Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Income Taxes

12. INCOME TAXES

The following table summarizes the provision for income taxes for continuing operations for the three months ended March 31 and the applicable effective tax rates (in thousands):

		2014			2013
Benefit of income taxes	$	1,251		$	2,255
Effective tax rate		37.5	%		38.2	%

The Company's provision for income taxes in interim periods is computed by applying forecasted annual effective tax rates to income or loss before income taxes for the interim period. In addition, non-recurring or discrete items, including interest on prior year tax liabilities, are recorded during the period in which they occur. To the extent that actual income or loss before taxes for the full year differs from the forecast estimates applied at the end of the most recent interim period, the actual tax rate recognized for the year ending December 31, 2014 could be materially different from the forecasted rate used for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

The effective tax rates for the first quarter of 2014 and 2013 exceeded the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% due to state taxes partially offset by deductible permanent differences.