NOTE 4 INCOME TAXES

The components of the provision for income taxes are as follows:

	Years Ended September 30,
	2015			2014			2013
	(in thousands)
Current:
Federal	$	84,229		$	323,386		$	315,820
Foreign		16,685			15,841			14,551
State		10,881			21,197			32,916

		111,795			360,424			363,287

Deferred:
Federal		159,686			28,183			35,530
Foreign		(28,456	)		(3,265	)		(1,409	)
State		350			2,206			(4,564	)

		131,580			27,124			29,557

Total provision	$	243,375		$	387,548		$	392,844

The amounts of domestic and foreign income before income taxes are as follows:

	Years Ended September 30,
	2015			2014		2013
	(in thousands)
Domestic	$	676,146		$	1,061,006	$	1,071,435
Foreign		(10,499	)		35,308		42,862

	$	665,647		$	1,096,314	$	1,114,297

Deferred income taxes are provided for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of our assets and liabilities. Recoverability of any tax assets are evaluated and necessary allowances are provided. The carrying value of the net deferred tax assets is based on management's judgments using certain estimates and assumptions that we will be able to generate sufficient future taxable income in certain tax jurisdictions to realize the benefits of such assets. If these estimates and related assumptions change in the future, additional valuation allowances may be recorded against the deferred tax assets resulting in additional income tax expense in the future.

The components of our net deferred tax liabilities are as follows:

	September 30,
	2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	$	1,334,611	$	1,187,774
Available-for-sale securities		33,187		83,787
Other		3,928		67

Total deferred tax liabilities		1,371,726		1,271,628

Deferred tax assets:
Pension reserves		3,405		1,370
Self-insurance reserves		14,318		10,311
Net operating loss and foreign tax credit carryforwards		56,287		48,285
Financial accruals		63,560		52,289
Other		12,049		8,332

Total deferred tax assets		149,619		120,587
Valuation allowance		55,758		47,699

Net deferred tax assets		93,861		72,888

Net deferred tax liabilities	$	1,277,865	$	1,198,740

The change in our net deferred tax assets and liabilities is impacted by foreign currency remeasurement.

As of September 30, 2015, we had state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards for income tax purposes of $6.2 million and $20.7 million, respectively, and foreign tax credit carryforwards of approximately $59.4 million (of which $48.6 million is reflected as a deferred tax asset in our Consolidated Financial Statements prior to consideration of our valuation allowance) which will expire in fiscal 2016 through 2025. The valuation allowance is primarily attributable to state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $0.5 million and $6.6 million, respectively, and foreign tax credit carryforwards of $48.6 million which more likely than not will not be utilized.

Effective income tax rates as compared to the U.S. Federal income tax rate are as follows:

	Years Ended September 30,
	2015			2014			2013
U.S. Federal income tax rate		35.0	%		35.0	%		35.0	%
Effect of foreign taxes		(2.1	)		1.2			1.1
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit		0.8			1.4			1.5
U.S. domestic production activities		(1.2	)		(2.6	)		(2.1	)
Other impact of foreign operations		3.5			0.6			(0.5	)
Other		0.6			(0.2	)		0.3

Effective income tax rate		36.6	%		35.4	%		35.3	%

Effective tax rates differ from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35.0 percent primarily due to state and foreign income taxes and the tax benefit from the Internal Revenue Code Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities. The effective tax rate for the twelve months ended September 30, 2015 was also impacted by a December 2014 tax law change which resulted in a reduction of the fiscal 2014 Internal Revenue Code Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities. In addition, the effective tax rate for the twelve months ended September 30, 2015 was impacted by a reduction in the deferred state income tax rate.

We recognize accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense, and penalties in other expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. As of September 30, 2015 and 2014, we had accrued interest and penalties of $11.1 million and $6.4 million, respectively.

A reconciliation of the change in our gross unrecognized tax benefits for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 is as follows:

	September 30,
	2015			2014
	(in thousands)
Unrecognized tax benefits at October 1,	$	10,747		$	8,129
Gross decreases—tax positions in prior periods		(706	)		(4	)
Gross increases—tax positions in prior periods		3,278			4,293
Gross decreases—current period effect of tax positions		(821	)		(836	)
Gross increases—current period effect of tax positions		—			4
Expiration of statute of limitations for assessments		(956	)		(533	)
Settlements		(331	)		(306	)

Unrecognized tax benefits at September 30,	$	11,211		$	10,747

As of September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, our liability for unrecognized tax benefits includes $2.9 million, for each year, of unrecognized tax benefits related to discontinued operations that, if recognized, would not affect the effective tax rate. The remaining unrecognized tax benefits would affect the effective tax rate if recognized. The liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits and related interest and penalties are included in other noncurrent liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

For the next 12 months, we cannot predict with certainty whether we will achieve ultimate resolution of any uncertain tax position associated with our U.S. and international operations that could result in increases or decreases of our unrecognized tax benefits. However, we do not expect the increases or decreases to have a material effect on results of operations or financial position. We provided for uncertain tax positions of $6.7 million, including interest and penalties, during the twelve months ended September 30, 2015 related to the previous disclosure of a possible increase in the reserve for uncertain tax positions of approximately $8.4 million to $11.0 million due to international tax matters.

We file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return, as well as income tax returns in various states and foreign jurisdictions. The tax years that remain open to examination by U.S. federal and state jurisdictions include fiscal 2011 through 2014, with exception of certain state jurisdictions currently under audit. Audits in foreign jurisdictions are generally complete through fiscal 2002.

On September 13, 2013, the IRS issued final regulations providing guidance on the treatment of amounts paid to acquire, produce or improve tangible property and proposed regulations providing guidance on the dispositions of such property. The implementation date for these regulations is tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. The estimated effect of the regulations have been included in the determination of our taxable income for the fiscal year end 2015 tax provision. The implementation of the regulations did not have a significant impact on the overall tax provision.