17. Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes consists of the following:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016		2015
Current
Federal	$	(965	)	$	8,337	$	245
State and local		(39	)		518		184
Total current (benefit) expense		(1,004	)		8,855		429
Deferred
Federal		(2,221	)		537		3,610
State and local		416			2		90
Total deferred income tax (benefit) expense		(1,805	)		539		3,700
Total income tax (benefit) expense	$	(2,809	)	$	9,394	$	4,129

Income tax expense related to operations differs from the amounts computed by applying the statutory income tax rate of 35.0% to pretax income as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
At statutory rate	$	6,551		$	6,931		$	3,192
Non-deductible interest expense		-			1,948			1,777
State taxes, net of US federal benefit		377			339			211
Federal tax deductions		(73	)		(679	)		(19	)
Change in applicable tax rate		(8,468	)		-			-
Costs associated with possible restructuring		-			-			(940	)
Provision to return permanent difference		(767	)		933			(68	)
Refund Claims		(201	)		-			-
Fuel Tax Credit		(166	)		-			-
Other		(62	)		(78	)		(24	)
Total income tax (benefit) expense	$	(2,809	)	$	9,394		$	4,129

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of loss and credit carry-forwards and 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 Company’s deferred tax assets for federal and state income taxes are as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016
Deferred tax assets:
Reserves and accruals	$	176		$	568
Total gross deferred tax assets		176			568
Deferred tax liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other		(988	)		(132	)
Depreciation and amortization		(12,427	)		(15,480	)
Total gross deferred tax liabilities		(13,415	)		(15,612	)
Less: current net deferred tax assets		-			-
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities, net	$	(13,239	)	$	(15,044	)

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the Company considered whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the period in which those temporary differences become deductible. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, based on the Company’s future income projections, management determined it was more likely than not that the Company will be able to realize the benefits of the deductible temporary differences. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company determined no valuation allowance was necessary.

The Company has no state net operating losses as of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The Company has evaluated its tax positions taken as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and believes all positions taken would be upheld under examination from income taxing authorities. Therefore, no liability for the effects of uncertain tax positions has been recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2017 or 2016. The Company is open to examination by taxing authorities since incorporation.