INCOME TAXES

The following table provides a summary of the Company’s effective tax rate:



	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2014		2013		2014		2013
			(As adjusted)*				(As adjusted)*

Reported tax rate	15.0	%	17.3	%	25.8	%	20.8	%

* See Note 1 of these condensed consolidated financial statements for discussion of the impact of the change in accounting for the medical device excise tax.

The Company’s effective income tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were 15.0% and 17.3%, respectively. The primary drivers of the overall tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2014 were a tax benefit of $1.6 million that was recognized for the release of uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of statute of limitations, partially offset by an expense of $0.5 million relating to a state income tax audit settlement and an expense of $0.3 million relating to foreign returns filed during the quarter. The primary drivers of the overall tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2013 were the goodwill impairment charge that was partially deductible for tax purposes, partially offset by a benefit of $2.3 million for the release of uncertain tax positions and related interest due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

The Company's effective income tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were 25.8% and 20.8%, respectively. The primary drivers of the income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were an expense of $1.2 million relating to state income tax audit settlements, an expense of $0.4 million for a foreign income tax audit settlement, and an expense of $0.3 million from a change in state filing positions; offset by a benefit of $2.0 million for the release of uncertain tax positions and related interest due to the expiration of statute of limitations. The primary drivers of the income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 were a benefit of $3.5 million for the release of uncertain tax positions, a benefit of $0.5 million relating to the granting of Irish research credits for 2011 and 2012, and a benefit of $0.9 million due to the extension of the Federal research credit, enacted through the American Taxpayer Relief Act. These benefits in 2013 were recorded against a book loss, relating primarily to goodwill impairment; accordingly, they had the effect of increasing the effective tax rate in that period.

The Company expects its effective income tax rate for the full year to be approximately 23% to 24%, resulting largely from the release of uncertain tax positions, domestic and foreign audit settlements, as well as the jurisdictional mix of pretax income in U.S.-based operations relative to foreign operations. This estimate could be revised in the future as additional information is presented to the Company.