14.INCOME TAXES

The provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, consists of the following:


	Years Ended December 31,
	2014		2013		2012
Current:
Federal	$	103,332	$	73,243	$	65,099
State		17,972		12,993		10,655
		121,304		86,236		75,754
Deferred:
Federal		27,646		35,797		24,795
State		3,385		2,883		4,894
		31,031		38,680		29,689
Provision for income taxes	$	152,335	$	124,916	$	105,443

The significant components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:


	2014		2013
Deferred income tax assets:
Accounts receivable reserves	$	3,519	$	2,810
Accrued expenses		34,377		31,330
Compensation		15,549		10,901
Interest rate and fuel hedges		3,479		1,158
Leases		1,178		1,308
State taxes		5,480		3,917
Contingent liabilities		25,071		19,415
Other		527		723
Gross deferred income tax assets		89,180		71,562
Less: Valuation allowance		-		-
Net deferred income tax assets		89,180		71,562

Deferred income tax liabilities:
Goodwill and other intangibles		(280,828)		(247,082)
Property and equipment		(255,512)		(242,556)
Landfill closure/post-closure		(34,277)		(30,085)
Prepaid expenses		(7,690)		(12,256)
Total deferred income tax liabilities		(578,307)		(531,979)
Net deferred income tax liability	$	(489,127)	$	(460,417)

During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company reduced its taxes payable by $11,090, $8,781 and $9,603 respectively, as a result of the exercise of non-qualified stock options, the vesting of restricted stock units, and the disqualifying disposition of incentive stock options. The excess tax benefit associated with equity-based compensation of $7,518, $3,765 and $5,033 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, was recorded in additional paid-in capital.

The differences between the Company’s income tax provision as presented in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Net Income and income tax provision computed at the federal statutory rate consist of the items shown in the following table as a percentage of pre-tax income:


	Years Ended December 31,
	2014		2013		2012
Income tax provision at the statutory rate		35.0%		35.0%		35.0%
State taxes, net of federal benefit		3.8		3.7		3.6
Deferred income tax liability adjustments		0.3		-		1.0
Noncontrolling interests		(0.1)		-		(0.1)
Other		0.5		0.2		0.3
		39.5%		38.9%		39.8%

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Deferred income tax liability adjustments, due primarily to the enactment of New York State’s 2014-2015 Budget Act, resulted in an increase to tax expense of $1,220. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Deferred income tax liability adjustments, due primarily to changes in the geographical apportionment of the Company’s state income taxes associated with the R360 acquisition, resulted in an increase to tax expense of $2,602.

At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company did not have any significant federal or state net operating loss carryforwards.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as to income tax of multiple state jurisdictions. The Company has concluded all U.S. federal income tax matters for years through 2010. All material state and local income tax matters have been concluded for years through 2009.

The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits recorded at December 31, 2014, 2013 or 2012. The Company does not anticipate the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change by December 31, 2015. The Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.