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INCOME TAXES
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES INCOME TAXES
The domestic and foreign components of income before provision for income taxes were as follows (in thousands):
 For the years ended December 31,
 202420232022
Domestic$444,118 $401,912 $406,206 
Foreign89,325 101,367 131,792 
Total$533,443 $503,279 $537,998 
The provision for income taxes consisted of the following (in thousands, except percentages):
 For the years ended December 31,
 202420232022
Current:   
Federal$68,321 $64,164 $52,237 
State27,649 25,496 26,980 
Foreign16,737 23,078 29,488 
112,707 112,738 108,705 
Deferred   
Federal20,669 18,251 32,199 
State(4,415)(9,049)(2,432)
Foreign2,183 3,483 (12,218)
18,437 12,685 17,549 
Provision for income taxes$131,144 $125,423 $126,254 
Effective tax rate
24.6%
24.9%
23.5%
The Company's effective income tax rate varied from the amount computed using the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% as follows (in thousands):
 For the years ended December 31,
 202420232022
Tax expense at U.S. statutory rate$112,023 $105,689 $112,980 
State income taxes, net of federal benefit18,555 18,067 19,831 
Foreign rate differential3,965 4,213 6,196 
Valuation allowance(6,485)(7,699)(18,769)
Uncertain tax position interest and penalties(1,773)(7)(2,454)
Tax credits
2,694 1,653 2,768 
Non-deductible compensation2,211 2,898 2,754 
Other(46)609 2,948 
Provision for income taxes$131,144 $125,423 $126,254 
In 2024, $4.1 million in fully reserved for foreign tax credits expired. In the table above, the expiration is included in the tax credits line and the write off of the valuation allowance is contributing to the valuation allowance benefit, however the foreign tax credit expiration and associated valuation allowance write-off had no net impact to the provision for income tax. The remaining valuation allowance benefit in 2024 is the result of profitable earnings at certain Canadian entities which utilized previously reserved for operating losses.
The valuation allowance benefits recognized in 2023 are predominately the result of cumulative profitable earnings at certain US entities with historical state operating losses. As of December 31, 2023, management determined that there is sufficient positive evidence to conclude that it is more likely than not that additional deferred taxes associated with these State net operating losses are realizable. Therefore the valuation allowance was reduced accordingly.
The valuation allowance benefits recognized in 2022 were the result of cumulative profitable earnings at certain Canadian entities with historic operating losses. The 2022 earnings were sufficient to utilize substantially all of the net operating losses, and as of December 31, 2022, the Company released any remaining valuation allowances associated with these entities, which were nominal.
The components of the total net deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows (in thousands):
20242023
Deferred tax assets:  
Provision for doubtful accounts$14,808 $10,882 
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities32,189 31,944 
Operating lease liabilities60,929 46,784 
Accrued expenses14,749 14,963 
Accrued compensation and benefits16,876 15,058 
Net operating loss carryforwards(1)
48,331 39,042 
Excess business interest(2)
22,078 — 
Tax credit carryforwards
2,619 6,531 
Stock-based compensation4,877 3,516 
Other2,565 4,843 
Total deferred tax assets220,021 173,563 
Deferred tax liabilities:  
Property, plant and equipment(311,546)(284,997)
Operating lease right-of-use assets(59,999)(46,584)
Interest rate swap asset(8,748)(9,576)
Permits and other intangible assets(158,905)(130,391)
Prepaid expenses(10,881)(12,372)
Total deferred tax liabilities(550,079)(483,920)
Total net deferred tax liability before valuation allowance(330,058)(310,357)
Less valuation allowance(27,232)(35,272)
Net deferred tax liabilities$(357,290)$(345,629)
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(1)As of December 31, 2024, the net operating loss carryforwards included (i) gross state net operating loss carryforwards of $290.7 million which will begin to expire in 2025, (ii) gross federal net operating loss carryforwards of $79.3 million which will begin to expire in 2025 and (iii) gross foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $64.3 million which will begin to expire in 2025. The increase in the state and federal net operating loss carryforward from the prior year is predominately due to assets acquired in the HEPACO transaction. See Note 4, "Business Combinations" for more information on the related transaction.
(2)Deferred tax asset acquired in the HEPACO transaction. See Note 4, "Business Combinations" for more information on the related transaction.
The Company previously recognized the U.S. federal income taxes related to the operations in Canada and has not accrued for any remaining undistributed foreign earnings. These amounts continue to be indefinitely reinvested. The amount of tax associated with those unrepatriated earnings is not expected to be material.
A valuation allowance is required to be established when, based on an evaluation of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The components of the total valuation allowance as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows (in thousands):
20242023
Allowance related to:  
Foreign tax credits$346 $4,422 
Federal net operating losses3,783 3,783 
State net operating loss carryforwards4,734 4,809 
Foreign net operating loss carryforwards14,543 17,464 
Deferred tax assets of a Canadian subsidiary3,521 4,489 
Realized and unrealized capital losses305 305 
Total valuation allowance$27,232 $35,272 
The Company files U.S. federal income tax returns as well as income tax returns in various states and foreign jurisdictions. The Company may be subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for calendar years 2018 through 2022. The Company may be subject to examination by Canadian federal and provincial authorities for calendar years 2016 through 2022 and by state and local revenue authorities for calendar years 2017 through 2022. The Company has ongoing U.S., state and local jurisdictional audits, as well as Canadian federal and provincial audits, all of which the Company believes will not result in material liabilities. The Company has not identified any material uncertain tax positions in the periods presented.