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Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
INCOME TAXES:

The effective tax rates for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 were (102.7)% and 23.1%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2018 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to a benefit from the filing of a Federal 10-year net operating loss ("NOL") carryback which resulted in the Company being able to utilize previously valued tax attributes at a tax rate differential of 14%, as well as non-controlling interest. The benefits were partially offset by increases for both state income taxes and state valuation allowances.

The effective tax rates for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 were 32.2% and 25.5%, respectively. The effective rate for the six months ended June 30, 2017 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to state income taxes and equity compensation.

On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Act") which, among other things, lowered the U.S. Federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, repealed the corporate alternative minimum tax ("AMT"), and provided for a refund of previously accrued AMT credits. The Company recorded a net tax benefit to reflect the impact of the Act as of December 31, 2017, as it is required to reflect the change in the period in which the law is enacted. Largely, the benefits recorded in the period ending December 31, 2017 related to the Act are in recognition of the revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, a benefit of $115,291, and a benefit for the reversal of a valuation allowance previously recorded against a deferred tax asset for AMT credits which are now refundable, a benefit of $154,384.

The net benefits for the Act, as recorded as provisional amounts, as of June 30, 2018 represent the Company's best estimate using information available to the Company as of June 30, 2018. The Company anticipates U.S. regulatory agencies will issue further regulations over the next year which may alter this estimate. The Company is still evaluating, among other things, the application of limitations for executive compensation related to contracts existing prior to November 2, 2017, and provisions in the Act addressing the deductibility of interest expense after January 1, 2018. The Company will refine its estimates to incorporate new or better information as it comes available through the filing date of its 2017 U.S. income tax returns in the fourth quarter of 2018. During the second quarter, the company filed a Federal NOL carryback resulting in a financial statement benefit of $20,000 through the realization of the Federal NOLs at a 35% tax rate as a carryback versus the current 21% tax rate as a carryforward.

The total amount of uncertain tax positions at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were $39,953 and $37,813, respectively. If these uncertain tax positions were recognized, approximately $31,516 and $29,376 would affect CNX's effective tax rate at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. There was a $2,140 change to the unrecognized tax benefits during the six months ended June 30, 2018.

CNX recognizes accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions in interest expense. As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company reported an accrued interest liability relating to uncertain tax positions of $814 and $644, respectively, in Other Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accrued interest liability includes $169 of accrued interest expense that is reflected in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income for the six months ended June 30, 2018.
CNX recognizes penalties accrued related to uncertain tax positions in its income tax expense. As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, CNX had no accrued liabilities for tax penalties related to uncertain tax positions.
CNX and its subsidiaries file federal income tax returns with the United States and tax returns within various states and Canadian jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to United States federal, state, local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2014. The Joint Committee on Taxation concluded its review of the audit of tax year 2015 on March 21, 2018. The audit resulted in a $108,651 reduction to CNX's net operating loss, primarily due to a reduction in the depreciation as an offset to the bonus depreciation taken in the 2010-2013 IRS audit. There was no cash impact from the audit.