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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes — At September 30, 2017 and 2016, and December 31, 2016, we determined that we did not need a valuation allowance on our gross deferred tax assets. Although realization of the deferred tax assets is not assured, management believes that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized based on our expectation that we will be able to fully utilize the deductions that are ultimately recognized for tax purposes. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, there have been no material changes in our uncertain tax positions.

The effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, were 14.6% and 29.7%, respectively, compared to 20.5% and 29.4% for the same periods in 2016. On January 1, 2017, we began recording the excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation to the tax provision in accordance with the adoption of the new accounting standard update (see Note 14 – New Accounting Standards for additional discussion). Previously these benefits were recorded directly to paid-in capital. In addition, during the third quarter of both 2017 and 2016, we recorded the ratable portion of the tax benefits related to federal renewable energy tax credit fund investments that were entered into during the periods.