On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was signed into law making significant changes to the U.S. tax code. In conjunction with guidance set forth under SAB 118, the Company recorded provisional amounts at December 31, 2017 for, most significantly, the remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities to reflect the new U.S. statutory rate of 21 percent, and to account for the one-time “transition” tax on unrepatriated foreign earnings. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company updated its SAB 118 provisional estimates and completed its accounting for the provisions made as of December 31, 2017, which resulted in a $1.7 million adjustment for deemed distributions on foreign earnings.

Certain of the Company’s undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries are not permanently reinvested, as management intends to repatriate foreign-held cash as needed to meet domestic cash needs for operating, investing, and financing activities. A liability of $0.6 million has been recorded for the deferred taxes on such undistributed foreign earnings. The deferred taxes are attributable primarily to the foreign withholding taxes that would become payable should the Company repatriate cash held in its foreign operations.

Income (loss) before income taxes was generated in the United States and globally as follows:

(Table only in thousands)	2018			2017			2016
Domestic	$	6,230		$	3,891		$	(39,623	)
Foreign		(3,733	)		(2,482	)		6,659
	$	2,497		$	1,409		$	(32,964	)

Income tax provision consisted of the following for the years ended December 31:

(Table only in thousands)	2018			2017			2016
Current:
Federal	$	5,166		$	6,234		$	4,957
State		1,660			388			892
Foreign		2,834			939			3,191
		9,660			7,561			9,040
Deferred:
Federal		1,144			(2,479	)		(2,794	)
State		56			114			(409	)
Foreign		(1,242	)		(758	)		(547	)
		(42	)		(3,123	)		(3,750	)
	$	9,618		$	4,438		$	5,290

(Table only in thousands)	2018			2017			2016
Tax expense (benefit) at statutory rate	$	524		$	494		$	(11,525	)
Increase (decrease) in tax resulting from:
State income tax, net of federal benefit		1,337			367			174
Domestic production activities deduction		—			(235	)		(561	)
Intangible asset and goodwill impairment		—			1,789			17,859
Change in uncertain tax position reserves		73			465			(624	)
Permanent differences related to divestitures		7,048			—			—
Permanent differences		693			1,026			(31	)
Impact of rate differences and adjustments		57			(20	)		(1,655	)
United States and foreign tax incentives		(1,443	)		(240	)		(1,035	)
Earnout (income) expense		(69	)		(1,779	)		2,573
Change in valuation allowance		1,521			1,044			222
Revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities		—			(4,819	)		—
Net deemed distribution on repatriation of foreign earnings		(1,713	)		6,426			—
Foreign withholding taxes on repatriation of foreign earnings		666			—			—
Other		924			(80	)		(107	)
	$	9,618		$	4,438		$	5,290

Deferred income taxes reflect the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes and tax credit carry forwards. The net deferred tax liabilities consisted of the following at December 31:

	December 31
(Table only in thousands)	2018			2017
Gross deferred tax assets:
Accrued expenses and other	$	417		$	286
Reserves on assets		1,276			2,000
Share-based compensation awards		459			436
Minimum pension		2,153			2,318
Net operating loss carry-forwards		3,478			3,471
Tax credit carry-forwards		2,352			1,634
Valuation allowances		(5,474	)		(3,873	)
		4,661			6,272
Gross deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation		(646	)		(448	)
Goodwill and intangibles		(10,907	)		(13,588	)
Prepaid expenses and inventory		(798	)		(585	)
Withholding tax on unremitted foreign earnings		(551	)		—
Revenue recognition		(514	)		(1,861	)
		(13,416	)		(16,482	)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(8,755	)	$	(10,210	)

As of December 31, 2018, the Company has utilized substantially all of its federal net operating loss carry forwards. State and local net operating loss carry forwards total $29.4 million, which expire from 2019 to 2038. The Company has recorded a valuation allowance on certain of these net operating loss carry forwards to reflect expected realization. A $1.1 million foreign tax credit carryforward was generated in 2017 and a full valuation allowance has been recorded against it. The Company also has net operating loss carry forwards in foreign jurisdictions totaling $11.5 million. A full valuation allowance has been established against substantially all of these losses in foreign jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company has recorded a valuation reserve in the amount of $5.5 million and $3.9 million, respectively. The changes in the valuation allowance resulted in additional income tax expense of $1.5 million, $1.0 million, and $0.2 million in 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

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 tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred 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 tax liabilities (including the impact of available carryback and carry forward periods), projected future taxable income, and tax-planning strategies in making this assessment. Based on this assessment, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of these deductible differences, net of the existing valuation allowances at December 31, 2018. The amount of the deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced.

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 740. The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. The Company estimates that it may settle one or more foreign and domestic audits in the next twelve months that may result in a decrease in the amount of accrual for uncertain tax positions of up to $0.5 million. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of uncertain tax position reserves included in other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets is as follows:

(Table only in thousands)	2018		2017
Balance as of January 1,	$	866	$	401
Additions for tax positions taken in prior years		73		465
Statute expirations		—		—
Reductions of tax positions taken in prior years		—		—
Balance as of December 31,	$	939	$	866

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. The reserve for uncertain tax positions includes $0.3 million, $0.3 million and $0.2 million of interest and penalties as of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The favorable settlement of all uncertain tax positions would impact the Company’s effective income tax rate. Tax years going back to 2014 remain open for examination by Federal authorities, and back to 2013 remain open for all significant state and foreign authorities.