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INCOME TAXES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES
In general, the Company is required to use an estimated annual effective tax rate ("AETR") to measure the income tax expense or benefit recognized on a year to date basis in an interim period. In addition, certain items included in income tax expense as well as the tax impact of certain items included in pretax income must be treated as discrete items. The income tax expense or benefit associated with these discrete items is fully recognized in the interim period in which the items occur.
The Company recorded income tax expense of $95,968 and $29,675 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. Included in the income tax expense for each period was tax expense of $49,052 as a result of the revaluation of the Company's deferred tax liability in connection with tax law changes in the State of New Jersey. Absent this item, the effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2018 would have been 36%. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the tax benefit was more than offset by the $49,052 expense recorded in the period. The tax expense was calculated based upon the actual effective tax rate for the year-to-date period. The Company determined this to represent the best estimate of the annual effective tax rate in light of the magnitude of the expected income and the significant permanent differences.
Pursuant to the enactment of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act ("Tax Reform"), effective on January 1, 2018, the corporate federal income tax rate was reduced to 21% from 35%. The Company is subject to Tax Reform’s limitation on interest deductibility which is based on a limit calculated without regard to depreciation or amortization through 2021. The resulting interest deduction that is deferred can be carried forward indefinitely. Nevertheless, as is the case with any future deductible temporary difference, management will continue to evaluate realizability to determine whether a valuation allowance is required as a result of these limitations. Therefore a valuation allowance may need to be recorded in the future subject to the relative levels of future interest expense versus taxable income.
The Company recorded income tax benefit of $141,550 and $439,945 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, reflecting the AETR of approximately 42% and 37%, respectively.
As of September 30, 2018, the Company's federal net operating losses (“NOLs”) were approximately $2,419,000. The utilization of certain pre-merger NOLs of Cablevision and Cequel are limited pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 382. The Company does not expect such limitations to impact the ability to utilize the NOLs prior to their expiration.