NOTE 5 — INCOME TAXES

The components of the provision for income taxes are:



	2017		2016			2015
Federal:
Current	$	10,018	$	13,150		$	2,424
Deferred	2,167		183			13,954

State:
Current	3,906		4,215			(6,490		)
Deferred	111		(253		)	887

	$	16,202	$	17,295		$	10,775

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of 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 and liabilities are as follows:



	July 29, 2017			July 30, 2016
Deferred tax assets:
Leasing activities	$	8,115		$	7,922
Federal benefit of uncertain tax positions	304			282
Compensation related costs	2,543			4,209
Pension costs	6,410			11,097
Other	729			704

Total deferred tax assets	18,101			24,214

Deferred tax liabilities:
Tax over book depreciation	17,603			17,114
Patronage dividend receivable	5,164			5,270
Investment in partnerships	1,479			1,476
Other	—			171

Total deferred tax liabilities	24,246			24,031

Net deferred tax (liability) asset	$	(6,145	)	$	183

Deferred income tax assets (liabilities) are included in the following captions on the consolidated balance sheets at July 29, 2017 and July 30, 2016:



	2017		2016
Other assets	611		1,576
Other liabilities	(6,756	)	(1,393	)

A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In management’s opinion, in view of the Company’s previous, current and projected taxable income and reversal of deferred tax liabilities, such tax assets will more likely than not be fully realized. Accordingly, no valuation allowance was deemed to be required at July 29, 2017 and July 30, 2016.

The effective income tax rate differs from the statutory federal income tax rate as follows:



	2017		2016		2015
Statutory federal income tax rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit	6.2	%	5.9	%	6.1	%
Unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties on prior year tax positions	—	%	—	%	(17.6	)%
Current year interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits	0.1	%	0.2	%	2.0	%
Other	0.1	%	(0.3	)%	0.5	%

Effective income tax rate	41.4	%	40.8	%	26.0	%

In prior years, the state of New Jersey issued two separate tax assessments related to nexus beginning in fiscal 2000 and the deductibility of certain payments between subsidiaries beginning in fiscal 2002. Village contested both of these assessments through the state’s conference and appeals process and was subsequently denied. The Company then filed two complaints in Tax Court against the New Jersey Division of Taxation (the "Division") contesting these assessments and a trial limited to the nexus dispute was conducted in June 2013. On October 23, 2013, the Tax Court issued their opinion on the matter in favor of the Division. As a result, the Company recorded a $10,052 charge, net of federal benefit, to income tax expense in the fiscal quarter ended October 26, 2013, to increase unrecognized tax benefits and related interest and penalties for tax positions taken in prior years.

On February 27, 2015, the Company reached an agreement with the Division whereby the Company paid $33,000 in March 2015 to settle the disputes with the Division for fiscal years 2000 through 2014. Net of federal benefit, the total cash outflow as a result of the settlement was approximately $21,000. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company withdrew its appeal of the Tax Court opinion on the nexus dispute. In addition, the case pending on the deductibility of certain payments between subsidiaries was dismissed and the Division withdrew the related assessments. The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $7,293, net of federal taxes, in the fiscal quarter ending April 25, 2015 to reverse remaining unrecognized tax benefits and related interest and penalties in excess of the settlement.

The Division is currently auditing tax years 2011 through 2015 for all applicable entities and tax years 2000 through 2014 related to the February 2015 settlement agreement. The Company is open to examination by the remaining relevant tax authorities with varying statutes of limitations, generally ranging from three to four years.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:



	2017		2016
Balance at beginning of year	$	631	$	514
Additions based on tax positions related to prior periods	17		—
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	—		117

Balance at end of year	$	648	$	631

Unrecognized tax benefits at July 29, 2017 and July 30, 2016 include tax positions of $585 and $541 (net of federal benefit), respectively, that would reduce the Company’s effective income tax rate, if recognized in future periods.

Although the outcome and timing are uncertain, the Company anticipates that the balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits will reverse during the next twelve months.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties on income taxes in income tax expense. The Company recognized expense (benefit) of $50, $39 and $(9,811) in fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to interest and penalties on income taxes. The amount of accrued interest and penalties included in the consolidated balance sheet was $242 and $192 at July 29, 2017 and July 30, 2016, respectively.