Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

INCOME TAXES

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INCOME TAXES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES
 
We are subject to U.S. federal, state and international income taxes. We are generally no longer subject to federal, state, or international income tax examinations by tax authorities for years ending prior to December 31, 2009, with few exceptions. Due to the potential for resolution of state and foreign examinations, and the expiration of various statutes of limitations, it is reasonably possible that our gross unrecognized tax benefit balance may change within the next twelve months by a range of $0 to $5.6 million.
 
Effective Tax Rate.       Our effective income tax rate was 30.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2015, down from 32.5% for the same period in 2014. The effective income tax rate was 31.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, as compared to 34.9% for the same period in 2014. In 2015, the income tax rates were lower due to state income tax benefits generated from a tax law change enacted during the second quarter of 2015, a more favorable foreign rate differential compared to 2014, and beneficial rate impacts associated with other permanent items including the settlement of escrow related to a past acquisition.