INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
INCOME TAXES [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	Note 3: Income Taxes In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provides numerous tax relief provisions and stimulus measures. A temporary favorable change to the prior year and current year limitations on interest deductions and a temporary suspension of certain payment requirements for the employer portion of Social Security taxes are the relief provisions that are expected to provide us the greatest benefit. In the first quarter of 2020 (i.e., the period of enactment), an expected cash tax benefit of $13,301,000 was recorded to account for the favorable change to the prior year limitation on interest deductions. Our estimated annual effective tax rate (EAETR) is based on full-year expectations of pretax earnings, statutory tax rates, permanent differences between book and tax accounting such as percentage depletion, and tax planning alternatives available in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. For interim financial reporting, we calculate our quarterly income tax provision in accordance with the EAETR. Each quarter, we update our EAETR based on our revised full-year expectation of pretax earnings and calculate the income tax provision so that the year-to-date income tax provision reflects the EAETR. Significant judgment is required in determining our EAETR. In the third quarter of 2020, we recorded income tax expense from continuing operations of $56,984,000 compared to $53,472,000 in the third quarter of 2019. The increase in tax expense was primarily related to a decrease in share-based compensation excess tax benefits as compared to the same quarter in 2019. For the first nine months of 2020, we recorded income tax expense from continuing operations of $130,530,000 compared to $111,764,000 for the first nine months of 2019. The increase in tax expense was primarily related to a decrease in share-based compensation excess tax benefits as compared to the same period in 2019. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities (which reflect our best assessment of the future taxes we will pay) based on the differences between the book basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets represent items to be used as a tax deduction or credit in future tax returns while deferred tax liabilities represent items that will result in additional tax in future tax returns. A summary of our deferred tax assets and liabilities is included in Note 9 “Income Taxes” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Each quarter we analyze the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be realized. Realization of the deferred tax assets ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character in either the carryback or carryforward period. A valuation allowance is recorded if, based on the weight of all available positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that some portion, or all, of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. We project Alabama state net operating loss (NOL) carryforward deferred tax assets at December 31, 2020 of $63,267,000 against which we have a valuation allowance of $29,236,000. All but a de minimis portion of the Alabama NOL carryforward, if not utilized, would expire between 2023 and 2032. We recognize a tax benefit associated with a tax position when, in our judgment, it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained based upon the technical merits of the position. For a tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition threshold, we measure the income tax benefit as the largest amount that we judge to have a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized. A liability is established for the unrecognized portion of any tax benefit. Our liability for unrecognized tax benefits is adjusted periodically due to changing circumstances, such as the progress of tax audits, case law developments and new or emerging legislation.

INCOME TAXES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Note 3: Income Taxes

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provides numerous tax relief provisions and stimulus measures. A temporary favorable change to the prior year and current year limitations on interest deductions and a temporary suspension of certain payment requirements for the employer portion of Social Security taxes are the relief provisions that are expected to provide us the greatest benefit. In the first quarter of 2020 (i.e., the period of enactment), an expected cash tax benefit of $13,301,000 was recorded to account for the favorable change to the prior year limitation on interest deductions.

Our estimated annual effective tax rate (EAETR) is based on full-year expectations of pretax earnings, statutory tax rates, permanent differences between book and tax accounting such as percentage depletion, and tax planning alternatives available in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. For interim financial reporting, we calculate our quarterly income tax provision in accordance with the EAETR. Each quarter, we update our EAETR based on our revised full-year expectation of pretax earnings and calculate the income tax provision so that the year-to-date income tax provision reflects the EAETR. Significant judgment is required in determining our EAETR.

In the third quarter of 2020, we recorded income tax expense from continuing operations of $56,984,000 compared to $53,472,000 in the third quarter of 2019. The increase in tax expense was primarily related to a decrease in share-based compensation excess tax benefits as compared to the same quarter in 2019.

For the first nine months of 2020, we recorded income tax expense from continuing operations of $130,530,000 compared to $111,764,000 for the first nine months of 2019. The increase in tax expense was primarily related to a decrease in share-based compensation excess tax benefits as compared to the same period in 2019.

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities (which reflect our best assessment of the future taxes we will pay) based on the differences between the book basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets represent items to be used as a tax deduction or credit in future tax returns while deferred tax liabilities represent items that will result in additional tax in future tax returns. A summary of our deferred tax assets and liabilities is included in Note 9 “Income Taxes” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Each quarter we analyze the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be realized. Realization of the deferred tax assets ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character in either the carryback or carryforward period. A valuation allowance is recorded if, based on the weight of all available positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that some portion, or all, of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. We project Alabama state net operating loss (NOL) carryforward deferred tax assets at December 31, 2020 of $63,267,000 against which we have a valuation allowance of $29,236,000. All but a de minimis portion of the Alabama NOL carryforward, if not utilized, would expire between 2023 and 2032.

We recognize a tax benefit associated with a tax position when, in our judgment, it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained based upon the technical merits of the position. For a tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition threshold, we measure the income tax benefit as the largest amount that we judge to have a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized. A liability is established for the unrecognized portion of any tax benefit. Our liability for unrecognized tax benefits is adjusted periodically due to changing circumstances, such as the progress of tax audits, case law developments and new or emerging legislation.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

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