INCOME TAXES |
9 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2018 | |
| Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| INCOME TAXES |
INCOME TAXES
The Company’s effective income tax rate for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2018 was 7.1% and (11.8)%, respectively, compared to an effective income tax rate of 18.9% and (70.2)% in the corresponding prior-year periods. Our tax rate differs from the statutory rate of 21.0% primarily due to the effects of valuation allowances against net deferred tax assets, as well as certain permanent item differences between tax and financial reporting purposes.
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “2017 Tax Act”). The 2017 Tax Act establishes new tax laws that will affect 2018 and beyond, including, but not limited to: (i) reduction of the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%; (ii) elimination of the corporate alternative minimum tax; (iii) limitations on the deductibility of interest expense; (iv) limitations on the deductibility of certain executive compensation; and (v) limitations on the use of net operating losses (“NOLs”) generated after December 31, 2017 to reduce taxable income.
The SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 118, which provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the 2017 Tax Act. SAB 118 provides a measurement period that should not extend beyond one year from the 2017 Tax Act enactment date for companies to complete the accounting under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740. In accordance with SAB 118, a company must reflect the income tax effects of those aspects of the 2017 Tax Act for which the accounting under ASC 740 is complete. To the extent that a company’s accounting for certain income tax effects of the 2017 Tax Act is incomplete but it is able to determine a reasonable estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in the financial statements. If a company cannot determine a provisional estimate to be included in the financial statements, it should continue to apply ASC 740 on the basis of the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately before the enactment of the 2017 Tax Act.
As of September 30, 2018, the Company was able to reasonably estimate the effects of the 2017 Tax Act and recorded provisional adjustments associated with the effects on existing deferred tax balances. The Company will continue to make and refine its calculations as additional analysis is completed and further guidance is provided. The provisional amount recorded related to the remeasurement of its deferred tax balance at December 31, 2017 remains unchanged as of September 30, 2018. We do not expect to pay any federal income taxes or receive any federal tax refunds related to our 2018 results. Tax losses incurred in 2018 may shelter taxable income in future years. However, because of the level of uncertainty regarding sufficient prospective income, we maintain a valuation allowance against our remaining deferred tax assets.
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