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Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
10. INCOME TAXES
Ambac files a consolidated Federal income tax return with its subsidiaries. Ambac and its subsidiaries also file separate or combined income tax returns in various states, local and foreign jurisdictions. The following are the major jurisdictions in which Ambac and its subsidiaries operate and the earliest tax years subject to examination:
Jurisdiction
Tax Year
United States
2010
New York State
2012
New York City
2012
United Kingdom
2012
Italy
2010

As of June 30, 2016 Ambac had loss carryforwards totaling $4,245,743. This includes carryforwards of $93,152 relating to U.S. capital losses and an ordinary U.S. federal net operating tax carryforward of approximately $4,152,591, which, if not utilized, will begin expiring in 2029, and will fully expire in 2032. Ambac's capital losses will begin expiring in 2017 and fully expire in 2018.
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are presented below:
 
June 30,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
Deferred tax liabilities:
 
 
 
Insurance intangible
$
376,462

 
$
424,239

Variable interest entities
53,984

 
10,053

Investments
157,571

 
66,278

Unearned premiums and credit fees
97,080

 
98,945

Unremitted foreign earnings
8,176

 

Other
33,614

 
34,025

Total deferred tax liabilities
726,887

 
633,540

Deferred tax assets:
 
 
 
Net operating loss and capital carryforward
1,486,010

 
1,504,569

Loss reserves
138,316

 
122,635

Compensation
3,703

 
2,839

AMT Credits
27,328

 
27,252

Other
9,912

 
9,913

Subtotal deferred tax assets
1,665,269

 
1,667,208

Valuation allowance
940,094

 
1,035,873

Total deferred tax assets
725,175

 
631,335

Net deferred tax (liability)
$
(1,712
)
 
$
(2,205
)

In accordance with the Income Tax Topic of the ASC, a valuation allowance is recognized if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not that some, or all, of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. As a result of the risks and uncertainties associated with future operating results, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will not generate sufficient taxable income to recover the deferred tax operating asset and therefore has a full valuation allowance.
NOL Usage
Pursuant to an intercompany tax sharing agreement, to the extent Ambac Assurance generates taxable income after September 30, 2011, which is offset with "Allocated NOLs" of $3,650,000, it is obligated to make payments (“Tolling Payments”), subject to certain credits, to Ambac in accordance with the following NOL usage table, where the “Applicable Percentage” is applied to the aggregate amount of federal income tax liability that would have been paid if the Allocated NOLs were not available.
NOL Usage Table
NOL Usage Tier
Allocated NOLs
 
Applicable Percentage
A
The first
479,000
 
15%
B
The next
1,057,000
after Tier A
40%
C
The next
1,057,000
after Tier B
10%
D
The next
1,057,000
after Tier C
15%
Any post determination date NOLs generated by Ambac Assurance are utilized prior to any Allocated NOLs for which Tolling Payments will be due. Ambac Assurance has utilized all of its current post determination date NOLs generated from September 30, 2011 through December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2016, generating cumulative taxable income of $877,313 and $885,312, respectively. Of the bankruptcy related credits available to offset the first $5,000 of payments due under each of the NOL usage Tiers A, B, and C, Ambac Assurance has fully utilized the combined $10,000 of Tier A and Tier B credits. For the year ended December 31, 2015, Ambac Assurance utilized all of the $479,000 Tier A NOL and $398,313 of the $1,057,000 Tier B NOL resulting in a Tolling Payments, net of applicable credits, of $70,911 that was paid to Ambac on April 29, 2016. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, Ambac Assurance's utilization of $7,998 of the $1,057,000 allocated Tier B NOL results in additional accrued Tolling Payments, net of applicable credits, of $1,120, which, assuming Ambac Assurance's cumulative full year 2016 taxable income does not change, will be paid to Ambac in April of 2017.
Beginning on the fifth anniversary date subsequent to Ambac's May 1, 2013 emergence from bankruptcy, and subject to Ambac's consent, not to be unreasonably withheld, to the extent Ambac Assurance generates post-determination date income in excess of the $3,650,000 Allocated NOLs, Ambac Assurance may utilize Ambac's then remaining NOLs in exchange for a payment of 25% of the federal income tax liability that Ambac Assurance would have paid had Ambac's NOLs not been available. After Ambac fully utilizes its Allocated NOLs it may utilize Ambac Assurance's then remaining Allocated NOLs in exchange for a payment of 50% of the federal income tax liability that Ambac would have paid had Ambac Assurance's NOL not been available.
As of June 30, 2016, the remaining balance of the $3,650,000 NOL allocated to Ambac Assurance was $2,764,688.
As of June 30, 2016 Ambac's NOL was $1,387,903.