Note 8 – Income taxes

Income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2021 are recorded at the Company’s estimated annual effective income tax rate, subject to adjustments for discrete events, should they occur. The Company’s effective income tax rate was 84.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 11.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Company’s annualized effective tax rate is estimated at approximately 20.8% for 2021. The Company’s projected annual effective tax rate differs from the statutory U.S. tax rate of 21% primarily due to the following: (i) tax credits for FICA taxes on certain employees’ tips (ii) taxes owed in foreign jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Italy; (iii) taxes owed in state and local jurisdictions; and (iv) the tax effect of non-deductible compensation. Income tax benefit recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2021 also included the discrete period tax benefits resulting from the vesting of restricted stock units.

The CARES Act includes provisions allowing for the carryback of net operating losses generated for specific periods and technical amendments regarding the expensing of qualified improvement property. The CARES Act also allows for the deferral of the employer-paid portion of social security taxes, which the Company has elected to defer.

The Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and the various states and local jurisdictions in which it operates. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by the federal, state, local and foreign taxing authorities.