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Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Income Taxes
The components of income tax expense were:
202420232022
Current:
Federal$(1,828)10,185 8,570 
State443 4,281 3,170 
Deferred:
Federal11,063 (8,871)(3,223)
State(708)361 (21)
$8,970 5,956 8,496 

The following table reconciles income tax expense to the amount computed by applying the federal statutory rate to income before income taxes of $102,937, $90,943 and $82,324 in 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively:
202420232022
Income tax at federal statutory rate$21,617 19,098 17,288 
Increase (decrease) in taxes attributable to:
State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit6,488 6,001 5,328 
Uncertain tax positions(1,053)(4,330)1,483 
Property flow-through(14,793)(9,045)(13,091)
Reversal of excess deferred taxes recognized in regulatory liability(3,227)(3,625)(3,885)
Pension flow-through(530)(597)27 
Stock-based compensation192 (491)(297)
Other items, net276 (1,055)1,643 
$8,970 5,956 8,496 
The components of the net deferred tax liability as of December 31 was as follows:
20242023
Deferred tax assets:
Advances and contributions$26,744 25,714 
Unamortized investment tax credit1,061 517 
Pensions, postretirement benefits and stock-based compensation12,529 17,844 
Debt premium, net3,446 4,157 
California franchise tax503 713 
Deferred revenue— 841 
Tax related regulatory liability
23,112 24,358 
Other6,337 7,077 
Total deferred tax assets73,732 81,221 
Deferred tax liabilities:
Utility plant277,085 243,786 
Pension and postretirement9,068 13,247 
Deferred gain and other-property608 6,456 
Regulatory asset - business combinations debt premium, net3,446 4,157 
Intangibles2,443 2,693 
Deferred revenue1,418 — 
Tax related regulatory asset
50,728 44,155 
Other4,979 5,255 
Total deferred tax liabilities349,775 319,749 
Net deferred tax liabilities$276,043 238,528 
Management evaluates the realizability of deferred tax assets based on all available evidence, both positive and negative. The realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on our ability to generate sufficient future taxable income during periods in which the deferred tax assets are expected to reverse. Based on all available evidence, management believes it is more likely than not that SJW Group will realize the benefits of its deferred tax assets. Net operating loss carryforwards expire beginning in 2032 and ending in 2043. As of December 31, 2024, the estimated amount of net operating loss carryforwards available to offset future taxable income for Connecticut purposes is $21,692. The estimated state tax credit carryforwards are $970, which will expire beginning in 2025 and ending in 2048.
The change in the net deferred tax liabilities of $37,515 in 2024 resulted from other non-cash items primarily consisting of regulatory assets and liabilities relating to income tax temporary differences.
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits, before the impact of deductions for state taxes, excluding interest and penalties was $3,707 and $4,511 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The amount of tax benefits, net of any federal benefits for state taxes that would impact the effective rate, if recognized, is approximately $3,150 and $4,048 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
202420232022
Balance at beginning of year$4,511 9,004 7,961 
Increase related to tax positions taken during the current year658 231 1,549 
Increase related to tax positions taken during a prior year380 364 — 
Reductions related to statute expiration(1,701)(1,191)(284)
Reductions related to tax positions taken in a prior year(141)(3,897)(222)
Balance at end of year$3,707 4,511 9,004 
The decrease in gross unrecognized tax benefits in 2024 was primarily due to expiry of statute of limitations.
The decrease in gross unrecognized tax benefits in 2023 was primarily due to the release of uncertain tax position reserve relating to repairs tax deductions. In April 2023, the IRS issued additional tax guidance that has allowed SJW Group to revisit certain historical income tax reserves. Pursuant to the issuance of this guidance, which provided additional clarification regarding some of the uncertain tax areas, the company re-evaluated the risk relating to repair deductions. The result of the analysis led to a release of uncertain tax position reserve. The release relates to repairs expenditures which are more likely than not to be sustained on audit. The net release due to re-evaluation of the reserve was $3,125.
SJW Group’s policy is to classify interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits, if any, in tax expense. Accrued interest expense, net of the benefit of tax deductions which would be available on the payment of such interest, is approximately $316 as of December 31, 2024. SJW Group has not accrued any penalties for unrecognized tax benefits. The amount of interest recognized in 2024 was a decrease to expense of $139.
SJW Group currently does not expect uncertain tax positions to change significantly over the next 12 months.
SJW Group files U.S. federal income tax returns and income tax returns in various states and is subject to ordinary statute of limitation of three years for federal and three or four years for different state returns. However, due to tax attribute carryforwards, SJW Group is subject to examination for tax years 2012 forward for state returns of CTWS and its subsidiaries. The statute of limitations for SJW Group returns is closed for these extended years and remains open for 2021 and forward for federal and 2020 or 2021 and forward for different states.