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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Income Taxes [Abstract]  
Income Taxes

Note 8:  Income Taxes



The Company historically determined the quarterly income tax provision using a discrete year-to-date calculation due to volatility in the newspaper industry and the resulting inability to reliably forecast income or loss before income taxes. The Company calculated the income tax expense or benefit for 2019 interim periods using an estimated annual effective tax rate based on its annual income before income taxes, adjusted for permanent differences, which it applied to the year-to-date income (loss) before income taxes. Although volatility still exists in the newspaper industry, the Company is appropriately using an estimated annual effective tax rate to calculate its quarterly income tax provision, given the Company’s ability to reliably forecast for the current annual period.



The Company recognized income tax provision (benefit) of $(1,808) and $596 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $4,688 and $(661) for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Effective income tax rates were 31.1 percent and 10.6 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The income tax benefit for the three months ended September 30, 2019, was due to the Texas margin tax, offset by losses generated from operations in the third quarter. The income tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, was due to the Texas margin tax and year-to-date income, primarily a result of income generated from the sale of the Company’s former headquarters in the second quarter of 2019 (see Note 13 – Disposal of Assets).



In the second and third quarter of 2018, the Company received a refund of $3,210 and $4,095, respectively, for 2016 and 2017 tax benefits recognized that were carried back against taxes paid in 2014.