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INCOME TAXES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2023
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] |
INCOME TAXES | INCOME TAXES Income tax expense (benefit) consisted of the following:
| Federal |  | State |  | Total
2023 |  |  |  |  |
Current | $ | — |  |  | $ | 3 |  |  | $ | 3 |
Deferred | 508 |  |  | (7,292) |  |  | (6,784) |
Total income tax | $ | 508 |  |  | $ | (7,289) |  |  | $ | (6,781) |
2022 |  |  |  |  |
Current | $ | 1,857 |  |  | $ | 3 |  |  | $ | 1,860 |
Deferred | 4,726 |  |  | (211) |  |  | 4,515 |
Total income tax | $ | 6,583 |  |  | $ | (208) |  |  | $ | 6,375 |
2021 |  |  |  |  |
Current | $ | — |  |  | $ | 3,446 |  |  | $ | 3,446 |
Deferred | 3,322 |  |  | (2,676) |  |  | 646 |
Total income tax | $ | 3,322 |  |  | $ | 770 |  |  | $ | 4,092 |
The Company's December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 qualified tax repairs and maintenance deductions totaled $169.7 million, $128.0 million, and $125.5 million, respectively. At December 31, 2023, the Company had U.S. federal and U.S. state tax net operating loss carry-forwards of approximately $93.3 million and $184.0 million respectively. The U.S. federal and U.S. state net operating loss carry-forwards will both expire at various dates beginning in tax year 2028. The difference between the recorded and the statutory income tax expense is reconciled in the table below:
| 2023 |  | 2022 |  | 2021
Statutory income tax | $ | 9,365 |  |  | $ | 21,344 |  |  | $ | 22,065 |
Increase (reduction) in taxes due to: |  |  |  |  |
State income taxes net of federal tax benefit | 3,718 |  |  | 7,383 |  |  | 7,334 |
Effect of regulatory treatment of fixed asset differences | (9,478) |  |  | (6,274) |  |  | (6,327) |
Investment tax credits | (74) |  |  | (74) |  |  | (74) |
AFUDC equity | (1,553) |  |  | (1,155) |  |  | (891) |
Stock based stock compensation | 677 |  |  | 455 |  |  | 791 |
TCJA refund | (11,618) |  |  | (13,919) |  |  | (19,417) |
Other | 2,182 |  |  | (1,385) |  |  | 611 |
Total income tax | $ | (6,781) |  |  | $ | 6,375 |  |  | $ | 4,092 |
The effect of regulatory treatment of fixed asset differences includes estimated repair and maintenance deductions and asset related flow through items. On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted expansive tax legislation commonly referred to as the TCJA. Among other provisions, the TCJA reduces the federal income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent beginning on January 1, 2018 and eliminated bonus depreciation for utilities. The TCJA required the Company to re-measure all existing deferred income tax assets and liabilities to reflect the reduction in the federal tax rate. As of December 31, 2023, the TCJA refund liability was $92.5 million. The Company continues working with other state regulators to finalize the refund to confirm compliance with federal normalization rules. The deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, are presented in the following table:
| 2023 |  | 2022
Deferred tax assets: |  |  |
Developer deposits for contributions in aid of construction | $ | 33,244 |  |  | $ | 31,589 |
Net operating loss carry-forward and tax credits | 29,406 |  |  | 18,329 |
Pension liability | 16,896 |  |  | 13,860 |
Income tax regulatory liability | 18,364 |  |  | 22,838 |
Operating leases liabilities | 3,796 |  |  | 4,170 |
Other | 3,614 |  |  | 4,264 |
Total deferred tax assets | 105,320 |  |  | 95,050 |
Deferred tax liabilities: |  |  |
Property related basis and depreciation differences | 437,224 |  |  | 393,007 |
WRAM/MCBA and interim rates balancing accounts | 4,875 |  |  | 14,192 |
Operating lease-right to use asset | 3,746 |  |  | 4,130 |
Other | 12,237 |  |  | 13,972 |
Total deferred tax liabilities | 458,082 |  |  | 425,301 |
Net deferred tax liabilities | $ | 352,762 |  |  | $ | 330,251 |
Based on historical taxable income and future taxable income projections over the period in which the deferred assets are deductible, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of the deductible differences. The following table reconciles the changes in unrecognized tax benefits for the periods ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021:
| 2023 |  | 2022 |  | 2021
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 13,606 |  |  | $ | 15,850 |  |  | $ | 13,960 |
Additions for tax positions taken during current year | 2,685 |  |  | 1,955 |  |  | 1,890 |
Lapse of statute of limitations | — |  |  | (4,199) |  |  | — |
Balance at end of year | $ | 16,291 |  |  | $ | 13,606 |  |  | $ | 15,850 |
The Company does not expect a material change in its unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months. The component of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate as of December 31, 2023, was $5.0 million, with the remaining balance representing the potential deferral of taxes to later years. The Company's federal income tax years subject to an examination are from 2017 to 2023 and the state income tax years subject to an examination are from 2013 to 2023.

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