Federal, State and Local Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2015

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Federal, State and Local Income Taxes

Note 7-Federal, State and Local Income Taxes:

In accordance with the requirements of the Income Tax Topic of the FASB’s ASC, the Company’s provision for income taxes includes the following:

	Fiscal Years Ended April 30,
($ in thousands)	2015			2014			2013
Current tax expense (benefit):
Federal	$	3,197		$	2,707		$	2,679
State and local		243			239			130
		3,440			2,946			2,809
Deferred tax expense (benefit):
Federal		(83	)		572			728
State and local		(154	)		(108	)		350
		(237	)		464			1,078
Income tax provision:	$	3,203		$	3,410		$	3,887

Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities.  The tax effect of temporary differences giving rise to the Company’s deferred tax asset and deferred tax liability are as follows: 

	Fiscal Years Ended April 30,
($ in thousands)	2015			2014
Federal tax benefit (liability):
Unrealized gains on securities available-for-sale	$	(57	)	$	(134	)
Operating lease exit obligation		70			70
Deferred professional fees		34			36
Deferred charges		263			327
Total federal tax benefit		310			299
State and local tax benefits:
Other - deferred charges		46			65
Total state and local tax benefits		46			65
Deferred tax asset, short term	$	356		$	364
	Fiscal Years Ended April 30,
($ in thousands)		2015			2014
Federal tax liability (benefit):
Deferred gain on deconsolidation of EAM	$	17,679		$	17,679
Deferred non-cash post-employment compensation		(619	)		(619	)
Depreciation and amortization		2,435			2,416
Other		401			646
Total federal tax liability		19,896			20,122
State and local tax liabilities (benefits):
Deferred gain on deconsolidation of EAM		1,970			2,181
Deferred non-cash post-employment compensation		(69	)		(76	)
Depreciation and amortization		271			298
Deferred professional fees		(4	)		(5	)
Total state and local tax liabilities		2,168			2,398
Deferred tax liability, long term	$	22,064		$	22,520

The tax effect of temporary differences giving rise to the Company’s long term deferred tax liability is primarily a result of the federal, state, and local taxes related to the $50,510,000 gain from deconsolidation of the Company’s asset management and mutual fund distribution subsidiaries, partially offset by the long term tax benefit related to the non-cash post-employment compensation of $1,770,000 granted to VLI’s former employee.

The Company uses the effective income tax rate determined to provide for income taxes on a year-to-date basis and reflects the tax effect of any tax law changes and certain other discrete events in the period in which they occur.

The overall effective income tax rates, as a percentage of pre-tax ordinary income for the twelve months ended April 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were 30.52%, 33.50% and 37.00%, respectively. The Company’s annual effective tax rate will change due to a number of factors including but not limited to an increase or decrease in the ratio of items that do not have tax consequences to pre-tax income, the Company’s geographic profit mix between tax jurisdictions, new tax laws, new interpretations of existing tax laws and rulings and settlements with tax authorities. The fluctuation in the effective income tax rate during fiscal 2015 is primarily attributable to the writeoff of the tax bases of goodwill, effect of the reduction in the allocation factors on the state and local deferred tax liability (primarily the gain on deconsolidation of EAM), reversal of excess income tax accruals established in past years that were resolved upon completion of the prior NYC and IRS audits and an increase in the domestic production tax credits.  The decrease in the effective income tax rate during fiscal 2014 is attributable to the lower percentage of income subject to state and local income taxes and a favorable settlement of a local income tax audit.  The fluctuation in the effective income tax rate during fiscal 2013 is attributable to a higher percentage of income subject to state and local taxes offset by the recognition of the domestic production tax credits and an increase in the dividends received deduction during the current fiscal year.

The provision for income taxes differs from the amount of income tax determined by applying the applicable U.S. statutory income tax rate to pretax income as a result of the following:

	Fiscal Years Ended April 30,
	2015			2014			2013
U.S. statutory federal rate		35.00	%		35.00	%		35.00	%
Increase (decrease) in tax rate from:
State and local income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit		-0.15	%		0.84	%		2.96	%
Effect of dividends received deductions		-0.40	%		-0.33	%		-0.27	%
Write off goodwill		-1.62	%		-			-
Domestic production tax credit		-0.44	%		-0.58	%		-0.52	%
Other, net		-1.87	%		-1.43	%		-0.17	%
Effective income tax rate		30.52	%		33.50	%		37.00	%

The Company believes that, as of April 30, 2015, there were no material uncertain tax positions that would require disclosure under GAAP.

The Company is included in the consolidated federal income tax return of the Parent.  The Company has a tax sharing agreement which requires it to make tax payments to the Parent equal to the Company’s liability/(benefit) as if it filed a separate return.

The Company’s federal income tax returns (included in the Parent’s consolidated returns) and state and city tax returns for fiscal years 2013, 2012, and 2011 are subject to examination by the tax authorities, generally for three years after they were filed with the tax authorities.  During May 2014, New York City concluded its examination of the Company’s income tax returns for the three years through fiscal year 2011, which resulted in no changes that had any adverse effect on the Company’s financial statements.  The Company’s tax returns for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2013 and 2012 are being examined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and by New York City (NYC). The Company does not expect the audit examinations to have a material effect on its financial statements.