Uncertain Tax Positions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Long Term Liability Unrecognized Tax Benefits

As of December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, was $22.8 million, $25.4 million, and $35.4 million, respectively, and is recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows (in thousands of dollars):



December 31	2014		2013		2012
Deferred income taxes (contra assets)	$	—	$	—	$	12,445
Accrued income taxes (current)	—		—		482
Accrued income taxes (long-term)	22,798		25,423		22,473
Total liability for unrecognized tax benefits	$	22,798	$	25,423	$	35,400

Summary of Income Tax Contingencies

The table below presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 (in thousands of dollars):



	2014			2013			2012
Balance at January 1	$	25,423		$	35,400		$	34,689
Increases in unrecognized tax benefits related to the current year	2,229			8,999			2,484
Increases in unrecognized tax benefits related to prior years	167			9			1,689
Decreases in unrecognized tax benefits related to prior years	(134		)	(16,651		)	(3,350		)
Decreases in unrecognized tax benefits related to settlements	(590		)	(555		)	—
Decreases in unrecognized tax benefits due to the lapse of the applicable statute of limitations	(4,297		)	(1,779		)	(112		)
Balance at December 31	$	22,798		$	25,423		$	35,400

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of tax positions taken in the tax returns filed or to be filed for which it is more likely than not that the tax position will not be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities (i.e., uncertain tax positions) and other types of income tax contingencies, including: (1) the policy on classification of interest and penalties; (2) a tabular reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits at the beginning and end of the period; the total amount(s) of: (3) unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate, and (4) interest and penalties recognized in each of the income statement and balance sheet; (5) for positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts unrecognized will significantly change within 12 months of the reporting date the: (i) nature of the uncertainty, (ii) nature of the event that could occur that would cause the change, and (iii) an estimate of the range of the reasonably possible change or a statement that an estimate of the range cannot be made; and (6) a description of tax years that remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions.

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