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Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Income Taxes
INCOME TAX PROVISION (BENEFIT)
The components of income tax provision (benefit) is comprised of the following:
For The Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
Current
Federal$42.8 $31.2 $1.3 
State8.5 3.8 0.7 
    Total current51.3 34.9 2.0 
Deferred
Federal(13.1)(7.6)(8.8)
State(1.8)(0.3)(0.9)
    Total deferred(14.9)(7.9)(9.7)
Income tax provision (benefit)$36.4 $27.0 $(7.7)

The income tax provision (benefit) differs from the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income (loss) before income taxes due to the following:
For The Years Ended December 31,
2023%2022%2021%
Tax at the statutory rate30.3 21.0 %15.3 21.0 %(7.5)21.0 %
State and local taxes, net of federal income tax impact5.8 4.0 %2.4 3.3 %0.2 (0.5)%
Adjustment for state deferred tax rate 1
(0.8)(0.6)%(5.7)(7.8)%(0.4)1.2 %
Federal credits 2
(1.3)(0.9)%7.4 10.1 %0.1 (0.2)%
Uncertain tax positions2.2 1.5 %(0.6)(0.8)%(0.2)0.5 %
Worthless stock deduction(10.5)(7.3)%(68.4)(93.6)%— — %
Uncertain tax position - worthless stock deduction10.5 7.3 %68.4 93.6 %— — %
Non-deductible expenses1.3 0.9 %1.6 2.2 %0.2 (0.6)%
Change in valuation allowances1
(0.1)(0.1)%5.9 8.1 %— 0.1 %
Other, net(1.0)(0.7)%0.6 0.8 %(0.1)0.2 %
Income tax provision (benefit)36.4 25.3 %27.0 37.0 %(7.7)21.6 %
1 In 2022, Idaho revised their state income tax rate. Given our expected utilization, we recorded an offset to our valuation allowances for the amount of this reduction.
2 In 2022, we adjusted our tax positions under audit related to the disallowance of a previously taken federal tax credits
based upon interpretation of the law.
DEFERRED TAXES
The tax effects of significant temporary differences creating deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31 were:
20232022
Deferred tax assets:
Employee benefits$3.6 $3.2 
Postretirement employee benefits13.1 12.9 
Incentive compensation3.7 3.5 
Inventories1.2 2.2 
Pensions— 0.9 
Federal and state credit carryforwards10.6 10.1 
Federal and state net operating losses1.3 3.3 
Operating leases16.0 12.0 
Capitalized research credits8.0 2.7 
Total deferred tax assets57.5 50.8 
Valuation allowance(9.0)(10.8)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance48.4 40.0 
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment, net(158.3)(168.3)
Operating leases(15.0)(10.8)
Pensions(0.5)— 
Intangible assets, net(1.3)(1.8)
Other(1.4)(1.2)
Total deferred tax liabilities(176.5)(182.1)
Net deferred tax liabilities$(128.1)$(142.1)
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) consist of:
December 31,
20232022
Non-current deferred tax assets1
$0.8 $0.6 
Non-current deferred tax liabilities(128.9)(142.7)
Net deferred tax liabilities$(128.1)$(142.1)
1Included in "Other assets, net" on our accompanying December 31, 2023 and 2022 Consolidated Balance Sheets.
We have tax benefits associated with state jurisdictions totaling $2.9 million which expire between 2024 and 2042.
UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS
The following table provides a roll forward of our unrecognized tax benefits.
For The Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
Beginning balance$70.4 $5.9 $6.4 
Increases:
Tax position taken in current year0.4 68.6 0.2 
Tax position taken in prior years10.4 (0.1)(0.7)
Decreases:
Settlements during the year(0.3)(3.1)— 
Lapse of statutes in current year— (0.9)— 
Ending balance$80.9 $70.4 $5.9 

During 2022, we ceased operations in our wholly owned subsidiary, Cellu Tissue Holdings, Inc. and recorded a $68.4 million reserve for an estimated uncertain tax position relating to a worthless stock deduction for our investment which represented a full reserve of the tax effects of that position. During 2023, an additional $10.4 million was recorded as a reserve for uncertain tax positions relating to state income tax effects of the worthless stock deduction. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we filed our U.S. 2022 tax return reflecting this position and requested a tax refund which was generated primarily due to the worthless stock deduction. Prior to December 31, 2023, we received this refund. Given the continued uncertainty of sustaining this position on the worthless stock deduction, we did not recognize the benefit and continue to record as an uncertain tax position. We have requested a ruling from the IRS in connection with the worthless stock deduction and expect a determination in 2024.
As of December 31, 2023, the unrecognized tax benefits of $80.9 million were reflected in our Consolidated Balance sheets as a reduction to taxes receivable of $35.0 million (included in Receivables, net), a reduction to deferred tax assets (included in Other assets, net) of $17.9 million, "Accounts Payable and accrued liabilities" of $26.0 million and "Deferred tax liabilities and other long-term obligations" of $2.0 million. As of December 31, 2022, the unrecognized tax benefits of $70.4 million were reflected in our Consolidated Balance sheets as a reduction to taxes receivable of $26.0 million (included in Receivables, net), a reduction to deferred tax assets (included in Other assets, net) of $43.1 million, and "Deferred tax liabilities and other long-term obligations" of $1.3 million.
Unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2023, if recognized, would have favorably impacted our effective tax rate by decreasing our tax provision by $80.9 million. We reflect accrued interest related to tax obligations, as well as penalties, in our provision for income taxes. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we accrued interest of $1.5 million and penalties of $0.2 million. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, we accrued interest of less than $0.4 million each year in our income tax provision and no penalties in our income tax provision.
We have operations in many states within the U.S. and are subject, at times, to tax audits in these jurisdictions. During 2022, we effectively settled federal tax years 2015 through 2019, however such years remain subject to exam until the U.S. federal exam is formally closed. With a few exceptions, we are no longer subject to state and local tax examination for years prior to 2018.