8. Income Taxes

The components of the provision (benefit) for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:


	*Year Ended December 31,*
(Thousands of dollars)	2016		2015
Current:
Federal	$	1,789	$	27
State		164		(237	)

Total current		1,953		(210	)
Deferred:
Federal		117		(6,330	)
State		30		(108	)

Total deferred		147		(6,438	)

Total income tax provision (benefit)	$	2,100	$	(6,648	)


	At December 31,
(Thousands of dollars)	2016		2015
Deferred Tax Assets:
Accrued liabilities	$	550	$	593
Allowance for doubtful accounts		152		188
Derivative Contracts		1,273		3
Alternative minimum tax credits		6,612		5,319
Net operating loss carry-forwards		586		575
Percentage depletion carry-forwards		3,025		3,751

Total deferred tax assets		12,198		10,429
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Basis differences relating to managed partnerships		6,211		6,238
Depletion and depreciation		43,487		41,290
Derivative contracts		—		250

Total deferred tax liabilities		49,698		47,778

Net non-current deferred income tax liabilities	$	37,500	$	37,349

The total provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 varies from the federal statutory tax rate as a result of the following:


	Year Ended December 31,
(Thousands of dollars)	2016			2015
Expected tax expense (benefit)	$	1,885		$	(6,607	)
State income tax, net of federal benefit		194			(228	)
Percentage depletion		(84	)		(200	)
IRS settlement		75			–
Other, net		30			387

Total income tax provision (benefit)	$	2,100		$	(6,648	)

Deferred income taxes reflect the impact of temporary differences between the amount of assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting purposes and such amounts recognized for tax purposes.

The Company is entitled to percentage depletion on certain of its wells, which is calculated without reference to the basis of the property. To the extent that such depletion exceeds a property’s basis, it creates a permanent difference, which lowers the Company’s effective rate.

The Company has $6.61 million in alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) credits which can be used to lower the regular tax liability to the tentative AMT amount in years where the tentative AMT amount is less. These credits do not expire.

The Company is allowed a credit against the Texas Franchise Tax based on net operating losses incurred in prior periods. The credits allowed are $89 thousand in the years 2017 through 2026. Any credits not utilized in a given year due to the allowable credit exceeding the tax liability may be carried forward. No credit may be carried forward past 2026. The value of the credit is calculated net of the federal income tax effect.

The Company paid $75 thousand in settlement of an audit of its 2014 federal income tax return.

The company has not recorded any provision for uncertain tax positions. The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and local jurisdictions. The 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2014 federal income tax returns have been audited by the Internal Revenue Service. The 2013 and 2015 returns are currently open for examination by the IRS. Returns for unexamined earlier years may be examined and adjustments made to the amount of percentage depletion and AMT credit carryforwards flowing from those years into an open tax year, although in general no assessment of income tax may be made for those years on which the statute has closed. State returns for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015 remain open for examination by the relevant taxing authorities.