INCOME TAXES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

16. INCOME TAXES

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, enacted on December 22, 2017 lowered the federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. The expense for income taxes is summarized below:

	YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
	2018			2017		2016
	(IN THOUSANDS)
Current	$	(1,051	)	$	1,044	$	483
Deferred		2,665			1,679		414
Change in corporate tax rate		—			2,624		—
Income tax expense	$	1,614		$	5,347	$	897

The reconciliation between the federal statutory tax rate and the Company’s effective consolidated income tax rate is as follows:

	YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
	2018						2017						2016
	AMOUNT			RATE			AMOUNT			RATE			AMOUNT			RATE
	(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PERCENTAGES)
Income tax expense based on federal statutory rate	$	1,970			21.0	%	$	2,938			34.0	%	$	1,090			34.0	%
Tax exempt income		(131	)		(1.4	)		(283	)		(3.3	)		(255	)		(7.9	)
Other		(225	)		(2.4	)		68			0.8			62			1.9
Change in corporate tax rate		—			—			2,624			30.4			—			—
Total expense for income taxes	$	1,614			17.2	%	$	5,347			61.9	%	$	897			28.0	%

The following table highlights the major components comprising the deferred tax assets and liabilities for each of the periods presented:

	AT DECEMBER 31,
	2018			2017
	(IN THOUSANDS)
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS:
Allowance for loan losses	$	1,821		$	2,145
Unfunded commitment reserve		187			192
Unrealized investment security losses		374			87
Premises and equipment		1,056			804
Accrued pension obligation		144			948
Alternative minimum tax credits		—			1,724
Other		255			219
Total tax assets		3,837			6,119
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES:
Investment accretion		(90	)		(33	)
Other		(110	)		(123	)
Total tax liabilities		(200	)		(156	)
Net deferred tax asset	$	3,637		$	5,963

At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had no valuation allowance established against its deferred tax assets as we believe the Company will generate sufficient future taxable income to fully utilize these assets.

As a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Company’s AMT tax credits that are not used to reduce regular taxes are eligible for a 50% refund in 2018 to 2020 and a 100% refund in 2021. Due to this change, the AMT tax credit was reclassified to other assets in 2018 and amounted to approximately $287,000 at December 31, 2018.

The change in net deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following:

	YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
	2018			2017
	(IN THOUSANDS)
Unrealized gains recognized in comprehensive income	$	288		$	53
Pension obligation of the defined benefit plan not yet recognized in income		51			(442	)
Deferred provision for income taxes		(2,665	)		(1,679	)
Change in corporate tax rate		—			(2,624	)
Net decrease	$	(2,326	)	$	(4,692	)

The Company utilizes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Benefits from tax positions should be recognized in the financial statements only when it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authority that would have full knowledge of all relevant information. A tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Tax positions that previously failed to meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is met. Previously recognized tax positions that no longer meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be derecognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is no longer met. The Company has no tax liability for uncertain tax positions. The Company’s federal and state income tax returns for taxable years through 2014 have been closed for purposes of examination by the Internal Revenue Service and the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.