Income taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income taxes	9. Income taxes In the third quarter, our effective tax rate on continuing operations was 134.6%, or $3.1 million, as compared to 99.4%, or $4.8 million, for the same period in the prior year. Excluding the impact of various discrete charges, the effective tax rate on continuing operations for the third quarter of 2015 and 2014 was 63.3% and 74.7%, respectively. In the first nine months of 2015, our effective tax rate on continuing operations was 427.0%, or $5.8 million, as compared to 87.3%, or $9.3 million, for the same period in the prior year. Excluding the impact of various discrete charges, the effective tax rate on continuing operations for the first nine months of 2015 and 2014 was 279.2% and 68.4%, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 was impacted by recording a valuation allowance on the net deferred tax assets in Puerto Rico in response to recent fiscal and economic difficulties experienced by the Puerto Rico Commonwealth, the Company’s mix of earnings among various tax jurisdictions, state taxes, and current period losses in certain jurisdictions for which the Company does not currently receive a tax benefit. During the third quarter of 2015, the Internal Revenue Service commenced an examination of our federal income tax return for 2012. The State of Massachusetts also commenced an examination of our state income tax returns for 2012 and 2013. The Company cannot reasonably determine if these examinations will have a material impact on our financial statements and cannot predict the timing regarding resolution of those tax examinations. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company’s unrecognized tax benefit was $15.5 million and $15.6 million, respectively. The Company had approximately $0.5 million accrued for payment of interest and penalties as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. It is reasonably possible that the amount of the unrecognized benefit with respect to certain of our unrecognized tax positions will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months. These changes may be the result of settlements of ongoing audits, competent authority proceedings or other events. At this time, an estimate of the range of the reasonably possible outcomes cannot be made.

9. Income taxes

In the third quarter, our effective tax rate on continuing operations was 134.6%, or $3.1 million, as compared to 99.4%, or $4.8 million, for the same period in the prior year. Excluding the impact of various discrete charges, the effective tax rate on continuing operations for the third quarter of 2015 and 2014 was 63.3% and 74.7%, respectively. In the first nine months of 2015, our effective tax rate on continuing operations was 427.0%, or $5.8 million, as compared to 87.3%, or $9.3 million, for the same period in the prior year. Excluding the impact of various discrete charges, the effective tax rate on continuing operations for the first nine months of 2015 and 2014 was 279.2% and 68.4%, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 was impacted by recording a valuation allowance on the net deferred tax assets in Puerto Rico in response to recent fiscal and economic difficulties experienced by the Puerto Rico Commonwealth, the Company’s mix of earnings among various tax jurisdictions, state taxes, and current period losses in certain jurisdictions for which the Company does not currently receive a tax benefit.

During the third quarter of 2015, the Internal Revenue Service commenced an examination of our federal income tax return for 2012. The State of Massachusetts also commenced an examination of our state income tax returns for 2012 and 2013. The Company cannot reasonably determine if these examinations will have a material impact on our financial statements and cannot predict the timing regarding resolution of those tax examinations.

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company’s unrecognized tax benefit was $15.5 million and $15.6 million, respectively. The Company had approximately $0.5 million accrued for payment of interest and penalties as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. It is reasonably possible that the amount of the unrecognized benefit with respect to certain of our unrecognized tax positions will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months. These changes may be the result of settlements of ongoing audits, competent authority proceedings or other events. At this time, an estimate of the range of the reasonably possible outcomes cannot be made.