7. Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was 2.6% and 8.0%, respectively, resulting in a $190,000, and $201,000 income tax benefit, respectively. The effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was 4.9% and 6.2%, respectively, resulting in a $562,000 and $1,126,000 income tax benefit, respectively. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, is mainly attributable to the decrease in tax rates pursuant to the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, an impairment charge recognized on NAPW’s goodwill, and a change in the valuation allowance. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred income tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred income tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based on the consideration of these items, management has determined that enough uncertainty exists relative to the realization of the deferred income tax asset balances to warrant the application of a full valuation allowance as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

The U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act subjects a U.S. parent shareholder to current tax on its “global intangible low-taxed income” (GILTI). We are allowed under ASC 740 to elect an accounting policy choice of either (1) treating taxes due on future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI as a current period expense when incurred or (2) factoring such amounts into the Company’s measurement of its deferred taxes. Because of the complexity of these rules, and anticipated guidance from U.S. Treasury we will continue to evaluate the impact on the Company’s financial statements. Therefore, we have not recorded any deferred taxes related to GILTI and have not made a policy decision regarding whether to record deferred taxes on GILTI.