Income Taxes:

The provision for income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):



	2017		2016			2015
Current tax expense:
Federal	$	207,986	$	221,207		$	225,253
State	14,516		20,858			17,419
Total current	222,502		242,065			242,672

Deferred tax expense (benefit):
Federal	22,469		12,256			(7,017		)
State	4,953		(3,171		)	1,567
Total deferred	27,422		9,085			(5,450		)
Total provision	$	249,924	$	251,150		$	237,222

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):



	2017			2016
Tax assets:
Inventory valuation	$	13,029		$	19,713
Accrued employee benefits costs	7,092			14,120
Accrued sales tax audit reserve	3,479			4,317
Rent expenses in excess of cash payments required	24,728			35,391
Deferred compensation	20,299			23,978
Workers’ compensation insurance	9,153			13,565
General liability insurance	4,265			5,332
Lease exit obligations	1,829			2,617
Income tax credits	4,206			4,265
Other	6,997			7,311
	95,077			130,609
Tax liabilities:
Inventory basis difference	(4,141		)	(4,600		)
Prepaid expenses	(1,423		)	(2,912		)
Depreciation	(65,650		)	(73,336		)
Amortization	(3,818		)	(2,419		)
Other	(1,551		)	(2,124		)
	(76,583		)	(85,391		)

Net deferred tax asset	$	18,494		$	45,218

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Act”) was signed into law making significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code. Under the provisions of the Act, the U.S. corporate income tax rate decreased from 35% to 21% effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. This change required the Company to remeasure our deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the rates at which they are expected to reverse in the future, which generally is 21% for federal income tax purposes. We have made a reasonable estimate of the effects on our existing deferred tax balances as of December 30, 2017, and recognized a provisional expense amount of $4.9 million, which is included as a component of income tax expense from continuing operations. However, we are still analyzing certain aspects of the Act and refining our calculations, which could potentially affect the measurement of these balances. We will recognize any changes to this provisional amount as we refine our estimates of our cumulative temporary differences as well as interpretations of the application of the Act.

The Company has evaluated the need for a valuation allowance for all or a portion of the deferred tax assets. The Company believes that all of the deferred tax assets will more likely than not be realized through future earnings. The Company had state tax credit carryforwards of $5.1 million and $7.5 million as of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, with varying dates of expiration between 2017 and 2030. The Company provided no valuation allowance as of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 for state tax credit carryforwards, as the Company believes it is more likely than not that all of these credits will be utilized before their expiration dates.

A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes to the amounts computed at the federal statutory rate is as follows (in thousands):



	2017			2016			2015
Tax provision at statutory rate	$	235,383		$	240,894		$	226,666
Tax effect of:
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefits	14,320			15,527			13,976
Tax credits, net of federal tax benefits	(5,060		)	(7,227		)	(3,763		)
Stock-based compensation programs	(1,040		)	—			—
Enactment of tax legislation	4,856			—			—
Other	1,465			1,956			343
Total income tax expense	$	249,924		$	251,150		$	237,222

The Company and its affiliates file income tax returns in the U.S. and various state and local jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to federal, state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2012. Various states have completed an examination of our income tax returns for 2011 through 2014 with minimal adjustments.

The total amount of unrecognized tax positions that, if recognized, would decrease the effective tax rate, is $1.7 million at December 30, 2017. In addition, the Company recognizes current interest and penalties accrued related to these uncertain tax positions as interest expense, and the amount is not material to the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company has considered the reasonably possible expected net change in uncertain tax positions during the next 12 months and does not expect any material changes to our liability for uncertain tax positions through December 29, 2018.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits (exclusive of interest and penalties) is as follows (in thousands):



	2017			2016			2015
Balance at beginning of year	$	1,579		$	2,922		$	3,500
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	527			460			869
Additions for tax positions of prior years	14			139			—
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(127		)	(1,829		)	(1,447		)
Reductions due to audit results	—			(113		)	—
Balance at end of year	$	1,993		$	1,579		$	2,922