NOTE F — INCOME TAXES

Significant components of the provision or benefit for income taxes for the years ended December 31 were as follows:

	2014			2013			2012
	(in thousands)

Current provision:
Federal	$	18,063		$	12,739		$	—
State	23			865			694
Foreign	1,657			413			405
	19,743			14,017			1,099
Deferred provision (benefit):
Federal	1,575			(10,335		)	(8,656		)
State	3,366			160			(1,699		)
Foreign	(249		)	(192		)	(4		)
	4,692			(10,367		)	(10,359		)
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes	$	24,435		$	3,650		$	(9,260	)

Deferred income taxes 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.

Significant components of the deferred tax provision or benefit for the years ended December 31 were as follows:

	2014			2013			2012
	(in thousands)

Amortization, depreciation, and basis differences for property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets	$	3,579		$	(13,137	)	$	137
Amortization of intangibles	(2,934		)	(3,048		)	(1,604		)
Changes in reserves for workers’ compensation and cargo claims	(1,970		)	(1,751		)	(3,319		)
Revenue recognition	361			(1,704		)	(253		)
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(501		)	516			229
Foreign tax credit carryforward utilized (increased)	665			71			(133		)
Nonunion pension and other retirement plans	(1,595		)	3,493			702
Deferred compensation plans	350			530			669
Federal net operating loss carryforwards utilized (increased)	4,472			4,207			(2,538		)
State net operating loss carryforwards utilized (increased)	2,812			254			(725		)
State depreciation adjustments	(539		)	569			20
Share-based compensation	959			(1,437		)	(702		)
Valuation allowance decrease	(696		)	(1,436		)	(3,180		)
Leases	237			612			806
Other accrued expenses	(362		)	3,284			(1,586		)
Other	(146		)	(1,390		)	1,118
Deferred tax provision (benefit)	$	4,692		$	(10,367	)	$	(10,359	)

Significant components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31 were as follows:

	2014			2013
	(in thousands)

Deferred tax assets:
Accrued expenses	$	51,996		$	50,311
Pension liabilities	9,022			4,404
Postretirement liabilities other than pensions	8,589			6,349
Share-based compensation	6,310			5,898
Federal and state net operating loss carryovers	2,840			9,840
Other	1,654			1,877
Total deferred tax assets	80,411			78,679
Valuation allowance	(332		)	(1,028		)
Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance	80,079			77,651

Deferred tax liabilities:
Amortization, depreciation, and basis differences for property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets	64,522			61,673
Intangibles	31,398			34,385
Revenue recognition	3,944			4,264
Prepaid expenses	4,393			3,875
Total deferred tax liabilities	104,257			104,197
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(24,178	)	$	(26,546	)

Reconciliation between the effective income tax rate, as computed on income or loss before income taxes, and the statutory federal income tax rate for the years ended December 31 is presented in the following table:

	2014			2013			2012
	(in thousands)

Income tax provision (benefit) at the statutory federal rate	$	24,714		$	6,811		$	(5,947	)
Federal income tax effects of:
State income taxes	(1,186		)	(359		)	352
Nondeductible expenses	1,239			1,090			1,415
Life insurance proceeds and changes in cash surrender value	(1,329		)	(1,320		)	(752		)
Dividends received deduction	(6		)	(9		)	(5		)
Alternative fuel credit	(1,148		)	(1,935		)	—
Decrease in valuation allowances	(696		)	(1,436		)	(3,180		)
Other(1)	(1,950		)	(440		)	(539		)
Federal income tax provision (benefit)	19,638			2,402			(8,656		)
State income tax provision (benefit)	3,389			1,026			(1,005		)
Foreign income tax provision	1,408			222			401
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes	$	24,435		$	3,650		$	(9,260	)
Effective tax (benefit) rate	34.6		%	18.8		%	(54.5		)%

(1)

Includes foreign income tax provision, as presented in this table.

Income taxes paid, excluding income tax refunds, totaled $40.4 million, $13.4 million, and $5.3 million in 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively, before income tax refunds of $11.9 million, $8.1 million, and $7.1 million in 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

The tax benefit for exercised options and the tax benefit of dividends on share-based payment awards, which were reflected in paid-in capital, were $0.1 million for 2014, $0.2 million for 2013 and an immaterial amount for 2012.

The Company had state net operating loss carryforwards of $31.6 million and state contribution carryforwards of $0.9 million at December 31, 2014. These state net operating loss and contribution carryforwards expire in 5 to 20 years, with the majority of state expirations in 15 or 20 years. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had a valuation allowance of $0.3 million related to foreign net operating loss carryforwards, due to the uncertainty of realization. A valuation allowance of $1.5 million for certain state net operating losses and state deferred tax assets of the Company’s subsidiaries was reversed during 2013 as management determined the realization of the assets was more likely than not and that this valuation allowance was no longer required. Management’s determination was due to current and anticipated utilization of state net operating losses as a result of improved operating results in 2013 and other factors that arose in 2013 including the finalization of a new labor contract. In 2012, the deferred tax valuation allowance was reduced by $3.2 million, of which $4.0 million was attributable to an allowance the Company had established in 2011 for deferred tax assets related to unrecognized net actuarial losses of the nonunion defined benefit pension plan, which was recorded in accumulated in other comprehensive loss within stockholders’ equity. Primarily as a result of temporary differences attributable to the 2012 acquisition of Panther which resulted in substantial deferred tax liabilities which will reverse in future periods, management determined in 2012 that realization of the asset was more likely than not and that the valuation allowance was no longer required.

Consolidated federal income tax returns filed for tax years through 2010 are closed by the applicable statute of limitations. During 2014, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) completed the audit of the tax returns for 2010, 2011, and 2012, resulting in an adjustment of less than $0.1 million. The Company is under examination by certain other foreign or state taxing authorities. Although the outcome of such audits is always uncertain and could result in payment of additional taxes, the Company does not believe the results of any of these audits will have a material effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

For periods subsequent to the June 15, 2012 acquisition date, Panther has been included in consolidated federal income tax returns filed by the Company and in consolidated or combined state income tax returns in states permitting or requiring consolidated or combined income tax returns for affiliated groups such as the Company and its subsidiaries. For periods prior to the acquisition date, Panther and its subsidiaries filed a consolidated federal income tax return on a stand-alone basis. The 2009 federal tax return of Panther was examined by the IRS and a report of no change was issued in 2013. Panther federal tax returns for years through 2010 are now closed by the statute of limitations. At December 31, 2014, Panther had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $2.1 million from periods ending on or prior to June 15, 2012. State net operating loss carryforwards for the same periods are approximately $10.6 million. Federal net operating loss carryforwards will expire if not used within 17 years. State carryforward periods for Panther vary from 5 to 20 years. For federal tax purposes and for most states, the use of such carryforwards is limited by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). The limitation applies by restricting the amount of net operating loss carryforwards that may be used in individual tax years subsequent to the acquisition date. However, it is not expected that the Section 382 limitation will result in the expiration of net operating loss carryforwards prior to their availability under Section 382.

The Company determined that no reserves for uncertain tax positions were required at December 31, 2012. The Company established a reserve for uncertain tax positions of $0.3 million at December 31, 2013, and increased the reserve to $0.7 million at December 31, 2014 as a result of additional credits taken on filed tax returns. The reserve relates to certain credits claimed on amended federal returns for 2009 and 2010. No regulations have been issued by the IRS relating to the credit and there is no other guidance or case law applicable to the credit, and the Company has no information on how the IRS may interpret the related statute, the manner of calculation, and how the credit applies in the Company’s circumstances. As a result, the Company does not believe the credit meets the standard for recognition at December 31, 2014 under the applicable accounting standards.

For 2014, no interest was paid, and for 2013 and 2012, interest of less than $0.1 million was paid related to federal and state income taxes. Interest of $0.2 million was accrued in 2012 for certain foreign income tax obligations. Interest of $0.2 million was paid in 2013 on the foreign income tax obligations, and accrued interest on the foreign income tax obligations of less than $0.1 million remained at December 31, 2014. Any interest or penalties related to income taxes are charged to operating expenses.