(6) Income Taxes

The components of income before income taxes are as follows


	Years ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
	(in thousands)
U.S.	$	21,634	$	11,319	$	10,433
Non U.S.		2,312		1,456		1,307
Income from before income taxes	$	23,946	$	12,775	$	11,740

The components of income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, included in the accompanying consolidated statements of income were as follows:


	Federal		State		Foreign		Total
	(in thousands)
December 31, 2016
Current	$	324	$	14	$	440	$	778
Deferred		8,807		292		—		9,099
Total 2016	$	9,131	$	306	$	440	$	9,877

December 31, 2015
Current	$	(208)	$	13	$	476	$	281
Deferred		4,871		1,163		—		6,034
Total 2015	$	4,663	$	1,176	$	476	$	6,315

December 31, 2014
Current	$	109	$	179	$	311	$	599
Deferred		3,797		164		—		3,961
Total 2014	$	3,906	$	343	$	311	$	4,560

The following is a reconciliation of the federal income tax expense at the statutory rate of 34% to the effective income tax expense:


	Years Ended December 31,
	2016			2015			2014
	(in thousands and % of pre-tax income)
	$		%	$		%	$		%
Statutory federal income tax expense		8,142	34.0		4,343	34.0		3,992	34.0
State taxes, net of federal benefit		202	0.8		776	6.1		118	1.0
Foreign tax paid		440	1.8		476	3.7		101	0.9
Tax consequences of the sale of engines to WMES		—	—		(306)	(2.4)		(36)	(0.3)
Uncertain tax positions		(40)	(0.1)		(195)	(1.5)		(101)	(0.9)
Permanent differences-nondeductible executive compensation		1,201	5.0		1,117	8.7		768	6.5
Permanent differences and other		(68)	(0.3)		104	0.8		(282)	(2.4)
Effective income tax expense		9,877	41.2		6,315	49.4		4,560	38.8

The Company records tax expense or benefit for unusual or infrequent items discretely in the period in which they occur.

The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits:


	(in thousands)
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	464
Increases related to current year tax positions		5
Decreases due to tax positions released		(195)
Balance as of December 31, 2015		274
Increases related to current year tax positions		4
Decreases due to tax positions expired		(72)
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	206

No reserve was established as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 for the exposure in Europe. If the Company is able to eventually recognize these uncertain tax positions, all of the unrecognized benefit would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate.

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are presented below:


	As of December 31,
	2016		2015
	(in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Unearned lease revenue	$	1,839	$	1,511
State taxes		1,035		944
Reserves and allowances		1,659		898
Other accruals		2,501		1,767
Alternative minimum tax credit		377		377
Net operating loss carry forward		35,693		35,827
Charitable contributions		52		42
Total deferred tax assets		43,156		41,366
Less: valuation allowance		(1,280)		(1,280)
Net deferred tax assets		41,876		40,086

Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation and impairment on aircraft engines and equipment		(147,827)		(137,496)
Other deferred tax assets (liabilities)		422		981
Net deferred tax liabilities		(147,405)		(136,515)

Other comprehensive loss deferred tax asset		551		275

Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(104,978)	$	(96,154)

As of December 31, 2016, we had net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $105.0 million for federal tax purposes and $4.7 million for state tax purposes. The federal net operating loss carry forwards will expire at various times from 2023 to 2034 and the state net operating loss carry forwards will expire at various times from 2023 to 2034. During 2014, a valuation allowance of $1.3 million was established for the net operating losses expiring in California for the periods 2017 to 2024. The Company’s ability to utilize the net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards in the future may be subject to restriction in the event of past or future ownership changes as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and similar state tax law. As of December 31, 2016, we also had alternative minimum tax credit of approximately $0.4 million for federal income tax purposes which has no expiration date and which should be available to offset future regular tax liabilities. Management believes that no valuation allowance is required on deferred tax assets related to federal net operating loss carry forwards, as it is more likely than not that all amounts are recoverable through future taxable income.

Deferred tax assets relating to tax benefits of employee stock option grants have been reduced to reflect exercises in 2016. Some exercises resulted in tax deductions in excess of previously recorded benefits based on the option value at the time of grant (“windfall”). Although these additional tax benefits are reflected in net operating tax loss carryforwards, pursuant to ASC 718, in the amount of $3.0 million as of December 31, 2016, the additional tax benefit associated with the windfall is not recognized until the deduction reduces taxes payable. The tax effect of windfalls included in net operating loss carryforwards but not reflected in deferred tax assets for 2016 are $1.0 million and will be recorded to paid-in capital when recognized.