Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate was 15.6% in the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to 27.7% for the same period in 2017. Generally, effective tax rates for these periods differ from statutory federal income tax rates, due to provisions for state and local income taxes, permanent tax differences, and the foreign-derived intangible income tax deduction during the three month period ended March 31, 2018. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017 was due to the reduction of the federal income tax rate from 35% to 21% as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("Act"), as well as R&D tax credits, discrete tax benefits related to equity compensation, and the foreign-derived intangible income tax deduction.

Pursuant to the guidance within SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”), as the Company has continued to analyze certain aspects of the Act and refine its application to the Company. The Company has continued to recognize provisional effects of the Act for which measurement could be reasonably estimated. The ultimate impact of the Act may differ from these estimates due to its continued analysis or further regulatory guidance that may be issued pursuant to the Act. Under SAB 118, adjustments to the provisional amounts recorded by the Company as of March 31, 2018, that are identified within a subsequent measurement period of up to one year from the enactment date will be included as an adjustment to tax expense from continuing operations in the period the amounts are determined.