Income Taxes

The following is an analysis of the components of the consolidated income tax provision (dollars in millions):



	2016			2015			2014
Current income tax provision (benefit) -
U.S. Federal	$	213.6		$	205.1		$	185.1
State and local	29.1			20.5			33.1
Foreign	0.2			0.4			0.9
Total current provision for taxes	242.9			226.0			219.1
Deferred -
U.S. Federal	(1.2		)	(3.8		)	(5.0		)
State and local	(3.0		)	5.6			7.6
Foreign	0.2			(0.1		)	—
Total deferred provision (benefit) for taxes	(4.0		)	1.7			2.6
Total provision (benefit) for taxes	$	238.9		$	227.7		$	221.7

The effective tax rate varies from the U.S. Federal statutory tax rate principally due to the following (dollars in millions):



	2016			2015			2014
Provision computed at U.S. Federal statutory rate of 35%	$	241.0		$	232.6		$	215.0
State and local taxes, net of federal benefit	19.8			20.0			20.5
Domestic manufacturers deduction	(21.1		)	(19.9		)	(16.5		)
Other	(0.8		)	(5.0		)	2.7
Total	$	238.9		$	227.7		$	221.7

The following details the scheduled expiration dates of our tax effected net operating loss (NOL) and other tax carryforwards at December 31, 2016 (dollars in millions):



	2017 Through 2026		2027 Through 2036		Indefinite		Total
U.S. federal and foreign NOLs	$	—	$	65.3	$	—	$	65.3
State taxing jurisdiction NOLs	1.3		0.8		—		2.1
U.S. federal, foreign, and state tax credit carryforwards	—		0.1		—		0.1
U.S. federal capital loss carryforwards	5.2		—		—		5.2
Total	$	6.5	$	66.2	$	—	$	72.7

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 for income tax purposes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities at December 31 are summarized as follows (dollars in millions):



	December 31
	2016			2015
Deferred tax assets:
Accrued liabilities	$	18.1		$	18.3
Employee benefits and compensation	45.9			32.5
Inventories	9.9			3.9
Net operating loss carryforwards	67.4			73.2
Stock options and restricted stock	11.7			10.7
Pension and postretirement benefits	136.5			148.2
Derivatives	11.5			13.7
Capital loss, general business, foreign, and AMT credit carryforwards	5.3			5.2
Gross deferred tax assets	$	306.3		$	305.7
Valuation allowance (a)	(5.2		)	(5.1		)
Net deferred tax assets	$	301.1		$	300.6

Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant, and equipment	$	(537.0	)	$	(545.8	)
Goodwill and intangible assets	(98.8		)	(101.8		)
Total deferred tax liabilities	$	(635.8	)	$	(647.6	)
Net deferred tax liabilities (b)	$	(334.7	)	$	(347.0	)

___________

(a)

Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Both the 2016 and 2015 valuation allowance relates to capital losses. We do not expect to generate capital gains before the capital losses expire. If or when recognized, the tax benefits relating to the reversal of any or all of the valuation allowance would be recognized as a benefit to income tax expense.

(b)

As of December 31, 2016, we did not recognize U.S. deferred income taxes on our cumulative total of undistributed foreign earnings for our foreign subsidiaries. We indefinitely reinvest our earnings in operations outside the United States. It is not practicable to determine the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability on these undistributed earnings because the actual tax liability, if any, is dependent on circumstances existing when the repatriation occurs.

Cash payments for federal, state, and foreign income taxes were $222.1 million, $238.3 million, and $189.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

The following table summarizes the changes related to PCA’s gross unrecognized tax benefits excluding interest and penalties (dollars in millions):



	2016			2015			2014
Balance as of January 1	$	(5.8	)	$	(4.4	)	$	(5.4	)
Increases related to prior years’ tax positions	—			(2.8		)	(1.0		)
Increases related to current year tax positions	(0.5		)	(0.4		)	(0.3		)
Decreases related to prior years' tax positions	0.1			—			0.9
Settlements with taxing authorities	0.3			0.7			0.5
Expiration of the statute of limitations	0.7			1.1			0.9
Balance at December 31	$	(5.2	)	$	(5.8	)	$	(4.4	)

At December 31, 2016, PCA had recorded a $5.2 million gross reserve for unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties. Of the total, $3.9 million (net of the federal benefit for state taxes) would impact the effective tax rate if recognized.

PCA recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties as income tax expense. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, we had $1.1 million and $1.0 million of interest and penalties recorded for unrecognized tax benefits. During the next 12 months, it is reasonably possible that PCA's unrecognized tax benefits could change by approximately $2.7 million due to settlements with state taxing authorities.

PCA is subject to taxation in the United States, various state and local, and foreign jurisdictions. A federal examination of the tax years 2010 - 2012 was concluded in February 2015. A federal examination of the 2013 tax year was concluded in November 2016. The tax years 2014 - 2016 remain open to federal examination. The tax years 2012 - 2016 remain open to state examinations. Some foreign tax jurisdictions are open to examination for the 2009 tax year forward. Through the Boise acquisition, PCA recorded net operating losses and credit carryforwards from 2008 through 2011 and 2013 that are subject to examinations and adjustments for at least three years following the year in which utilized.