13.INCOME TAXES

The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, consists of the following:


	Years Ended December 31,
	2015		2014		2013
Current:
Federal	$	86,053	$	103,332	$	73,243
State		14,809		17,972		12,993
		100,862		121,304		86,236
Deferred:
Federal		(117,549)		27,646		35,797
State		(14,905)		3,385		2,883
		(132,454)		31,031		38,680
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	$	(31,592)	$	152,335	$	124,916

The significant components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:


	2015		2014
Deferred income tax assets:
Accounts receivable reserves	$	2,968	$	3,519
Accrued expenses		37,465		34,377
Compensation		16,924		15,549
Interest rate and fuel hedges		7,475		3,479
Leases		990		1,178
State taxes		4,218		5,480
Contingent liabilities		17,636		25,071
Other		1,472		527
Gross deferred income tax assets		89,148		89,180
Less: Valuation allowance		-		-
Net deferred income tax assets		89,148		89,180

Deferred income tax liabilities:
Goodwill and other intangibles		(158,093)		(280,828)
Property and equipment		(288,953)		(255,512)
Landfill closure/post-closure		(37,185)		(34,277)
Prepaid expenses		(7,683)		(7,690)
Total deferred income tax liabilities		(491,914)		(578,307)
Net deferred income tax liability	$	(402,766)	$	(489,127)

During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company reduced its taxes payable by $8,369, $11,090 and $8,781 respectively, as a result of the exercise of non-qualified stock options, the vesting of restricted stock units, and the disqualifying disposition of incentive stock options. The excess tax benefit associated with equity-based compensation of $2,069, $7,518 and $3,765 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, was recorded in additional paid-in capital.

The differences between the Company’s income tax provision (benefit) as presented in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Net Income (Loss) and income tax provision (benefit) computed at the federal statutory rate consist of the items shown in the following table as a percentage of pre-tax income:


	Years Ended December 31,
	2015		2014		2013
Income tax provision (benefit) at the statutory rate		(35.0%)		35.0%		35.0%
State taxes, net of federal benefit		(0.3)		3.8		3.7
Deferred income tax liability adjustments		(3.1)		0.3		-
Noncontrolling interests		(0.3)		(0.1)		-
Goodwill impairment		12.3		-		-
Other		1.4		0.5		0.2
		(25.0%)		39.5%		38.9%

The comparability of the Company’s income tax provision (benefit) for the reported periods has been affected by variations in its income (loss) before income taxes.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Deferred income tax liability adjustments, due primarily to changes in the geographical apportionment of the Company’s state income taxes associated with the impairment of a portion of the goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and property and equipment within its E&P segment, resulted in an increase to tax benefit of $3,869. Additionally, a portion of the aforementioned goodwill impairment within the Company’s E&P segment that was not deductible for tax purposes, resulted in a decrease to federal tax benefit of $15,546. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Deferred income tax liability adjustments, due primarily to the enactment of New York State’s 2014-2015 Budget Act, resulted in an increase to tax expense of $1,220.

At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company did not have any significant federal or state net operating loss carryforwards.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as to income tax of multiple state jurisdictions. The Company has concluded all U.S. federal income tax matters for years through 2011. All material state and local income tax matters have been concluded for years through 2010. The Company is currently under U.S. federal examination for tax year 2013. The Company does not anticipate a significant assessment; however, such an assessment could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operation or cash flows.

The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits recorded at December 31, 2015, 2014 or 2013. The Company does not anticipate the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change by December 31, 2016. The Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.