Note 10 - Income Taxes Level 3 (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Provision [Table Text Block]

The components of our consolidated income tax provision from continuing operations are as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2018			2017		2016
Current provision (benefit)	$	(42,398	)	$	59,122	$	4,546
Deferred provision	120,573			166,527		170,887
Total income tax provision	$	78,175		$	225,649	$	175,433

Reconciliation of Taxes at Statutory Rate to Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes [Table Text Block]

The reconciliation of taxes computed at the statutory tax rate of 21% in 2018 and 35% in 2017 and 2016 to the provision for income taxes is as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2018			2017			2016
Provision for income taxes computed at the statutory tax rate	$	143,679		$	121,358		$	169,290
Change in tax resulting from:
Repurchase premium on convertible notes	—			(96		)	9,988
State tax provision (benefit), net of federal impact	5,570			(15,641		)	(8,974		)
Valuation allowance	(1,856		)	18,197			10,663
Remeasurement of net deferred tax assets due to the TCJA	—			102,617			—
Impact related to settlement of IRS Matter	(73,585		)	—			—
Other, net	4,367			(786		)	(5,534		)
Provision for income taxes	$	78,175		$	225,649		$	175,433

Schedule of Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]

The significant components of our net deferred tax assets and liabilities from continuing operations are summarized as follows:



	December 31,
(In thousands)	2018		2017
Deferred tax assets:
Accrued expenses	$	17,487	$	30,267
Unearned premiums	34,686		35,035
Differences in fair value of financial instruments	1,115		—
Net unrealized loss on investments	16,297		—
State income taxes	67,069		68,577
Partnership investments	—		47,991
Loss reserves	1,044		1,397
Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward	—		57,086
Goodwill and intangibles	35,068		36,947
Deferred policy acquisition and ceding commission costs	15,288		14,888
Share-based compensation	10,776		10,190
Other	13,091		16,421
Total deferred tax assets	211,921		318,799
Deferred tax liabilities:
Partnership investments	639		—
Differences in fair value of financial instruments	—		3,833
Net unrealized gain on investments	—		6,792
Depreciation	12,201		11,138
Other	2,942		2,446
Total deferred tax liabilities	15,782		24,209
Less: Valuation allowance	64,496		65,023
Net deferred tax asset	$	131,643	$	229,567

Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2018			2017
Balance at beginning of period	$	123,951		$	123,028
Tax positions related to the current year:
Increases	5,058			2,343
Tax positions related to prior years:
Increases	26,465			24,122
Decreases	(43,146		)	(1,437		)
Settlements with taxing authorities	(52,353		)	—
Lapses of applicable statute of limitation	(26,423		)	(24,105		)
Balance at end of period	$	33,552		$	123,951