Note J – Income Taxes

The Company’s effective income tax rate generally exceeds the statutory U.S. tax rate of 35%. The effective tax rate is calculated as the amount of income tax expense divided by income before income tax expense. For the three-month periods in 2015 and 2014, the Company’s effective income tax rates were as follows:



	2015		2014
Three months ended March 31	103.0	%	49.3	%

The effective tax rates for most periods generally exceed the U.S. statutory tax rate of 35% due to several factors, including: the effects of income generated in foreign tax jurisdictions, certain of which have income tax rates that are higher than the U.S. Federal rate; U.S. state tax expense; and certain expenses, including exploration and other expenses in certain foreign jurisdictions, for which no income tax benefits are available or are not presently being recorded due to a lack of reasonable certainty of adequate future revenue against which to utilize these expenses as deductions. The effective tax rate for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 was above the U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to a deferred tax benefit associated with the sale of Malaysian assets. The effective tax note rate for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 was above the U.S. statutory tax rate, primarily due to other expenses in certain foreign jurisdictions for which no tax benefits were recognized.

The Company’s tax returns in multiple jurisdictions are subject to audit by taxing authorities. These audits often take years to complete and settle. Although the Company believes that recorded liabilities for unsettled issues are adequate, additional gains or losses could occur in future years from resolution of outstanding unsettled matters. As of March 31, 2015, the earliest years remaining open for audit and/or settlement in our major taxing jurisdictions are as follows: United States – 2011; Canada – 2008; Malaysia – 2007; and United Kingdom – 2012.