INCOME TAXES

Acacia’s provision for income taxes consists of the following for the years ended December 31, (in thousands):



	2014			2013			2012

Current:
Federal	$	—		$	—		$	—
State taxes	289			113			281
Foreign taxes	5,359			4,405			11,890
Total current	5,648			4,518			12,171
Deferred:
Federal	(1,867		)	(26,151		)	10,085
State taxes	131			(325		)	(196		)
Total deferred	(1,736		)	(26,476		)	9,889
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	$	3,912		$	(21,958	)	$	22,060

The tax effects of temporary differences and carryforwards that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following at December 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):



	2014			2013

Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss and capital loss carryforwards and credits	$	59,427		$	34,679
Stock compensation	1,800			3,052
Basis of investments in affiliates	1,437			867
Accrued liabilities and other	409			387
Unrealized loss on short-term investments	92			337
State taxes	26			18
Total deferred tax assets	63,191			39,340
Valuation allowance	(35,927		)	(7,585		)
Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance	27,264			31,755

Deferred tax liabilities:
Fixed assets and intangibles	(27,157		)	(33,378		)
Other	(107		)	(112		)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(27,264		)	(33,490		)

Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)	$	—		$	(1,735	)

A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate and the effective income tax rate is as follows:



	2014		2013		2012

Statutory federal tax rate - (benefit) expense	(35	)%	(35	)%	35	%
State income and foreign taxes, net of federal tax effect	9	%	5	%	15	%
Foreign tax credit	(8	)%	(6	)%	(15	)%
Noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	—	%	1	%	—	%
Nondeductible permanent items	1	%	2	%	5	%
Expired net operating loss carryforwards	—	%	2	%	—	%
Valuation allowance	39	%	4	%	(13	)%
	6	%	(27	)%	27	%

At December 31, 2013, the Company recorded valuation allowances for certain tax attribute carryforwards and other deferred tax assets due to uncertainty regarding future realizability, as follows:



	2013

Capital loss carryforwards	$	1,562
Net operating loss carryforwards	1,281
Foreign tax credits	4,405
Unrealized losses on short-term investments and other deferred tax assets	337
Total valuation allowance	$	7,585

At December 31, 2014, the Company recorded a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets due to uncertainty regarding future realizability pursuant to guidance set forth in ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” In future periods, if the Company determines it will more likely than not be able to realize certain of these amounts, the applicable portion of the benefit from the release of the valuation allowance will generally be recognized in the statement of operations in the period the determination is made.

Capital loss carryforwards and certain net operating loss carryforwards included in the valuation allowances for the periods presented expire in varying amounts from 2015 through 2034. Foreign tax credits included in the valuation allowance were generated during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, and expire in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

As of December 31, 2011, Acacia maintained a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets. The net deferred tax liability resulting from the acquisition of ADAPTIX in January 2012 created an additional source of income to utilize against the majority of Acacia’s existing consolidated net deferred tax assets. In addition, Acacia estimated that certain other deferred tax assets, primarily related to foreign tax credits and other state related deferred tax assets, were more likely than not realizable in future periods. Accordingly, the valuation allowance on the majority of the Company’s net deferred tax assets was released, resulting in a financial statement income tax benefit of $10,651,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012.

At December 31, 2014, Acacia had U.S. federal and state income tax net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) totaling approximately $118,715,000 and $129,632,000, expiring between 2025 and 2034, and 2015 and 2034, respectively, for which $0 and $441,000 of federal and state net operating losses are included as a deferred tax asset related to the tax benefits of stock option deductions and which will be credited to additional paid-in capital when realized as a reduction of taxes payable on Acacia’s tax return. In addition, $1,928,000 and $37,771,000 of federal and state net operating losses are not included as a deferred tax asset and will be credited to additional paid-in capital when realized as a reduction of taxes payable on Acacia’s tax return as they relate to unrecognized excess tax benefits (see additional information regarding the ordering of windfall tax benefits and use of the “with-and-without” approach below).

At December 31, 2014, approximately $29,318,000 of the U.S. federal NOLs, acquired in connection with the acquisition of ADAPTIX, are subject to an annual utilization limitation of approximately $14,100,000, pursuant to the “change in ownership” provisions under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

As of December 31, 2014, Acacia has approximately $29,877,000 of foreign tax credits, expiring between 2015 and 2024, of which $20,313,000 has been utilized for financial statement purposes. Future realization of the credits as a reduction of taxes payable on Acacia’s tax return will result in an income tax benefit recognizable through additional paid in capital since the entire amount of the credits have been utilized for financial statement purposes under the “with-and-without approach.” In general, foreign taxes withheld may be claimed as a deduction on future U.S. corporate income tax returns, or as a credit against future U.S. income tax liabilities, subject to certain limitations.

Tax expense for fiscal year 2014 primarily reflects foreign taxes withheld on revenue agreements with licensees in foreign jurisdictions, the benefit, totaling $1,735,000, from the reversal of the net deferred tax liability that existed at the beginning of the year and other state taxes. Excluding the impact of the change in valuation allowance in fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, annual effective tax rates were (33)%, (31%), and 40%, respectively. In 2014, the rate at which the Company recorded the tax benefit associated with the pre-tax loss for the period was reduced from the statutory rate primarily due to the full valuation allowance and certain nondeductible permanent items. The Company recorded a full valuation allowance on its net deferred tax assets, as discussed above, and therefore, did not recognize the related tax benefit in fiscal year 2014, other than the benefit from the reversal of the deferred tax liability that existed at the beginning of the year. In 2013, the rate at which the Company recorded the tax benefit associated with the pre-tax loss for the period was reduced from the statutory rate primarily due to certain nondeductible permanent items and expired capital loss carryforwards. The Company recorded a valuation allowance on foreign tax credits generated in fiscal year 2013 totaling $4,605,000, as discussed above, and therefore, did not recognize the related tax benefit for these tax assets in fiscal year 2013. The Company generated pretax income in 2012, resulting in tax expense for the period, and had significant nondeductible permanent items which increased the effective tax rate as shown above. The fiscal year 2012 effective tax rate was lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to $10,651,000 million of tax benefits recognized resulting from the release of valuation allowance on the majority of the net deferred tax assets in the first quarter of 2012, as discussed above.

The Company has elected to utilize the “with-and-without approach” regarding ordering of windfall tax benefits to determine whether the windfall tax benefit has reduced taxes payable. Under this approach, the windfall tax benefits would be recognized in additional paid in capital only if an incremental tax benefit is realized after considering all other tax benefits presently available to the Company. The deductions related to the exercise and vesting of equity-based incentive awards during the periods presented are, in general, available to offset taxable income on Acacia’s consolidated tax returns. Accordingly, the excess tax benefit related to the exercise and vesting of equity-based incentive awards for the periods presented was credited to additional paid-in capital, not taxes payable. The actual tax benefit realized for excess tax deductions resulting from the exercise and vesting of equity-based incentive awards (noncash tax expense) totaled $13,210,000 for the year ended December 31, 2012. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company incurred approximately $1,398,000 of net short falls from the exercise and vesting of equity-based incentive awards, of which $1,398,000 was recorded against its additional paid-in capital pool with no impact to the income statement. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company incurred approximately $2,713,000 of net short falls from the exercise and vesting of equity-based incentive awards, of which $2,713,000 was recorded against its additional paid-in capital, subject to a full valuation allowance, with no impact to the income statement.

Acacia is subject to taxation in the U.S. and in various state jurisdictions and incurs foreign tax withholdings on revenue agreements with licensees in certain foreign jurisdictions. With no material exceptions, Acacia is no longer subject to U.S. federal or state examinations by tax authorities for years before 1998. The California Franchise Tax Board is auditing the 2011 and 2012 California combined income tax returns. The audit is in process and no findings or adjustments have been proposed.

At December 31, 2014, the Company had total unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $2,127,000, including a recorded noncurrent liability of $85,000, related to unrecognized tax benefits primarily associated with state taxes. No interest and penalties have been recorded for the unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2014. If recognized, approximately $2,127,000 would impact the Company’s effective tax rate. The Company does not expect that the liability for unrecognized tax benefits will change significantly within the next 12 months. Activity related to the gross unrecognized tax benefits for the periods presented was as follows (in thousands):



Balance at January 1, 2012	$	85
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	—
Additions for tax positions related to prior years	772
Additions resulting from the acquisition of ADAPTIX	1,270
Reductions	—
Balance at December 31, 2012	$	2,127
Balance at December 31, 2013	$	2,127
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	2,127

Acacia recognizes interest and penalties with respect to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Acacia has identified no uncertain tax position for which it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within 12 months.