16. Income Taxes

The Company’s provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, consists of a deferred tax benefit of $nil, and $15,373 and $20,147, respectively. The Company has not recognized a current income tax expense or benefit due to overall loss positions. The deferred income tax benefit being recognized at December 31, 2013 and 2012 relates primarily to the unrealized loss and underlying basis difference in the Company’s investment in Midas Gold Shares (Note 4).

Tax Expense

Income tax expense consists of the following:



			Years ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
Deferred income tax benefit
	U.S.	$	-	$	(15,373)	$	(20,147)
	Canada		-		-		-
	Other Foreign		-		-		-
Total tax benefit		$	-	$	(15,373)	$	(20,147)

Source of Loss

The Company’s U.S. and foreign source loss is as follows:



		Years ended December 31,
	2014		2013		2012
U.S.	$	(6,705)	$	(49,124)	$	(52,448)
Canada		(7,750)		(9,540)		(11,962)
Other Foreign		(4,471)		(16,197)		(26,393)
	$	(18,926)	$	(74,861)	$	(90,803)

Rate Reconciliation

A reconciliation of the combined income taxes at the statutory rates and the Company’s effective income tax benefit is as follows:



			Years ended December 31,
			2014		2013		2012
Income taxed at statutory rates		$	(7,314)	$	(28,916)	$	(34,860)
Increase (decrease) in taxes from:
	Stock-based compensation		41		13		147
	Meals and entertainment		3		9		3
	Loss related to Mexico		-		(2,632)		-
	Other adjustments		-		(9)		6
	Adjustment due to capital transactions		-		(60)		(733)
	Imputed interest		3		3		24
	Realized fx gain (loss) on intercompany balances		-		(3)		(3)
	Prior year provision to actual adjustments		(4,511)		9,961		(40)
	Differences in tax rates		541		3,451		3,905
	Effect of foreign exchange		276		-		(340)
	Change in effective tax rate		(1)		(407)		(333)
	Expiration of NOLs		189		437		70
	Change in valuation allowance		10,773		2,780		12,007
Income tax (benefit)/expense		$	-	$	(15,373)	$	(20,147)

Deferred Taxes

Deferred income taxes reflect the net effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The significant components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities as at December 31 are as follows:



		December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
Deferred income tax assets
Excess tax basis over book basis of property, plant and equipment	$	7,893	$	7,496	$	8,001
Marketable securities		798		661		62
Operating loss carryforwards		35,001		36,367		37,635
Capital loss carryforwards		10,212		5,474		2,630
Other		2,891		1,541		3,219
Unrealized foreign exchange on loans		-		79		217
Total future tax assets		56,795		51,618		51,764
Valuation allowance for future tax assets		(54,397)		(43,955)		(41,817)
		2,398		7,663		9,947
Deferred income tax liabilities
Other investments		1,916		7,181		24,839
Amayapampa disposal consideration		482		482		482
		2,398		7,663		25,321

Total Deferred Taxes	$	-	$	-	$	(15,374)

Valuation Allowance on Canadian and Foreign Tax Assets

We establish a valuation allowance against the future income tax assets if, based on available information, it is more likely than not that all of the assets will not be realized. The valuation allowance of $54,397, $43,955 and $41,817 at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, relates mainly to net operating loss carryforwards, in Canada and other foreign tax jurisdictions, where the utilization of such attributes is not more likely than not. The Company continually assesses both positive and negative evidence to determine whether it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets can be realized prior to their expiration.

Loss Carryforwards

The Company has available income tax losses of $59,062, which may be carried forward and applied against future taxable income when earned.

The losses expire as follows:



	Noncapital
	Canada (1)		U.S.		Mexico		Barbados		Total
2014	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
2015		(889)		-		-		(2)		(891)
2016		-		-		-		(1)		(1)
2017		-		-		-		(6)		(6)
2018		-		-		-		(20)		(20)
2019		-		-		-		(42)		(42)
2020		-		-		-		(20)		(20)
2021		-		-		-		(31)		(31)
2022		-		-		(6)		(23)		(29)
2023		-		-		(397)		-		(397)
2024		-		-		(140)		-		(140)
2025		-		-		-		-		-
2026		(1,027)		(1,166)		-		-		(2,193)
2027		(847)		(1,700)		-		-		(2,547)
2028		(5,245)		(1,719)		-		-		(6,964)
2029		(4,022)		(1,970)		-		-		(5,992)
2030		(5,032)		(1,827)		-		-		(6,859)
2031		(3,806)		(3,407)		-		-		(7,213)
2032		(6,397)		(2,323)		-		-		(8,720)
2033		(9,576)		(3,098)		-		-		(12,674)
2034		(4,323)		-						(4,323)
	$	(41,164)	$	(17,210)	$	(543)	$	(146)	$	(59,062)

(1) Canadian capital loss carryforwards of $36,524 and Australian NOLs of $67,064, which do not expire and are therefore not included above.

Of the total Canadian net operating loss, $18,628 relates to an equity component for share-issuance cost deduction for which no tax benefit for financial reporting purposes in the income statement will be recognized.

Accounting for uncertainty in taxes

Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740 guidance requires that the Company evaluate all income tax positions taken, and recognize a liability for any uncertain tax positions that are not more likely than not to be sustained by the tax authorities. As of December 31, 2014, the Company believes it has no liability for unrecognized tax positions. If the Company were to determine there were any uncertain tax positions, the Company would recognize the liability and related interest and penalties within income tax expense.

Tax statute of limitations

The Company files income tax returns in Canada, U.S. federal and state jurisdictions and other foreign jurisdictions. There are currently no tax examinations underway for these jurisdictions. Furthermore, the Company is no longer subject to Canadian tax examinations by the Canadian Revenue Authority for years ended on or before December 31, 2003 or U.S. federal income tax examinations by the Internal Revenue Service for years ended on or before December 31, 2011. Some U.S. state and other foreign jurisdictions are still subject for tax examination for years ended on or before December 31, 2010.

Although certain tax years are closed under the statute of limitations, tax authorities can still adjust losses being carried forward into open years.