contacted the Company and has indicated that it will begin an audit of 2008 through 2010 during the third quarter of 2011. The Company is no longer subject to examination by the IRS for tax years prior to 2008. In addition, the Company is generally no longer subject to state and local or foreign income tax examinations by taxing authorities for tax years prior to 2005. Various state and local taxing authorities are in the process of auditing income tax returns of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company does not anticipate that any adjustments from the audits would have a material impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

For tax purposes, the Company was deemed to have paid a redemption premium in connection with the amendment to the Term Loan in December 2010 that, in addition to certain expenses, is deductible in determining taxable income. As a result, the Company incurred a net operating loss for tax purposes that is expected to result in $53.2 million of refunds in 2011 of previously paid income taxes. As of June 30, 2011, the Company had received refunds totaling $37.5 million of this amount.