Income Taxes

Significant components of the provision for income taxes, including those related to non-controlling interest, are as follows (in thousands):



	2018			2017			2016
Current:
Federal	$	15,663		$	9,501		$	18,963
State	4,877			3,408			3,740
Foreign	936			789			1,450
Current provision	21,476			13,698			24,153
Deferred:
Federal	4,002			(35,914		)	18,167
State	1,320			2,552			2,533
Foreign	(1,399		)	378			(1,580		)
Deferred provision	3,923			(32,984		)	19,120
Total income tax expense	$	25,399		$	(19,286	)	$	43,273

The differences between the actual tax expense and tax expense computed at the statutory U.S. federal tax rate are explained as follows (in thousands):



	2018			2017			2016
Federal statutory tax expense	$	24,943		$	24,678		$	45,098
State taxes, net of federal tax effect	3,997			2,197			3,874
Credit for increasing research activities	(3,950		)	(3,407		)	(3,808		)
Deduction related to domestic production activities	—			(1,537		)	(2,243		)
Valuation allowance	(1,141		)	4,232			231
Federal rate adjustment to deferred taxes	—			(45,386		)	—
Equity based compensation	(666		)	(1,544		)	—
Change in uncertain tax positions	766			(163		)	117
Foreign income tax rate differential	124			2,094			845
Other – net	1,326			(450		)	(841		)
Total income tax expense	$	25,399		$	(19,286	)	$	43,273

On December 22, 2017, the Act was signed into law, making significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code. Changes include, but are not limited to, a corporate tax rate decrease from 35 percent to 21 percent effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, the transition of U.S. international taxation from a worldwide tax system to a territorial system, and a one-time transition tax on the mandatory deemed repatriation of cumulative foreign earnings as of December 31, 2017.

Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 ("SAB 118") was issued to address the application of U.S. GAAP in the reporting period that includes December 22, 2017 in situations when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Act. In accordance with SAB 118, the Corporation determined as of the end of fiscal 2017, the $45.4 million of the deferred tax benefit recorded in connection with the remeasurement of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities and the $0.1 million of current tax expense recorded in connection with the transition tax on the mandatory deemed repatriation of foreign earnings was a provisional amount and a reasonable estimate as of December 30, 2017. Additional work was necessary to complete a more detailed analysis of historical foreign earnings as well as potential correlative adjustments. Subsequent adjustments to these amounts, which were not material, were recorded to current tax expense in the third quarter of 2018 when the analysis was completed.

During the third quarter of 2018, the 2017 federal income tax return was completed resulting in a $0.5 million detriment related to the reversal of net deferred tax liabilities based on the rates at which they are expected to reverse in the future as a result of tax reform rate changes. The Corporation finalized its calculation of the full impact of the Act on its 2017 federal income tax return during the third quarter of 2018.

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.

Significant components of the Corporation’s deferred tax liabilities and assets are as follows (in thousands):



	2018			2017
Deferred Taxes
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	897		$	2,679
Compensation	6,419			5,618
Inventory differences	2,498			2,541
Marketing accrual	1,260			1,653
Stock-based compensation	8,456			8,224
Accrued post-retirement benefit obligations	5,500			6,896
Vacation accrual	2,783			2,577
Warranty accrual	3,761			3,737
Net operating loss carryforward	4,790			6,534
Charitable contributions carryforward	712			2,839
Other – net	12,702			6,372
Total deferred tax assets	$	49,778		$	49,670
Deferred income	(4,707		)	(4,330		)
Goodwill and other intangible assets	(52,468		)	(53,255		)
Prepaids	(6,536		)	(5,862		)
Tax over book depreciation	(59,500		)	(54,227		)
Total deferred tax liabilities	$	(123,211	)	$	(117,674	)
Valuation allowance	(7,153		)	(8,664		)
Total net deferred tax liabilities	$	(80,586	)	$	(76,668	)

Long-term net deferred tax assets	1,569			193
Long-term net deferred tax liabilities	(82,155		)	(76,861		)
Total net deferred tax liabilities	$	(80,586	)	$	(76,668	)

The valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is as follows (in thousands):



	Balance at beginning of period		Charged to expenses			Adjustments to balance sheet			Balance at end of period
Year ended December 29, 2018	$	8,664	(839		)	(672		)	$	7,153
Year ended December 30, 2017	$	4,159	4,505			—			$	8,664
Year ended December 31, 2016	$	3,978	$	231		$	(50	)	$	4,159

The current year decrease in the valuation allowance of $1.5 million primarily relates to a partial release of valuation allowances related to a foreign net operating loss utilization, an increase of other foreign tax net operating loss and a partial release of a previously recorded domestic deferred tax asset recorded that would give rise to a capital loss. The adjustment to the balance sheet relates to a change in foreign tax rate on certain foreign deferred tax assets.

As of December 29, 2018, the Corporation had approximately $0.5 million of U.S. state tax net operating losses and $2.2 million of U.S. state tax credits, which expire over the next twenty years.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):



	2018			2017
Balance at beginning of period	$	2,524		$	3,043
Increases in positions taken in a prior period	262			—
Decreases in positions taken in a prior period	—			(45		)
New positions taken in a current period	529			569
Decrease due to settlements	(9		)	(363		)
Decrease due to lapse of statute of limitations	(369		)	(680		)
Balance at end of period	$	2,937		$	2,524

The amount of unrecognized tax benefits, which would impact the Corporation's effective tax rate, if recognized, was $2.9 million as of December 29, 2018 and $2.5 million as of December 30, 2017.

As of December 29, 2018, it is reasonably possible the amount of unrecognized tax benefits may increase or decrease within the twelve months following the reporting date. These increases or decreases in the unrecognized tax benefits would be due to new positions that may be taken on income tax returns, settlement of tax positions, and the closing of statutes of limitation. It is not expected any of the changes will be material individually, or in total, to the results or financial position of the Corporation.

The Corporation recognized interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in operating expenses consistent with the recognition of these items in prior reporting periods. Interest, penalties, and benefits recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income were as follows (in thousands):



	December 29, 2018		December 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
Interest, penalties, and (benefits)	$	92	$	(25	)	$	70

The Corporation recorded a liability for interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income as follows (in thousands):



	December 29, 2018		December 30, 2017
Liability related to unrecognized tax benefits	$	275	$	183

Tax years 2015 through 2017 remain open for examination by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). The Corporation is currently under examination in various state jurisdictions, of which years 2014 through 2017 remain open to examination.

Deferred income taxes are provided to reflect differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. Under the Act, a corporation’s foreign earnings accumulated under legacy tax laws are deemed repatriated. The tax on those deemed repatriated earnings is no longer indefinitely deferred but may be paid over eight years. This is a one-time transition tax. There were approximately $34.5 million of accumulated earnings considered permanently reinvested in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Canada as of December 29, 2018. The Corporation believes the tax costs on accumulated unremitted foreign earnings would be approximately $0.02 million if the amounts were not considered permanently reinvested.