(13) Income Taxes

The following table represents components of the provision for income taxes for fiscal years ended (in thousands):


	2017			2016			2015
Current:
Federal	$	10,543		$	16,086		$	15,535
State and local		2,254			2,502			2,608
Foreign		—			—			—

Total current		12,797			18,588			18,143
Deferred:
Federal		932			342			1,635
State and local		(113	)		(147	)		207

Total deferred		819			195			1,842

Total provision for income taxes	$	13,616		$	18,783		$	19,985

The Company’s effective tax rate on earnings from operations for the year ended February 28, 2017, was 34.0%, as compared to 36.8% and 36.7% in 2016 and 2015, respectively. The following summary reconciles the statutory U.S. Federal income tax rate to the Company’s effective tax rate for the fiscal years ended:


	2017			2016			2015
Statutory rate		35.0	%		35.0	%		35.0	%
Provision for state income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit		3.5			3.1			3.5
Domestic production activities deduction		(2.5	)		(2.5	)		(2.5	)
Valuation allowance		(3.4	)		0.7			—
Other		1.4			0.5			0.7

		34.0	%		36.8	%		36.7	%

Deferred taxes are recorded to give recognition to temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. The tax effects of these temporary differences are recorded as deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities. Deferred tax assets generally represent items that can be used as a tax deduction or credit in future years. Deferred tax liabilities generally represent items that have been deducted for tax purposes, but have not yet been recorded in the consolidated statements of earnings. To the extent there are deferred tax assets that are more likely than not to be realized, a valuation allowance would not be recorded. The components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities are summarized as follows (in thousands) for fiscal years ended:


	2017		2016
Deferred tax assets
Allowance for doubtful receivables	$	512	$	778
Inventories		1,124		987
Employee compensation and benefits		1,448		1,304
Pension and noncurrent employee compensation benefits		5,786		7,037
Net operating loss and foreign tax credits		438		3,480
Stock options		552		788

Total deferred tax assets	$	9,860	$	14,374

Deferred tax liabilities
Property, plant and equipment	$	6,979	$	6,719
Goodwill and other intangible assets		9,371		7,519
Property tax		440		503
Valuation allowance		—		1,053
Other		23		116

Total deferred tax liabilities		16,813		15,910

Net deferred income tax liabilities	$	6,953	$	1,536

As a result of the early adoption and retrospective application of ASU 2015-07 as more fully described in Note 1, $6.3 million of deferred tax assets previously presented as a current asset as of February 29, 2016 have been reclassified to noncurrent in these financial statements.

The Company established a valuation allowance related to its foreign tax credit of $1.4 million in fiscal year 2016. In fiscal year 2017 the Company filed an amended return utilizing the foreign tax credit, therefore eliminating the need for the valuation allowance. As of the fiscal year ended 2017, the Company has federal net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $84,000 expiring in fiscal years 2024 through 2025. Based on historical earnings and

expected sufficient future taxable income, management believes it will be able to fully utilize the net operating loss carry forwards.

Accounting standards require a two-step approach to determine how to recognize tax benefits in the financial statements where recognition and measurement of a tax benefit must be evaluated separately. A tax benefit will be recognized only if it meets a “more-likely-than-not” recognition threshold. For tax positions that meet this threshold, the tax benefit recognized is based on the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the taxing authority.

At fiscal year-end 2017 and 2016, unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions, including accrued interest and penalties of $249,000 and $225,000, respectively, are included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and would impact the effective rate if recognized. For fiscal year 2017, the unrecognized tax benefit includes an aggregate of $8,000 of interest expense. Approximately $8,000 of unrecognized tax benefits relate to items that are affected by expiring statutes of limitations within the next 12 months. A reconciliation of the change in the unrecognized tax benefits for fiscal years ended 2017 and 2016 is as follows (in thousands):


	2017			2016
Balance at March 1, 2016	$	225		$	300
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		99			25
Reductions due to lapes of statues of limitations		(75	)		(100	)

Balance at February 28, 2017	$	249		$	225

The Company is subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax of multiple state jurisdictions and foreign tax jurisdictions. The Company has concluded all U.S. Federal income tax matters for years through 2012. All material state and local income tax matters have been concluded for years through 2012 and foreign tax jurisdictions through 2012.

The Company recognizes interest expense on underpayments of income taxes and accrued penalties related to unrecognized non-current tax benefits as part of the income tax provision. Other than amounts included in the unrecognized tax benefits, the Company did not recognize any interest or penalties for the fiscal years ended 2017, 2016 and 2015.