7. INCOME TAXES

The Company’s effective income tax rate for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2019 was (33.2%) and (3.1%), respectively, compared to an effective income tax rate of 7.1% and (11.8%) in the corresponding prior-year periods.  The Company’s 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.

Subsequent to the Company’s filing of its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2019, the Company corrected the impact of the 2017 Tax Act on deferred tax liabilities to reflect that indefinite-lived deferred tax liabilities of $1.6 million should be netted against certain deferred tax assets and net operating loss carryforwards for purposes of assessing the realizability of those assets.   As a result, the Company has reduced the previously reported valuation allowance as of December 31, 2018 by $1.6 million with a resulting decrease in deferred tax liabilities and accumulated deficit at December 31, 2018 of $1.6 million.  Management believes that the impact of this adjustment is immaterial to the previously issued Consolidated Financial Statements.