INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	NOTE 13—INCOME TAXES We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the applicable provisions of the Code for every year beginning with the year ended December 31, 1999. We have also elected for certain of our subsidiaries to be treated as taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRS” or “TRS entities”), which are subject to federal, state, and foreign income taxes. All entities other than the TRS entities are collectively referred to as the “REIT” within this NOTE 13. Certain REIT entities are subject to foreign income tax. Although the TRS entities and certain other foreign entities have paid minimal cash federal, state, and foreign income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, their income tax liabilities may increase in future periods as we exhaust net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards and as our senior living and other operations grow. Such increases could be significant. Our consolidated provision for income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was a benefit of $8.5 million and $10.7 million, respectively. Our consolidated provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was a benefit of $28.5 million and $27.7 million, respectively. The income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were each due primarily to operating losses at our TRS entities, however for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, $5.9 million of the income tax benefit is due to the reversal of the net deferred tax liability at one TRS entity and $3.6 million of the income tax benefit is due to the release of a tax reserve at the REIT. Realization of a deferred tax benefit related to NOLs depends in part upon generating sufficient taxable income in future periods. Our NOL carryforwards begin to expire in 2024 with respect to our TRS entities and in 2016 for the REIT. Each TRS and foreign entity is a tax paying component for purposes of classifying deferred tax assets and liabilities. Net deferred tax liabilities with respect to our TRS and foreign entities totaled $315.7 million and $338.4 million as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and related primarily to differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of fixed and intangible assets, net of loss carryforwards. A deferred tax liability of $2.3 million was recorded in the three months ended September 30, 2016 in connection with the Wexford Acquisition. Generally, we are subject to audit under the statute of limitations by the Internal Revenue Service for the year ended December 31, 2013 and subsequent years and are subject to audit by state taxing authorities for the year ended December 31, 2011 and subsequent years. We are subject to audit by the Canada Revenue Agency and provincial authorities with respect to certain entities acquired or formed in connection with our 2007 acquisition of Sunrise Senior Living Real Estate Investment Trust generally for periods subsequent to the acquisition. We are also subject to audit in Canada for periods subsequent to the acquisition, and certain prior periods, with respect to the entities acquired in 2014 from Holiday Retirement. We are subject to audit in the United Kingdom generally for periods ended in and subsequent to 2015.

NOTE 13—INCOME TAXES

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the applicable provisions of the Code for every year beginning with the year ended December 31, 1999. We have also elected for certain of our subsidiaries to be treated as taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRS” or “TRS entities”), which are subject to federal, state, and foreign income taxes. All entities other than the TRS entities are collectively referred to as the “REIT” within this NOTE 13. Certain REIT entities are subject to foreign income tax.

Although the TRS entities and certain other foreign entities have paid minimal cash federal, state, and foreign income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, their income tax liabilities may increase in future periods as we exhaust net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards and as our senior living and other operations grow. Such increases could be significant.

Our consolidated provision for income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was a benefit of $8.5 million and $10.7 million, respectively. Our consolidated provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was a benefit of $28.5 million and $27.7 million, respectively. The income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were each due primarily to operating losses at our TRS entities, however for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, $5.9 million of the income tax benefit is due to the reversal of the net deferred tax liability at one TRS entity and $3.6 million of the income tax benefit is due to the release of a tax reserve at the REIT.

Realization of a deferred tax benefit related to NOLs depends in part upon generating sufficient taxable income in future periods. Our NOL carryforwards begin to expire in 2024 with respect to our TRS entities and in 2016 for the REIT.

Each TRS and foreign entity is a tax paying component for purposes of classifying deferred tax assets and liabilities. Net deferred tax liabilities with respect to our TRS and foreign entities totaled $315.7 million and $338.4 million as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and related primarily to differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of fixed and intangible assets, net of loss carryforwards. A deferred tax liability of $2.3 million was recorded in the three months ended September 30, 2016 in connection with the Wexford Acquisition.

Generally, we are subject to audit under the statute of limitations by the Internal Revenue Service for the year ended December 31, 2013 and subsequent years and are subject to audit by state taxing authorities for the year ended December 31, 2011 and subsequent years. We are subject to audit by the Canada Revenue Agency and provincial authorities with respect to certain entities acquired or formed in connection with our 2007 acquisition of Sunrise Senior Living Real Estate Investment Trust generally for periods subsequent to the acquisition. We are also subject to audit in Canada for periods subsequent to the acquisition, and certain prior periods, with respect to the entities acquired in 2014 from Holiday Retirement. We are subject to audit in the United Kingdom generally for periods ended in and subsequent to 2015.