INCOME TAXES

The actual income tax expense (benefit) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 differed from the “expected” income tax expense (benefit) for those periods (computed by applying the United States federal corporate tax rate of 35 percent to income (loss) before income tax) as follows:



	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
($ in thousands)	2017			2016			2017			2016
Computed "expected" income tax expense (benefit)	$	(154	)	$	1,767		$	5,330		$	11,904
Increases (decreases) in tax resulting from:
Tax-exempt interest income	(656		)	(709		)	(2,122		)	(2,101		)
Dividends received deduction	(294		)	(336		)	(948		)	(1,110		)
Proration of tax-exempt interest and dividends received deduction	142			157			460			482
Other, net	(224		)	39			(545		)	(75		)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$	(1,186	)	$	918		$	2,175		$	9,100

The Company had no provision for uncertain income tax positions at September 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016. The Company recognized no interest expense or other penalties related to U.S. federal or state income taxes during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2017 or 2016. It is the Company’s accounting policy to reflect income tax penalties as other expense, and interest as interest expense.

The Company files a U.S. federal income tax return, along with various state income tax returns. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2014.