Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Note 3 - Income Taxes

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Note 3 - Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]
(3)   Income Taxes

The Company reviews its expected annual effective income tax rates and makes changes on a quarterly basis as necessary based on certain factors such as changes in forecasted annual operating income; changes to actual or forecasted permanent book to tax differences; impacts from future tax audits with state, federal or foreign tax authorities; impacts from tax law changes; or change in judgment as to the realizability of deferred tax assets. The Company identifies items which are not normal and are non-recurring in nature and treats these as discrete events. The tax effect of discrete items is recorded in the quarter in which the discrete events occur. Due to the volatility of these factors, the Company's consolidated effective income tax rate can change significantly on a quarterly basis.

The Company conducts business globally and, as a result, the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S., various state, and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by the taxing authorities in such major jurisdictions as the U.S, Canada, Mexico and Honduras. As of September 30, 2012, the Company and certain subsidiaries are currently under audit from 2006 through 2010 in the U.S. While the amount of uncertain tax benefits with respect to the entities and years under audit may change within the next twelve months, it is not anticipated that any of the changes will be significant. It is reasonably possible that some of these audits may be completed during the next twelve months. It is reasonable to expect that various issues relating to uncertain tax benefits will be resolved within the next twelve months as exams are completed or as statutes expire and will impact the effective tax rate.

As a result of losses we sustained for fiscal 2010 and 2009, which were brought on by the severe economic factors which began in fiscal 2009, we recorded a $34.1 million valuation allowance against deferred tax assets, with a non-cash charge to earnings in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. At the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012, our operations had returned to a position of cumulative pre-tax operating profits for the most recent 36 month period, we had eight consecutive quarters of pre-tax operating profits, our written business and backlog had grown significantly, and our business plan projected continued profitability. The preponderance of this positive evidence provides support that our future tax benefits more likely than not will be realized. Accordingly, at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012, we released all of United States federal, most of the state, and all of the Canadian valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets. We recorded a tax benefit of $21.6 million for the reversal of the valuation allowance against those assets, with a non-cash benefit to earnings in the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

We retained a valuation allowance against various state and local deferred tax assets in our retail segment. At September 30, 2012 this valuation allowance was approximately $2.4 million.

The Company’s consolidated effective tax rate was 36.4% and 40.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The current quarter effective tax rate includes tax expense on the current quarter’s net income, interest expense on uncertain tax positions, and the impact of maintaining valuation allowances. The prior period effective tax rate includes tax expense on the current quarter’s net income, interest expense on uncertain tax positions, and the impact of maintaining valuation allowances on deferred tax assets.