6) INCOME TAXES

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


	Year Ended December 31,
	2013		2012			2011
Current
Federal	$	256,545	$	254,021		$	165,409
Foreign		1,655		9,084			300
State		28,490		39,076			22,901

		286,690		302,181			188,610
Deferred
Federal and foreign		25,341		(21,408	)		53,056
State		3,278		(6,157	)		5,800

		28,619		(27,565	)		58,856

Total	$	315,309	$	274,616		$	247,466

Deferred taxes are required to be classified based on the financial statement classification of the related assets and liabilities which give rise to temporary differences. Deferred taxes result from temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. The components of deferred taxes are as follows (amounts in thousands):


	Year Ended December 31,
	2013			2012
Deferred income tax assets:
Self-insurance reserves	$	87,483		$	112,587
Compensation accruals		49,302			47,571
State and foreign net operating loss carryforwards and other state and foreign deferred tax assets		57,204			54,874
Other currently non-deductible accrued liabilities		24,587			29,934
Net pension liability—OCI only		6,390			12,061
Doubtful accounts and other reserves		33,905			17,562
Other combined items—OCI only		9,018			15,282

		267,889			289,871
Less: Valuation Allowance		(46,841	)		(44,511	)

Net deferred income tax assets:		221,048			245,360
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Depreciable and amortizable assets		(337,669	)		(322,317	)
Other deferred tax liabilities		(2,624	)		(2,329	)

Net deferred income tax liabilities	$	(119,245	)	$	(79,286	)

There was no material impact of deferred taxes recorded in conjunction with the acquisition of Ascend Health Corporation.

The effective tax rates, as calculated by dividing the provision for income taxes by income before income taxes, were as follows for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (dollar amounts in thousands):


	2013			2012			2011
Provision for income taxes	$	315,309		$	274,616		$	247,466
Income before income taxes		869,332			763,663			696,336

Effective tax rate		36.3	%		36.0	%		35.5	%

Impacting the effective tax rates during 2013, 2012 and 2011 were favorable discrete tax items of approximately $1 million recorded during each year to adjust the estimated liabilities for uncertain tax positions.

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


	Year Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Federal statutory rate		35.0	%		35.0	%		35.0	%
State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit		2.5			3.0			2.9
Nondeductible transaction costs		—			0.2			—
Divestiture Gain		0.3			—			—
Other items		0.4			0.1			0.4
Impact of income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(1.9	)		(2.3	)		(2.8	)

Effective tax rate		36.3	%		36.0	%		35.5	%

Included in “Other current assets” on our Consolidated Balance Sheet are prepaid federal, foreign, and state income taxes amounting to approximately $5 million and $7 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The net deferred tax assets and liabilities are comprised as follows (amounts in thousands):


	Year Ended December 31,
	2013			2012
Current deferred taxes
Assets	$	121,097		$	105,639
Liabilities		(1,194	)		(1,178	)

Total deferred taxes-current		119,903			104,461

Noncurrent deferred taxes
Assets		103,221			142,065
Liabilities		(342,369	)		(325,812	)

Total deferred taxes-noncurrent		(239,148	)		(183,747	)

Total deferred tax liabilities	$	(119,245	)	$	(79,286	)

The assets and liabilities classified as current relate primarily to the allowance for uncollectible patient accounts, compensation-related accruals and the current portion of the temporary differences related to self- insurance reserves. At December 31, 2013, state net operating loss carryforwards (expiring in years 2014 through 2033), and credit carryforwards available to offset future taxable income approximated $959 million, representing approximately $47 million in deferred state tax benefit (net of the federal benefit). At December 31, 2013, there were foreign net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $8 million expiring through 2021 representing approximately $3 million in deferred foreign tax benefit.

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 $44 million and $41 million have been reflected as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. During 2013, the valuation allowance on these state tax benefits increased by approximately $3 million due to additional net operating losses incurred. In addition, valuation allowances of approximately $3 million have been reflected as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 related to foreign net operating losses. There were no significant increases in valuation allowances as a result of the acquisition of Ascend Health Corporation.

We adopted the provisions of Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes effective January 1, 2007. During 2013 and 2012, 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. During 2013, the estimated liabilities for uncertain tax positions (including accrued interest and penalties) were reduced due to the lapse of the statute of limitations resulting in a net income tax benefit of approximately $1 million. The balance at each of December 31, 2013 and 2012, if subsequently recognized, that would favorably affect the effective tax rate and the provision for income taxes is approximately $2 million and $4 million, respectively.

We recognize accrued interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as part of the tax provision. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, 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 2010 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.

The tabular reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (amounts in thousands).


	As of December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Balance at January 1,	$	6,824		$	7,403		$	7,923
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		50			200			750
Additions for tax positions of prior years		283			386			419
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(1,260	)		(1,165	)		(1,628	)
Settlements		(2,528	)		—			(61	)

Balance at December 31,	$	3,369		$	6,824		$	7,403