11. Income Taxes

The University has deferred tax assets and liabilities that reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Deferred tax assets are subject to periodic recoverability assessments. Realization of the deferred tax assets, net of deferred tax liabilities is principally dependent upon achievement of projected future taxable income. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is more-likely-than-not that the University will realize the benefits of these deductible differences. The University has no valuation allowance at December 31, 2017 and 2016.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was signed into law. For businesses, the Act reduces the corporate federal tax rate from a maximum of 35% to a flat 21% rate. The rate reduction took effect on January 1, 2018. The University has concluded that the Act will cause the University’s deferred tax assets and liabilities to be revalued. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted though income tax expense. The University’s net deferred tax liability was revalued as of December 22, 2017. The University recorded a $10.7 million income tax benefit related to the revaluation of its net deferred tax liabilities. Excluding this income tax benefit in 2017, our effective tax rate would have been 32.1%. Due to the enactment date and complexities of the new tax law, the regulations may have not been fully interpreted by the federal and state taxing authorities, thus there may be additional impacts to the tax provision that may not have been included herein.

The components of income tax expense (benefit) are as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016		2015
Current:
Federal	$	76,966		$	64,006	$	63,481
State		8,589			4,831		5,222

		85,555			68,837		68,703

Deferred:
Federal		(6,189	)		7,961		4,473
State		843			891		557

		(5,346	)		8,852		5,030

Tax expense recorded as an increase of paid-in capital		—			9,921		3,863

	$	80,209		$	87,610	$	77,596

A reconciliation of income tax computed at the U.S. statutory rate to the effective income tax rate is as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Statutory U.S. federal income tax rate		35.0	%		35.0	%		35.0	%
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit		3.2			3.2			3.3
State tax credits, net of federal effect		(0.7	)		(1.5	)		(1.2	)
Excess tax benefits		(5.8	)		0.0			0.0
Deferred tax revaluation (Federal Rate change)		(3.7	)		0.0			0.0
Nondeductible expenses		0.0			0.2			0.1
Other		0.3			0.2			(0.1	)

Effective income tax rate		28.3	%		37.1	%		37.1	%

Significant components of the University’s deferred income tax assets and liabilities, included in Deferred income taxes, non-current on the consolidated balance sheets are as follows:


	As of December 31,
	2017			2016
Deferred tax assets:
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	1,685		$	2,362
Share-based compensation		4,201			7,681
Deferred tuition revenue		1,294			1,539
Deferred scholarship		618			1,198
Deferred rent		54			122
Intangibles		590			1,048
State taxes		985			1,228
Other		1,422			2,731

Deferred tax assets		10,849			17,909

Deferred tax liability:
Property and equipment		(28,028	)		(40,358	)
Other		(1,183	)		(1,259	)

Deferred tax liability		(29,211	)		(41,617	)

Net deferred tax liability	$	(18,362	)	$	(23,708	)

The net deferred tax liability on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet is comprised of the following:


	As of December 31,
	2017			2016
Deferred income taxes, current	$	5,214		$	7,814
Deferred income taxes, non-current		(23,576	)		(31,522	)

Net deferred tax liability	$	(18,362	)	$	(23,708	)

The University recognizes the impact of a tax position in its financial statements if that position is more-likely-than-not to be sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. The University discloses all unrecognized tax benefits, which includes the reserves recorded for uncertain tax positions on filed tax returns and the unrecognized portion of affirmative claims. The University recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. Unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 were not significant.

The University is subject to taxation in the United States, in states with an income tax and in several local jurisdictions. The University is currently under audit by various state taxing authorities. The University does not anticipate any material adjustments as a result of these audits. As of December 31, 2017, the earliest tax year still subject to examination for federal and state purposes is 2014 and 2013, respectively.