Note 8.

Income Taxes

A reconciliation of the differences between income taxes computed at the federal statutory income tax rate and income tax expense (benefit) is as follows:

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Federal income tax provision at statutory rate of 21% and 35% for 2018 and 2017, respectively	$	225		$	221		$	(262	)	$	864
Dividends-received deduction		(10	)		(23	)		(30	)		(71	)
Small life insurance company deduction		-			(313	)		-			(343	)
Other permanent differences		22			18			50			52
Adjustment for prior years’ estimates to actual		(99	)		(19	)		(99	)		(19	)
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	138		$	(116	)	$	(341	)	$	483

The components of income tax expense (benefit) were:

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
Current - Federal	$	255		$	(157	)	$	994		$	906
Deferred - Federal		(117	)		41			(1,335	)		(423	)
Total	$	138		$	(116	)	$	(341	)	$	483

The primary difference between the effective tax rate and the federal statutory income tax rate for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2018 resulted from provision-to-filed return adjustments, as described below, and the dividends-received deduction (“DRD”). The current estimated DRD is adjusted as underlying factors change and can vary from estimates based on, but not limited to, actual distributions from investments as well as the amount of the Company’s taxable income.

The primary differences between the effective tax rate and the federal statutory income tax rate for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 resulted from the DRD and the small life insurance company deduction (“SLD”), which was subsequently repealed by tax reform enacted on December 22, 2017. Under the then-applicable tax rules, the SLD varied in amount and was determined at a rate of 60 percent of the tentative life insurance company taxable income (“LICTI”). The SLD for any taxable year was reduced (but not below zero) by 15 percent of the tentative LICTI for such taxable year as it exceeded $3,000 and was ultimately phased out at $15,000.

The provision-to-filed return adjustments are generally updated at the completion of the third quarter of each fiscal year and were $99 and $19 in the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.