Valuation and qualifying accounts

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Valuation and qualifying accounts

Valuation and qualifying accounts

18. Valuation and qualifying accounts

The Company’s valuation and qualifying accounts for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:

	Balance at		Additions		Changes to		Balance at
	beginning		charged to		reserve, net(1)		end of year
	of year		earnings
Year ended December 31, 2018
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	1,056	$	531	$	(716)	$	871
Valuation of deferred tax assets		777		-		696		1,473
Year ended December 31, 2017
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	1,158	$	1,475	$	(1,577)	$	1,056
Valuation of deferred tax assets		640		-		137		777
Year ended December 31, 2016
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	1,343	$	208	$	(393)	$	1,158
Valuation of deferred tax assets		647		-		(7)		640

(1) Increases (deductions) from the allowance for doubtful accounts equal accounts receivable written off and increases related to acquired businesses, less recoveries, against the allowance. Increases (deductions) to the valuation of deferred tax assets relate to the reversals due to changes in management’s judgments regarding the future realization of the underlying deferred tax assets.