INCOME TAXES

Income from continuing operations before income taxes and income taxes are as follows:



(In Thousands)	2015			2014			2013
Income from continuing operations before income taxes:
Domestic	$	(9,116	)	$	38,402		$	37,380
Foreign	(14,091		)	7,014			15,552
Total	$	(23,207	)	$	45,416		$	52,932
Current income taxes:
Federal	$	12,693		$	14,568		$	15,988
State	973			2,178			1,416
Foreign	6,064			4,102			4,737
Total	19,730			20,848			22,141
Deferred income taxes:
Federal	(9,419		)	(9,530		)	(2,933		)
State	(1,035		)	(417		)	(852		)
Foreign	(348		)	(1,514		)	(1,361		)
Total	(10,802		)	(11,461		)	(5,146		)
Total income taxes	$	8,928		$	9,387		$	16,995

The significant differences between the U.S. federal statutory rate and the effective income tax rate for continuing operations are as follows:



	Percent of Income Before Income Taxes from Continuing Operations
	2015		2014		2013
Federal statutory rate	35.0		35.0		35.0
Domestic Production Activities Deduction	3.6		(1.9	)	(1.4	)
Foreign rate differences	3.1		(0.1	)	(0.7	)
Unremitted earnings from foreign operations	2.2		(3.8	)	0.9
Research and development tax credit	1.5		(0.6	)	(0.4	)
Valuation allowance for capital loss carry-forwards	1.3		(10.2	)	0.8
Tax incentive	0.5		(0.1	)	(4.7	)
State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	0.3		2.2		0.1
Remitted earnings from foreign operations	0.1		—		—
Valuation allowance for foreign operating loss carry-forwards	—		(0.4	)	0.5
Non-deductible expenses	(1.9	)	0.9		0.6
Changes in estimates related to prior year tax provision	(2.1	)	(2.3	)	(0.6	)
Tax contingency accruals and tax settlements	(3.1	)	2.0		2.0
Foreign investment write down	(10.9	)	—		—
Goodwill impairment	(68.1	)	—		—
Effective income tax rate for continuing operations	(38.5	)	20.7		32.1

The change in income taxes from continuing operations in 2015 in comparison to the prior year can be attributed to several factors including recording no tax benefit on either the goodwill impairment charge or the unrealized loss on the portion of the Company’s investment in shares of kaléo shares held in a foreign jurisdiction. Also, there was a $0.5 million tax benefit related to the valuation allowance associated with capital losses in 2015 compared to a $4.9 million tax benefit in 2014. In 2014 there was a $2.2 million tax benefit recorded for changes in the underlying basis of certain foreign subsidiaries versus a $0.5 million tax benefit in 2015 for changes in the underlying basis of certain foreign subsidiaries.

The reduction in income taxes from continuing operations in 2014 in comparison to prior years can be attributed to a pair of distinct tax adjustments. In recent years the Company has been evaluating various tax advantageous methods for executing its overall growth and international expansion strategies. The Company, having been authorized by its management in the fourth quarter of 2014 to proceed, implemented an international tax planning strategy that generated capital gains. These capital gains were offset against previously recorded capital losses on certain investments. Income taxes from continuing operations in 2014 therefore included the recognition of a tax benefit of $4.9 million related to a portion of its capital loss carryforwards that were previously offset by a valuation allowance associated with expected limitations on the utilization of historic capital losses carried over from the previous years. In addition, as previously discussed in Note 1, with the exception of Terphane, the Company accrues U.S. federal income taxes to the extent required under U.S. GAAP on unremitted earnings from foreign operations. As a result of changes in the underlying basis of certain foreign subsidiaries, income taxes from continuing operations in 2014 included an adjustment of $2.2 million in the fourth quarter, $1.7 million of which is a correction to prior years, to reverse previously accrued deferred tax liabilities accumulated over several years arising from changes in tax basis due to foreign currency translation adjustments and unremitted earnings. The corresponding prior period changes in the underlying basis of certain foreign subsidiaries primarily occurred before 2010, and the prior period components are not considered material to any period presented.

The Brazilian federal statutory income tax rate is a composite of 34.0% (25.0% of income tax and 9.0% of social contribution on income). Terphane’s manufacturing facility in Brazil is the beneficiary of certain income tax incentives that allow for a reduction in the statutory Brazilian federal income tax rate levied on the operating profit of its products. These incentives produce a current tax rate of 15.25% for Terphane (6.25% of income tax and 9.0% social contribution on income). The current incentives will expire at the end of 2024. The benefit from the tax incentives was $0.1 million (0 cents per share), $0.1 million (0 cents per share) and $2.5 million (8 cents per share) in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets at December 31, 2015 and 2014, are as follows:



(In Thousands)	2015		2014
Deferred tax liabilities:
Amortization of goodwill and other intangibles	$	42,900	$	45,696
Depreciation	22,221		27,550
Foreign currency translation gain adjustment	2,738		4,233
Derivative financial instruments	—		316
Total deferred tax liabilities	67,859		77,795
Deferred tax assets:
Pensions	31,972		34,214
Employee benefits	10,397		11,597
Excess capital losses and book/tax basis differences on investments	8,026		3,282
Inventory	4,636		6,221
Asset write-offs, divestitures and environmental accruals	2,022		1,593
Tax benefit on state and foreign NOL and credit carryforwards	1,624		2,967
Timing adjustment for unrecognized tax benefits on uncertain tax positions, including portion relating to interest and penalties	1,006		842
Allowance for doubtful accounts	406		479
Derivative financial instruments	234		—
Other	2,224		799
Deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	62,547		61,994
Less: Valuation allowance	13,344		14,577
Total deferred tax assets	49,203		47,417
Net deferred tax liability	$	18,656	$	30,378
Included in the balance sheet:
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities in excess of assets	$	18,656	$	39,255
Current deferred tax assets in excess of liabilities	—		8,877
Net deferred tax liability	$	18,656	$	30,378

Except as noted below, the Company believes that it is more likely than not that future taxable income will exceed future tax deductible amounts thereby resulting in the realization of deferred tax assets. The Company has estimated gross state and foreign tax credits and net operating loss carryforwards of $1.6 million and $3.0 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, which primarily expire at different points over the next 5 to 8 years. Valuation allowances of $1.5 million, $2.8 million and $1.7 million at at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, are recorded against the tax benefit on state and foreign tax credits and net operating loss carryforwards generated by certain foreign and domestic subsidiaries that may not be recoverable in the carryforward period. The valuation allowance for excess capital losses from investments and other related items was $10.9 million, $11.4 million and $16.4 million at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. The current year balance decreased due to changes in the relative amounts of capital gains and losses generated during the year. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be adjusted in the near term if estimates of the fair value of certain investments during the carryforward period change. Tredegar continues to evaluate opportunities to utilize capital loss carryforwards prior to their expiration at various dates in the future. As circumstances and events warrant, allowances will be reversed when it is more likely than not that future taxable income will exceed deductible amounts, thereby resulting in the realization of deferred tax assets. The valuation allowance for asset impairments in foreign jurisdictions where the Company believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized was $0.9 million at December 31, 2015, $0.4 million at December 31, 2014 and $1.9 million at December 31, 2013.

A reconciliation of the Company’s unrecognized uncertain tax positions since January 1, 2013, is shown below:



	Years Ended December 31,
(In Thousands)	2015			2014		2013
Balance at beginning of period	$	3,255		$	2,239	$	910
Increase (decrease) due to tax positions taken in:
Current period	518			619		643
Prior period	326			397		686
Increase (decrease) due to settlements with taxing authorities	—			—		—
Reductions due to lapse of statute of limitations	(50		)	—		—
Balance at end of period	$	4,049		$	3,255	$	2,239

Additional information related to unrecognized uncertain tax positions since January 1, 2013 is summarized below:



	Years Ended December 31,
(In Thousands)	2015			2014			2013
Gross unrecognized tax benefits on uncertain tax positions (reflected in current income tax and other noncurrent liability accounts in the balance sheet)	$	4,049		$	3,255		$	2,239
Deferred income tax assets related to unrecognized tax benefits on uncertain tax positions (reflected in deferred income tax accounts in the balance sheet)	(858		)	(726		)	(540		)
Net unrecognized tax benefits on uncertain tax positions, which would impact the effective tax rate if recognized	3,191			2,529			1,699
Interest and penalties accrued on deductions taken relating to uncertain tax positions (approximately $90, $150 and $100 reflected in income tax expense in the income statement in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, with the balance shown in current income tax and other noncurrent liability accounts in the balance sheet)	397			310			156
Related deferred income tax assets recognized on interest and penalties	(148		)	(116		)	(60		)
Interest and penalties accrued on uncertain tax positions net of related deferred income tax benefits, which would impact the effective tax rate if recognized	249			194			96
Total net unrecognized tax benefits on uncertain tax positions reflected in the balance sheet, which would impact the effective tax rate if recognized	$	3,440		$	2,723		$	1,795

Tredegar, or one of its subsidiaries, files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various states and jurisdictions outside the U.S. With few exceptions, Tredegar is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2012. The Company anticipates that it is reasonably possible that Federal and state income tax audits or statutes may settle or close within the next 12 months, which could result in the recognition of up to approximately $2.1 million of the balance of unrecognized tax positions, including any payments that may be made.