11. Income Taxes

The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT effective January 1, 2013, pursuant to the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. As a REIT, generally the Company will not be subject to federal corporate income taxes on ordinary taxable income and capital gains income from real estate investments that it distributes to its stockholders. The Company will continue to be required to pay federal and state corporate income taxes on earnings of its taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”).

The income tax (provision) benefit for continuing operations consists of the following (amounts in thousands):


	2018		2017		2016
CURRENT:
Federal	$	(118)	$	(1,107)	$	(1,788)
State		(1,437)		(2,375)		(1,291)
Total current provision		(1,555)		(3,482)		(3,079)
DEFERRED:
Federal		(7,271)		32,308		321
State		(2,919)		18,299		(642)
Effect of federal tax law change		—		2,030		—
Total deferred (provision) benefit		(10,190)		52,637		(321)
Total (provision) benefit for income taxes	$	(11,745)	$	49,155	$	(3,400)

On December 22, 2017, the TCJA was enacted and included a reduction to the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. At December 31, 2017, the Company had not completed its accounting for the tax effects of the enactment; however, based on a reasonable estimate, the Company recorded a non-cash tax benefit of $2.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2017 to reflect the impact of this rate change on existing deferred tax amounts, which is included above as a component of the benefit for income taxes for 2017. During 2018, the Company completed its accounting for all of the enactment-date income tax effects of the TCJA and made no adjustments to the provisional amounts recorded at December 31, 2017.

The Company evaluates its deferred tax assets each reporting period to determine if it is more likely than not that those assets will be realized or if a valuation allowance is needed. In the fourth quarter of 2017, due to projected future taxable income of our TRSs driven by fourth quarter 2017 modifications to internal hotel leases, the Company determined that the release of a significant portion of its federal and state valuation allowance was appropriate. This release of valuation allowance totaling $53.4 million was the primary factor for the large income tax benefit for 2017 and is included as a component of the benefit for income taxes for 2017.

The Company is required to distribute at least 90% of its annual taxable income, excluding net capital gains, to its stockholders in order to maintain its qualification as a REIT. The taxability of distributions to stockholders is determined by the Company’s earnings and profits, which differs from net income reported for financial reporting purposes. The estimated taxability of cash distributions to common shareholders is as follows (per common share):


	2018		2017		2016
Ordinary income	$	2.67	$	2.97	$	2.98
Capital gains		0.05		0.03		0.17
Return of capital		—		0.15		—
	$	2.72	$	3.15	$	3.15

The differences between the income tax provision calculated at the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 21% for 2018 and 35% for 2017 and 2016 and the actual income tax (provision) benefit recorded for continuing operations are as follows (amounts in thousands):


	2018		2017		2016
Statutory federal income tax provision	$	(58,047)	$	(44,431)	$	(56,914)
Adjustment for nontaxable income of the REIT		50,075		38,272		48,680
State taxes (net of federal tax benefit)		(4,268)		(1,317)		(1,705)
Permanent share-based compensation adjustment		821		1,446		1,571
Other permanent items		(46)		(251)		(200)
Federal valuation allowance reversal		46		36,156		5,519
State valuation allowance reversal (net of federal tax benefit)		(88)		17,241		(228)
Effect of federal tax law change		—		2,030		—
Other		(238)		9		(123)
	$	(11,745)	$	49,155	$	(3,400)

In 2016, the Company adopted ASU 2016‑09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting”. Upon adoption, the Company recorded an immaterial one-time adjustment to retained earnings for prior unrecognized excess tax benefits, net of allowance, as shown in the accompanying consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity for the year ended December 31, 2016. Beginning in 2016, any excess tax benefit or tax deficiency from share-based payment vesting or settlement is recorded as part of a permanent share-based compensation adjustment.

Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31 are as follows (amounts in thousands):


	2018		2017
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS:
Accounting reserves and accruals	$	14,594	$	14,830
Defined benefit plan		4,620		4,148
Deferred management rights proceeds		44,189		44,651
Federal and State net operating loss carryforwards		59,382		44,789
Tax credits and other carryforwards		870		640
Investment in joint ventures		—		317
Other assets		4,427		4,353
Total deferred tax assets		128,082		113,728
Valuation allowance		(14,210)		(14,616)
Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance		113,872		99,112
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES:
Property and equipment, net		57,931		47,416
Investment in joint ventures		14,135		—
Goodwill and other intangibles		478		705
Other liabilities		771		874
Total deferred tax liabilities		73,315		48,995
Net deferred tax assets	$	40,557	$	50,117

Federal net operating loss carryforwards at December 31, 2018 totaled $169.5 million, resulting in a deferred tax benefit of $35.6 million, which will begin to expire in 2032. Charitable contribution carryforwards at December 31, 2018 totaled $3.6 million, resulting in a deferred tax benefit of $0.7 million, which will begin to expire in 2019. The use of certain federal net operating losses, credits and other deferred tax assets are limited to the Company’s future taxable earnings. As a result, a valuation allowance has been provided for certain federal deferred tax assets. The valuation allowance related to federal deferred tax assets increased (decreased) $0, $(60.6) million and $0.6 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. State net operating loss carryforwards at December 31, 2018 totaled $410.3 million, resulting in a deferred tax benefit of $23.8 million, which will expire between 2019 and 2038. The use of certain state net operating losses, credits and other state deferred tax assets are limited to the future taxable earnings of separate legal entities. As a result, a valuation allowance has been provided for certain state deferred tax assets, including loss carryforwards. The valuation allowance related to state deferred tax assets decreased $0.4 million, $13.4 million and $0.2 million in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The total 2017 decrease in federal and state valuation allowance of $74.0 million differs from the amounts shown in the rate reconciliation of $53.4 million due primarily to the effects of the rate change enacted as a result of the TCJA, which resulted in a reduction in deferred tax assets and liabilities offset by a reduction in the corresponding valuation allowance. Management believes that it is more likely than not that the results of operations will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the deferred tax assets after giving consideration to the valuation allowance.

The Company has concluded IRS examinations of the TRS through the 2015 tax year. For federal income tax purposes and substantially all the states with which the Company has nexus, the statute of limitations has expired through 2014. However, the Company has state net operating loss carryforwards from closed years, which could be adjusted upon audit. The Company is routinely subject to other various jurisdictional income tax audits; however, there were no outstanding state or local audits at December 31, 2018.

At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had no accruals for unrecognized tax benefits. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, if any, in income tax expense. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company has accrued no interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions.