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Income Tax
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Income Tax [Abstract]  
Income Tax
10.  Income Tax

At both September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we had approximately $2.1 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits.  We do not expect the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly increase or decrease during the balance of 2012.
 
As a result of being in a net operating loss carryforward position, we have established a deferred tax asset valuation allowance of $69.2 million and $75.2 million as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively against all of our net deferred tax assets.  Accordingly, we are not recognizing much income tax expense (benefit) related to any income or loss before income tax.  The income tax expense (benefit) was zero for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012.  Income tax (benefit) was $(0.48) million and $(0.75) million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively.  The benefit recognized during these periods was primarily the result of current period adjustments to other comprehensive income ("OCI"), net of state income tax expense and adjustments to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance.  In addition, the three- and nine-month periods in 2011 included the benefit of a favorable tax adjustment ($0.09 million) relating to an Internal Revenue Service review and interest ($0.13 million) relating to a refund.

Generally, the amount of income tax expense or benefit allocated to operations is determined without regard to the tax effects of other categories of income or loss, such as other comprehensive income (loss). However, an exception to the general rule is provided when, in the presence of a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets, there is a pretax loss from operations and pretax income from other categories in the current period.  In such instances, income from other categories must offset the current loss from operations, the tax benefit of such offset being reflected in operations. For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 this resulted in an income tax (benefit) of $(0.23) million and $(0.49) million, respectively.