(7)	Income Taxes

Earnings before income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 consisted of the following components (in thousands):

	2014		2013		2012
United States	$	665,219	$	517,432	$	430,573
Other		256,237		236,698		256,108
	$	921,456	$	754,130	$	686,681

Components of income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were as follows (in thousands):

	2014			2013			2012
Current:
Federal	$	218,302		$	166,430		$	136,860
State		37,155			12,577			9,972
Foreign		56,107			40,451			48,403
Deferred:
Domestic		(30,664	)		(1,965	)		15,789
Foreign		(5,477	)		(1,656	)		(7,703	)
	$	275,423		$	215,837		$	203,321

Reconciliations between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:

	2014			2013			2012
Federal statutory rate		35.0	%		35.0	%		35.0	%
Foreign rate differential		(3.9	)		(4.1	)		(3.9	)
R&D tax credits		(0.4	)		(0.5	)		-
State taxes, net of federal benefit		2.0			1.9			1.7
Foreign tax credit		-			-			(2.4	)
Section 199 deduction		(1.6	)		(1.8	)		(1.3	)
Other, net		(1.2	)		(1.9	)		0.5
		29.9	%		28.6	%		29.6	%

The deferred income tax balance sheet accounts arise from temporary differences between the amount of assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting and tax purposes.

Components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31 were as follows (in thousands):

	2014			2013
Deferred tax assets:
Reserves and accrued expenses	$	130,508		$	119,955
Inventories		10,186			10,315
Net operating loss carryforwards		41,480			35,286
R&D credits		7,145			3,134
Foreign tax credits		-			425
Valuation allowance		(16,169	)		(5,917	)
Total deferred tax assets	$	173,150		$	163,198
Deferred tax liabilities:
Reserves and accrued expenses	$	27,981		$	20,995
Amortizable intangible assets		798,502			826,838
Plant and equipment		4,741			12,423
Total deferred tax liabilities	$	831,224		$	860,256

At December 31, 2014, the Company had approximately $14.1 million of tax-effected U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards that if not utilized will expire in years 2023 through 2034. The U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards increased from 2013 to 2014 primarily due to losses incurred by a U.S. entity that is not a member of the Company's consolidated tax group and therefore not available for offset against the taxable income of other members of the group. In a recent acquisition, the consolidated group obtained U.S. federal net operating losses subject to an IRC Section 382 limitation; however, the Company expects to utilize the losses in their entirety prior to expiration. The Company has approximately $20.8 million of tax-effected state net operating loss carryforwards that if not utilized will expire in years 2021 through 2034. The state net operating loss carryforwards are primarily related to Florida, Georgia and New Jersey, but the Company has smaller net operating losses in various other states. The Company has approximately $6.6 million of tax-effected foreign net operating loss carryforwards that if not utilized will begin to expire in 2015, while some do not have a definite expiration. Additionally, the Company has $7.1 million of U.S. federal and state research and development tax credit carryforwards that will expire in years 2019 through 2034.

As of December 31, 2014, the Company determined that a total valuation allowance of $16.2 million was necessary to reduce U.S. deferred tax assets by $11.9 million and foreign deferred tax assets by $4.3 million, where it was more likely than not that some portion or all of such deferred tax assets will not be realized. As of December 31, 2014, based on the Company's estimates of future taxable income and any applicable tax-planning strategies within various tax jurisdictions, the Company believes that it is more likely than not that the remaining net deferred tax assets will be realized.

The Company recognizes in the consolidated financial statements only those tax positions determined to be "more likely than not" of being sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the positions. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):

	2014			2013			2012
Beginning balance	$	26,924		$	24,865		$	19,556
Additions for tax positions of prior periods		6,532			3,055			1,371
Additions for tax positions of the current period		5,571			1,639			1,541
Additions due to acquisitions		-			5,026			9,116
Reductions for tax positions of prior periods		(1,008	)		(3,675	)		(197	)
Reductions for tax positions of the current period
Settlements with taxing authorities		(518	)		-			-
Lapse of applicable statute of limitations		(8,934	)		(3,986	)		(6,522	)
Ending balance	$	28,567		$	26,924		$	24,865

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate is $27.0 million. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are classified as a component of income tax expense and totaled $0.6 million in 2014. Accrued interest and penalties were $5.2 million at December 31, 2014 and $4.5 million at December 31, 2013. During the next twelve months, the unrecognized tax benefits are expected to increase by a net $9.2 million, due mainly to anticipated settlements with various state taxing authorities.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income taxes of multiple state, city and foreign jurisdictions. The Company's federal income tax returns for 2010 through the current period remain subject to examination and the relevant state, city and foreign statutes vary. At December 31, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service has been and is continuing to examine the Company's income tax returns for the years 2010 through 2012. The Company does not expect the assessment of any significant additional tax in excess of amounts reserved.