Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

Components of income tax expense/(benefit) are as follows (amounts in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2023			2022			2021
Current
Federal	$	202,895		$	178,666		$	276,471
Foreign		6,505			14,740			13,754
State		29,677			33,423			44,993
		239,077			226,829			335,218
Deferred
Federal		(19,716	)		(9,935	)		(26,638	)
Foreign		3,367			(1,509	)		1,521
State		(1,609	)		(6,107	)		(4,420	)
		(17,958	)		(17,551	)		(29,537	)
Total	$	221,119		$	209,278		$	305,681

Our provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 included tax expenses of $5 million, tax expenses of $1 million and tax benefits of $2 million, respectively, related to employee share-based payments. Excess tax benefits (when the deductible amount related to the settlement of employee equity awards for tax purposes exceeds the cumulative compensation cost recognized for financial reporting purposes) and deficiencies, if applicable, are recorded as a component of our tax provision.

Reconciliation Between Federal Statutory Rate and Effective Tax Rate

A reconciliation between the federal statutory rate and the effective tax rate is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2023			2022			2021
Federal statutory rate		21.0	%		21.0	%		21.0	%
State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit		2.4	%		2.4	%		2.5	%
Tax effects of foreign operations		-0.7	%		-0.3	%		-0.1	%
Tax benefit from settlement of employee equity awards		0.4	%		0.1	%		-0.2	%
Other items		0.4	%		0.5	%		0.3	%
Impact of income attributable to noncontrolling interests		0.0	%		0.5	%		0.1	%
Effective tax rate		23.5	%		24.2	%		23.6	%

Our effective tax rates were 23.5%, 24.2% and 23.6% for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The decrease in our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to 2022, is due primarily to the increase in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests during 2023, as compared to 2022. The increase in our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to 2021, is due to the decrease in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests during 2022, as compared to 2021.

Included in “Other current assets” on our consolidated balance sheets are prepaid federal, state and foreign income taxes amounting to approximately $37 million and $17 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Components of Deferred Taxes

The components of deferred taxes are as follows (amounts in thousands):

		Year Ended December 31,
		2023							2022
		Assets				Liabilities			Assets				Liabilities
Self-insurance reserves	$		118,824		$			$		103,528		$
Compensation accruals			81,747							77,269
Doubtful accounts and other reserves			123,634							141,511
Other currently non-deductible accrued liabilities			19,926							12,520
Depreciable and amortizable assets							280,678							281,203
Operating lease liabilities			106,590							108,704
Right of use assets-operating leases							101,853							106,675
State and foreign net operating loss carryforwards and other state and foreign deferred tax assets			96,117							80,823
Net pension liabilities – OCI only			701							1,702
Other liabilities							6,715							6,457
	$		547,539		$		389,246	$		526,057		$		394,335
Valuation allowance			(72,667	)			0			(63,325	)			0
Total deferred income taxes	$		474,872		$		389,246	$		462,732		$		394,335

At December 31, 2023, state net operating loss carryforwards (losses originating in tax years beginning prior to January 1, 2023, expiring in years 2024 through 2042), and credit carryforwards available to offset future taxable income approximated $1 billion representing approximately $72 million in deferred state tax benefit (net of the federal benefit); and state related interest expense carryforwards approximated $58 million representing approximately $3 million in deferred state tax benefit (net of the federal benefit). At December 31, 2023, there were foreign net operating losses and interest expense carryforwards of approximately $77 million, most of which are carried forward indefinitely, representing approximately $19 million in deferred foreign tax benefit. At December 31, 2023, related to a prior year stock acquisition, there were federal net operating losses of approximately $8 million carried forward indefinitely for federal purposes representing approximately $2 million in deferred federal tax benefits.

A valuation allowance is required when it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Based on available evidence, it is more likely than not that certain of our state tax benefits will not be realized. Therefore, valuation allowances of approximately $68 million and $59 million have been reflected as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. During 2023, the valuation allowance on these state tax benefits increased by $9 million primarily due to additional net operating losses incurred. In addition, valuation allowances of approximately $4 million have been reflected as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, related to foreign net operating losses and credit carryforwards.

During 2023 and 2022, the estimated liabilities for uncertain tax positions (including accrued interest and penalties) were increased less than $1 million due to tax positions taken in the current and prior years. The balance at each of the years ended

December 31, 2023 and 2022, if subsequently recognized, that would favorably affect the effective tax rate and the provision for income taxes is approximately $2 million as of each date.

We recognize accrued interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as part of the tax provision. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, we have accrued interest and penalties of less than $1 million as of each date. The U.S. federal statute of limitations remains open for the 2020 and subsequent years. Foreign and U.S. state and local jurisdictions have statutes of limitations generally ranging for 3 to 4 years. The statute of limitations on certain jurisdictions could expire within the next twelve months. It is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change during the next 12 months, however, it is anticipated that any such change, if it were to occur, would not have a material impact on our results of operations.

Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits

The tabular reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 is as follows (amounts in thousands):

	As of December 31,
	2023			2022			2021
Balance at January 1,	$	2,727		$	2,544		$	2,806
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		500			500			500
Additions for tax positions of prior years		180			159			213
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(557	)		(461	)		(261	)
Settlements		0			(15	)		(714	)
Balance at December 31,	$	2,850		$	2,727		$	2,544