The components of income before income tax expense for 2016, 2015 and 2014 are as follows (in thousands):



	2016		2015		2014
United States	$	34,723	$	55,143	$	154,943
Other countries	39,884		93,547		180,988
Income before income tax expense	$	74,607	$	148,690	$	335,931

The components of income tax expense for 2016, 2015 and 2014 are as follows (in thousands):



	2016			2015			2014
Current:
United States	$	(2,469	)	$	17,257		$	44,350
Other countries	16,533			14,629			23,546
State and provincial	600			1,979			4,727
Total current	14,664			33,865			72,623
Deferred:
United States	1,844			(2,905		)	2,801
Other countries	(5,845		)	2,947			1,675
State and provincial	85			(149		)	206
Total deferred	(3,916		)	(107		)	4,682
Income tax expense	$	10,748		$	33,758		$	77,305

The differences in income tax expense computed using The Netherlands statutory income tax rate of 25%, 25% and 25% in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and our income tax expense as reported in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations for 2016, 2015 and 2014 are as follows (in thousands):



	2016			2015			2014
Tax at The Netherlands income tax rate	$	18,652		$	37,173		$	83,983
International earnings taxed at rates other than The Netherlands statutory rate	(16,840		)	(14,066		)	(6,721		)
Non-deductible expenses	2,936			2,832			2,807
Change in valuation allowance	(899		)	3,625			1,150
State and provincial taxes	600			1,133			3,339
Adjustments of prior year taxes	2,412			483			(2,973		)
Adjustments of income tax reserves	(604		)	(1,205		)	(1,570		)
Foreign exchange	3,381			4,358			1,659
Other	1,110			(575		)	(4,369		)
Income tax expense	$	10,748		$	33,758		$	77,305

Deferred tax assets and liabilities result from various temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amount and their tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are summarized as follows (in thousands):



	2016			2015
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carry-forwards	$	9,885		$	8,045
Tax credit carry-forwards	2,925			934
Accruals for compensation	14,573			14,937
Accruals for inventory capitalization	2,587			2,738
Unrealized benefit plan loss	4,931			5,571
Unrealized foreign exchange	7,221			7,994
Other	3,208			3,247
Total deferred tax assets	45,330			43,466
Valuation allowance (1)	(9,963		)	(10,862		)
Net deferred tax asset	35,367			32,604
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangibles	(7,061		)	(5,876		)
Property, plant and equipment	(5,774		)	(8,372		)
Accrued interest	—			(10,111		)
Unrealized foreign exchange	(4,206		)	(6,421		)
Other	(3,998		)	(1,579		)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(21,039		)	(32,359		)
Net deferred income taxes	$	14,328		$	245

	2016			2015
Current deferred tax assets	$	—		$	3,164
Current deferred tax liabilities	—			(9,731		)
Long-term deferred tax assets	20,605			11,693
Long-term deferred tax liabilities	(6,277		)	(4,881		)
Total deferred tax assets (liabilities)	$	14,328		$	245

(1) Valuation allowance at 12/31/14 was $7.2 million.

We have not provided for deferred taxes on the unremitted earnings of certain subsidiaries that we consider to be indefinitely reinvested. Should we make a distribution of the unremitted earnings of these subsidiaries, we may be required to record additional taxes. As of December 31, 2016, we consider $281.0 million to be indefinitely reinvested. Repatriation of these earnings would be subject to income and withholding taxes estimated at approximately $26.6 million. There are no restrictions preventing any of our subsidiaries from repatriating earnings, and there are no restrictions or income taxes associated with distributing cash to the parent company through loans or advances.

At December 31, 2016, we had tax net operating loss carry-forwards in various tax jurisdictions of approximately $38.8 million. Although we cannot be certain that these operating loss carry-forwards will be utilized, we anticipate that we will have sufficient taxable income in future years to allow us to fully utilize the carry-forwards that are not subject to a valuation allowance. As of December 31, 2016, if unused, $3.5 million will expire between 2017-2019, $5.0 million will expire between 2020-2022, $22.0 million will expire between 2023-2026 and $4.6 million will expire beyond 2026. The remaining balance of $3.7 million is not subject to expiration. During 2016, $0.1 million of net operating loss carry-forwards, which carried a full valuation allowance, expired unused.

We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various states and foreign jurisdictions. We are currently undergoing multiple examinations in various jurisdictions, and the years 1999 through 2015 remain open for examination in various tax jurisdictions in which we operate. The ultimate settlement and timing of these additional tax assessments is uncertain but the Company will continue to vigorously defend its return filing position and does not view the assessments as probable at this time.

During 2016, adjustments were made to estimates for uncertain tax positions in certain tax jurisdictions based upon changes in facts and circumstances, resulting in a reduction to the unrecognized tax benefits. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):



	2016			2015			2014
Unrecognized tax benefits at January 1,	$	9,964		$	11,747		$	12,385
Tax positions, current period	983			1,044			1,441
Tax positions, prior period	83			(640		)	56
Settlements with taxing authorities	(1,657		)	(1,371		)	(947		)
Lapse of applicable statute of limitations	(816		)	(816		)	(1,188		)
Unrecognized tax benefits at December 31,	$	8,557		$	9,964		$	11,747

Changes in our estimate of, or the recognition of, the unrecognized tax benefits shown in the table above would affect our effective tax rate.

Our policy is to record accrued interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions, net of any tax effect, as part of total tax expense for the period. The corresponding liability is carried along with the tax exposure as a non-current payable in Other Long-term Liabilities. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, we recognized approximately $0.6 million, $(0.5) million and $(1.1) million respectively, in interest and penalties. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, we had approximately $2.7 million, $2.0 million and $2.5 million, respectively, accrued for the payment of interest and penalties. Changes in our estimate of unrecognized tax benefits would affect our effective tax rate. As of December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, there are $1.2 million, $2.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits that could be resolved within the next twelve months which could have a positive effect on the annual effective tax rate.