INCOME TAXES	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
INCOME TAXES [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	NOTE 9 – INCOME TAXES The TCJA makes many significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code, including, but not limited to (1) reducing the federal corporate tax rate to a flat 21%; (2) creating a 30% limitation on deductible interest expense (not applicable to regulated utilities); (3) eliminating future bonus depreciation deductions on utility plant capital projects that began after September 27, 2017; (4) eliminating the domestic production activities deduction; (5) eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax and changing how existing alternative minimum tax credits can be realized; (6) changing the rules related to uses and limitations of net operating loss carryforwards created in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and (7) repealing the exclusion from gross income contributions in aid of construction, or CIAC, for water utilities. The most significant change that impacts Artesian Resources is the reduction of the corporate federal income tax rate from our previous effect rate of 34% to the new flat tax rate of 21% beginning January 1, 2018. The SEC Staff issued Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting of the TCJA, which provides guidance to address situations where a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the TCJA in the period in which the TCJA was enacted. Under the guidance, registrants can report the effects of the TCJA as provisional amounts based on reasonable estimates in those areas in which the accounting is incomplete. The provisional amounts are subject to adjustment during a measurement period that can extend no longer than one year from the enactment date. The Company made reasonable estimates in measuring and accounting for the effects of the TCJA, which are reflected in the March 31, 2018 financial statements, however, these estimates could change based on further analysis of the TCJA or further regulatory rulings from the Company's various Public Service Commissions. Deferred income taxes are provided in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 740 on all differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the amounts at which they are carried in the consolidated financial statements based on the enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such temporary differences are expected to reverse. The Company's rate regulated utilities recognize regulatory liabilities, to the extent considered in ratemaking, for deferred taxes provided in excess of the current statutory tax rate and regulatory assets for deferred taxes provided at rates less than the current statutory rate. Such tax-related regulatory assets and liabilities are reported at the revenue requirement level and amortized to income as the related temporary differences reverse, generally over the lives of the related properties. Under FASB ASC Topic 740, an uncertain tax position represents our expected treatment of a tax position taken, or planned to be taken in the future, that has not been reflected in measuring income tax expense for financial reporting purposes. The Company establishes reserves for uncertain tax positions based upon management's judgment as to the sustainability of these positions. These accounting estimates related to the uncertain tax position reserve require judgments to be made as to the sustainability of each uncertain tax position based on its technical merits. The Company believes its tax positions comply with applicable law and that it has adequately recorded reserves as required. However, to the extent the final tax outcome of these matters is different than the estimates recorded, the Company would then adjust its tax reserves or unrecognized tax benefits in the period that this information becomes known. The Company has elected to recognize accrued interest (net of related tax benefits) and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of its income tax expense. Table of Contents The Company established two reserves for uncertain tax positions based upon management's judgment as to the sustainability of these positions related to the methodology for determining the deduction for utility system repairs and the difference in the tax depreciation expense utilizing the half-year convention rather than the mid-quarter convention. The Company has accrued approximately $2,200 in penalties and interest for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The Company remains subject to examination by federal authorities for the tax years 2015 through 2017 and state authorities for the tax years 2014 through 2017. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 mandated that Advances and CIAC, received subsequent to December 31, 1986, generally are taxable income. The 1996 Tax Act provided an exclusion from taxable income for CIAC and Advances received after June 12, 1996 except for certain contributions for large services that are not included in rate base for rate-making purposes. On December 22, 2017, the TCJA repealed the 1996 exclusion from gross income effective on the enactment date. Investment tax credits were deferred through 1986 and are recognized as a reduction of deferred income tax expense over the estimated economic useful lives of the related assets.

NOTE 9 – INCOME TAXES

The TCJA makes many significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code, including, but not limited to (1) reducing the federal corporate tax rate to a flat 21%; (2) creating a 30% limitation on deductible interest expense (not applicable to regulated utilities); (3) eliminating future bonus depreciation deductions on utility plant capital projects that began after September 27, 2017; (4) eliminating the domestic production activities deduction; (5) eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax and changing how existing alternative minimum tax credits can be realized; (6) changing the rules related to uses and limitations of net operating loss carryforwards created in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and (7) repealing the exclusion from gross income contributions in aid of construction, or CIAC, for water utilities. The most significant change that impacts Artesian Resources is the reduction of the corporate federal income tax rate from our previous effect rate of 34% to the new flat tax rate of 21% beginning January 1, 2018.

The SEC Staff issued Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting of the TCJA, which provides guidance to address situations where a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the TCJA in the period in which the TCJA was enacted. Under the guidance, registrants can report the effects of the TCJA as provisional amounts based on reasonable estimates in those areas in which the accounting is incomplete. The provisional amounts are subject to adjustment during a measurement period that can extend no longer than one year from the enactment date. The Company made reasonable estimates in measuring and accounting for the effects of the TCJA, which are reflected in the March 31, 2018 financial statements, however, these estimates could change based on further analysis of the TCJA or further regulatory rulings from the Company's various Public Service Commissions.

Deferred income taxes are provided in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 740 on all differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the amounts at which they are carried in the consolidated financial statements based on the enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such temporary differences are expected to reverse. The Company's rate regulated utilities recognize regulatory liabilities, to the extent considered in ratemaking, for deferred taxes provided in excess of the current statutory tax rate and regulatory assets for deferred taxes provided at rates less than the current statutory rate. Such tax-related regulatory assets and liabilities are reported at the revenue requirement level and amortized to income as the related temporary differences reverse, generally over the lives of the related properties.

Under FASB ASC Topic 740, an uncertain tax position represents our expected treatment of a tax position taken, or planned to be taken in the future, that has not been reflected in measuring income tax expense for financial reporting purposes.

The Company establishes reserves for uncertain tax positions based upon management's judgment as to the sustainability of these positions. These accounting estimates related to the uncertain tax position reserve require judgments to be made as to the sustainability of each uncertain tax position based on its technical merits. The Company believes its tax positions comply with applicable law and that it has adequately recorded reserves as required. However, to the extent the final tax outcome of these matters is different than the estimates recorded, the Company would then adjust its tax reserves or unrecognized tax benefits in the period that this information becomes known. The Company has elected to recognize accrued interest (net of related tax benefits) and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of its income tax expense.

Table of Contents

The Company established two reserves for uncertain tax positions based upon management's judgment as to the sustainability of these positions related to the methodology for determining the deduction for utility system repairs and the difference in the tax depreciation expense utilizing the half-year convention rather than the mid-quarter convention.

The Company has accrued approximately $2,200 in penalties and interest for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The Company remains subject to examination by federal authorities for the tax years 2015 through 2017 and state authorities for the tax years 2014 through 2017.

The Tax Reform Act of 1986 mandated that Advances and CIAC, received subsequent to December 31, 1986, generally are taxable income. The 1996 Tax Act provided an exclusion from taxable income for CIAC and Advances received after June 12, 1996 except for certain contributions for large services that are not included in rate base for rate-making purposes. On December 22, 2017, the TCJA repealed the 1996 exclusion from gross income effective on the enactment date.

Investment tax credits were deferred through 1986 and are recognized as a reduction of deferred income tax expense over the estimated economic useful lives of the related assets.