INCOME TAXES

Significant components of the provision for income tax benefit (expense) are as follows:



(In thousands)	Years Ended December 31,
	2016			2015			2014
Current - Federal	$	(190	)	$	(31	)	$	(503	)
Current - foreign	(44,555		)	(46,188		)	(27,256		)
Current - state	(2,908		)	(12,890		)	3,193
Total current expense	(47,653		)	(59,109		)	(24,566		)

Deferred - Federal	38,715			(30,719		)	(29,284		)
Deferred - foreign	56,747			5,269			4,308
Deferred - state	2,665			(2,398		)	(8,947		)
Total deferred benefit (expense)	98,127			(27,848		)	(33,923		)
Income tax benefit (expense)	$	50,474		$	(86,957	)	$	(58,489	)

Current tax expense of $47.7 million was recorded for 2016 as compared to a current tax expense of $59.1 million for 2015. The current tax expense recorded in 2016 was primarily related to foreign income taxes on operating profits generated in certain foreign jurisdictions during the period. The decrease in current tax expense when compared to 2015 was primarily attributable to a decrease in state tax expense which resulted from a reduction in unrecognized tax benefits during 2016 in connection with the settlements of tax examinations during the period.

Current tax expense of $59.1 million was recorded for 2015 as compared to a current tax expense of $24.6 million for 2014. The change in current tax was primarily due to a reduction in unrecognized tax benefits during 2014, which resulted from the expiration of statutes of limitations to assess taxes in the United Kingdom and several state jurisdictions. This decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulted in a reduction to current tax expense of $35.4 million during 2015.

Deferred tax benefit of $98.1 million was recorded for 2016 compared with deferred tax expense of $27.8 million for 2015. The federal and state deferred tax benefits recorded in 2016 were primarily attributable to the reversal of certain U.S. deferred tax liabilities attributable to indefinite-lived intangible assets that were disposed of in connections with the sale of nine non-strategic U.S. outdoor markets during the first quarter of 2016. In addition, the foreign deferred tax benefit recorded in 2016 was primarily related to the $43.3 million deferred tax benefit for the release of valuation allowance against certain net operating loss carryforwards in France. Due to positive evidence that now exists, the Company expects to realize the benefit of these net operating loss carryforwards in the future.

Deferred tax expense of $27.8 million was recorded for 2015 compared with deferred tax expense of $33.9 million for 2014. The change in deferred tax is primarily due to the valuation allowances recorded against the Company’s federal and state net operating losses during 2015.

Significant components of the Company's deferred tax liabilities and assets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:



(In thousands)	2016		2015
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangibles and fixed assets	$	2,016,861	$	2,173,491
Long-term debt	37,205		79,758
Investments	—		3,701
Other	10,159		11,540
Total deferred tax liabilities	2,064,225		2,268,490

Deferred tax assets:
Accrued expenses	155,037		114,079
Investments	5,458		—
Net operating loss carryforwards	1,384,175		1,495,294
Bad debt reserves	10,137		9,256
Other	43,545		39,539
Total gross deferred tax assets	1,598,352		1,658,168
Less: Valuation allowance	991,222		944,576
Total deferred tax assets	607,130		713,592
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	1,457,095	$	1,554,898

During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company elected early adoption of ASU No. 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740), Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. This update requires companies to classify all deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent on the balance sheet instead of separating deferred taxes into current and noncurrent amounts.

The deferred tax liability related to intangibles and fixed assets primarily relates to the difference in book and tax basis of acquired FCC licenses, billboard permits and tax deductible goodwill created from the Company’s various stock acquisitions. In accordance with ASC 350-10, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other, the Company does not amortize FCC licenses and billboard permits. As a result, this deferred tax liability will not reverse over time unless the Company recognizes future impairment charges related to its FCC licenses, permits and tax deductible goodwill or sells its FCC licenses or permits. As the Company continues to amortize its tax basis in its FCC licenses, permits and tax deductible goodwill, the deferred tax liability will increase over time. The Company’s net foreign deferred tax assets for the period ending December 31, 2016 were $47.1 million and the net foreign tax liabilities for the period ending December 31, 2015 were $9.3 million.

At December 31, 2016, the Company had recorded net operating loss carryforwards (tax effected) for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $1.2 billion, expiring in various amounts through 2035. The Company expects to realize the benefits of a portion of its deferred tax assets attributable to federal and state net operating losses based upon expected future taxable income from deferred tax liabilities that reverse in the relevant federal and state jurisdictions and carryforward periods. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had recorded a partial valuation allowance of $853.9 million against these deferred tax assets attributable to federal and state net operating losses, of which $61.5 million was recorded during the current period ended December 31, 2016. In addition, the Company recorded a net reduction of $14.8 million in valuation allowance against its foreign deferred tax assets during the year ended December 31, 2016. The net reduction is primarily due to a release of valuation allowances in France as a result of positive evidence that the net operating loss carryforwards are more likely than not to be utilized in future periods. At December 31, 2016, the Company had recorded $152.5 million (tax-effected) of deferred tax assets for foreign net operating loss carryforwards, which are offset in part by an associated valuation allowance of $103.3 million. Additional deferred tax valuation allowance of $34.0 million offsets other foreign deferred tax assets that are not expected to be realized. Realization of these foreign deferred tax assets is dependent upon the Company’s ability to generate future taxable income in appropriate tax jurisdictions and carryforward periods. Due to the Company’s evaluation of all available evidence, including significant negative evidence of cumulative losses in these jurisdictions, the Company continues to record valuation allowances on the foreign deferred tax assets that are not expected to be realized. The Company expects to realize its remaining gross deferred tax assets based upon its assessment of deferred tax liabilities that will reverse in the same carryforward period and jurisdiction and are of the same character as the net operating loss carryforwards and temporary differences that give rise to the deferred tax assets. Any deferred tax liabilities associated with acquired FCC licenses, billboard permits and tax-deductible goodwill intangible assets are not relied upon as a source of future taxable income, as these intangible assets have an indefinite life.

At December 31, 2016, net deferred tax liabilities include a deferred tax asset of $28.6 million relating to stock-based compensation expense under ASC 718-10, Compensation—Stock Compensation. Full realization of this deferred tax asset requires stock options to be exercised at a price equaling or exceeding the sum of the grant price plus the fair value of the option at the grant date and restricted stock to vest at a price equaling or exceeding the fair market value at the grant date. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the stock price of the Company’s common stock will rise to levels sufficient to realize the entire deferred tax benefit currently reflected in its balance sheet.

Loss before income taxes:



(In thousands)	Years Ended December 31,
	2016			2015			2014
US	$	(349,829	)	$	(700,376	)	$	(800,879	)
Foreign	59,352			49,843			97,210
Total loss before income taxes	$	(290,477	)	$	(650,533	)	$	(703,669	)

The reconciliation of income tax computed at the U.S. federal statutory tax rates to the recorded income tax benefit (expense) is:



	Years Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2016				2015				2014
	Amount			Percent	Amount			Percent	Amount			Percent
Income tax benefit at statutory rates	$	101,667		35.0%	$	227,686		35.0%	$	246,284		35.0%
State income taxes, net of federal tax effect	6,372			2.2%	17,795			2.7%	26,518			3.8%
Foreign income taxes	(21,477		)	(7.4)%	(23,474		)	(3.6)%	11,074			1.6%
Nondeductible items	(5,760		)	(2.0)%	(5,764		)	(0.9)%	(5,533		)	(0.8)%
Changes in valuation allowance and other estimates	(31,229		)	(10.7)%	(302,935		)	(46.6)%	(333,641		)	(47.4)%
Other, net	901			0.3%	(265		)	—%	(3,191		)	(0.5)%
Income tax benefit (expense)	$	50,474		17.4%	$	(86,957	)	(13.4)%	$	(58,489	)	(8.3)%

The Company’s effective tax benefit rate for the year ended December 31, 2016 is 17.4%. The effective tax benefit rate for 2016 was impacted by the $43.3 million deferred tax benefit recorded in connection with the release of valuation allowance in France, which was offset by $54.7 million of tax expense attributable to the sale of our outdoor business in Australia. Additionally, the 2016 effective tax benefit rate was impacted by the $31.8 million valuation allowance recorded against a portion of current period federal and state deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty of the ability to realize those assets in future periods.

A tax expense was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2015 of (13.4)%. The effective tax rate for 2015 was impacted by the $305.3 million valuation allowance recorded during the period as additional deferred tax expense. The valuation allowance was recorded against a portion of the federal and state net operating losses due to the uncertainty of the ability to utilize those losses in future periods.

A tax expense was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2014 of (8.3)%. The effective tax rate for 2014 was impacted by the $339.8 million valuation allowance recorded during the period as additional deferred tax expense. The valuation allowance was recorded against a portion of the federal and state net operating losses due to the uncertainty of the ability to utilize those losses in future periods. This expense was partially offset by $28.9 million in net tax benefits associated with a decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from the expiration of statute of limitations to assess taxes in the United Kingdom and several state jurisdictions.

The Company provides for any related tax liability on undistributed earnings that the Company does not intend to be indefinitely reinvested outside the United States or would otherwise become taxable upon remittance within our foreign structure. Substantially all of the Company’s undistributed international earnings are intended to be indefinitely reinvested in home country operations outside the United States. If any excess cash held by our foreign subsidiaries were needed to fund operations in the U.S., we could presently repatriate available funds without a requirement to accrue or pay U.S. taxes. This is a result of significant deficits, as calculated for tax law purposes, in our foreign earnings and profits, which gives us flexibility to make future cash distributions as non-taxable returns of capital.

The Company continues to record interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in current income tax expense. The total amount of interest accrued at December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $47.5 million and $45.0 million, respectively. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits including accrued interest and penalties at December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $145.4 million and $148.2 million, respectively, of which $115.1 million and $113.6 million is included in “Other long-term liabilities” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, respectively. In addition, $30.3 million and $34.6 million of unrecognized tax benefits are recorded net with the Company’s deferred tax assets for its net operating losses as opposed to being recorded in “Other long-term liabilities” at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2016 and 2015 that, if recognized, would impact the effective income tax rate is $53.8 million and $54.3 million, respectively.



(In thousands)	Years Ended December 31,
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	2016			2015
Balance at beginning of period	$	103,208		$	106,914
Increases for tax position taken in the current year	10,094			9,856
Increases for tax positions taken in previous years	3,024			3,087
Decreases for tax position taken in previous years	(11,157		)	(8,534		)
Decreases due to settlements with tax authorities	(1,007		)	(3,821		)
Decreases due to lapse of statute of limitations	(6,200		)	(4,294		)
Balance at end of period	$	97,962		$	103,208

The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. During 2016, the company settled several tax examinations that resulted in the reduction of unrecognized tax benefits of $11.2 million, excluding interest, during the period. In addition, the statute of limitations for certain tax years expired in the United Kingdom and other jurisdictions resulting in the reduction to unrecognized tax benefits of $6.2 million, excluding interest. During 2015, the statute of limitations for certain tax years expired in the United Kingdom and several state jurisdictions resulting in a reduction to unrecognized tax benefits of $4.3 million, excluding interest. Also during 2015, the Company settled certain U.S. federal and state examinations with taxing authorities, resulting in decreases in unrecognized tax benefits relating to cash tax payments of $3.8 million. All federal income tax matters through 2010 are closed. The Company is currently in appeals with the IRS for the Company’s tax returns for the 2011 and 2012 periods. Substantially all material state, local, and foreign income tax matters have been concluded for years through 2008.