Income Taxes

The income tax expense (benefit) for the last three years is reconciled to the statutory federal income tax rate using the liability method as follows (in thousands):



	Year ended January 31,
	2016			2015			2014
Statutory	$	1,587		$	285		$	(929	)
State taxes (net of federal tax)	303			144			(47		)
Change in valuation allowance	(2,214		)	(248		)	(253		)
State rate adjustment	168			(8		)	82
Change in unrecognized tax benefits	(3		)	(19		)	(32		)
Expirations of attributes	229			65			100
Other	48			(150		)	76
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	118		$	69		$	(1,003	)

Significant components of the expense (benefit) for income taxes (in thousands) attributed to continuing operations are as follows:



	Year ended January 31,
	2016			2015			2014
Current
Federal	$	1		$	—		$	1
State	40			35			(24		)
	41			35			(23		)
Deferred
Federal	1,567			232			(753		)
State	724			48			23
	2,291			280			(730		)
Change in Valuation Allowance	(2,214		)	(246		)	(250		)
	77			34			(980		)
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	118		$	69		$	(1,003	)

Deferred tax assets and liabilities (in thousands) are comprised of the following:



	Year ended January 31,
	2016			2015
Deferred tax assets
Accrued vacation and sick leave	$	1,106		$	1,003
Retirement plans	8,837			10,887
Insurance reserves	791			830
Warranty	535			487
Net operating loss carryforwards	10,393			13,303
Intangibles	25			145
Inventory	1,582			1,472
Other	859			595
	$	24,128		$	28,722
Deferred tax liabilities
Tax in excess of book depreciation	$	(1,432	)	$	(1,458	)
Other	(87		)	(85		)
	$	(1,519	)	$	(1,543	)
Valuation allowance	(21,906		)	(26,399		)
Net long term deferred tax asset	$	703		$	780

The following table summarizes the activity related to our gross unrecognized tax benefits from February 1, 2013 to January 31, 2016 (in thousands):



	January 31,
	2016			2015
Balances as of February 1,	$	36		$	52
Increases related to prior year tax positions	—			3
Decreases related to prior year tax positions	(2		)	—
Increases related to current year tax positions	5			6
Decreases relating to settlements with taxing authorities	—			—
Decreases related to lapsing of statute of limitations	(8		)	(25		)
Balance as of January 31,	$	31		$	36

At January 31, 2016, the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits associated with uncertain tax positions were $31,000, of which $20,000 if recognized, would favorably affect the effective tax rate.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense which is consistent with the recognition of the items in prior reporting. The Company had recorded a liability for interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits of $7,000 at January 31, 2016, and $6,000 at January 31, 2015. In 2016, the Company closed its IRS examination for its tax return for the year ended January 31, 2013 with no changes. The years ended January 31, 2012, January 31, 2014 and forward remain open for examination by the IRS. The fiscal years ended January 31, 2012 and forward remain open for examination by state tax authorities. The Company is not currently under IRS or state examination.

During 2015, the Company completed Texas income tax examinations of the tax years ending January 31, 2010 and 2011. The examination did not materially impact the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The specific timing of when the resolution of each tax position will be reached is uncertain. As of January 31, 2016, it is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by $8,000 within the next 12 months due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income or reversal of deferred tax liabilities during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. The Company considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. A valuation allowance was recorded against the majority of the net deferred tax assets totaling $21,906,000 and $26,399,000 at January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. At January 31, 2016, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes, expiring at various dates through 2035. At January 31, 2016, the Company had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $19,859,000 and $45,390,000, respectively.