Income Taxes

The components of income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax provision (benefit) and the income tax provision (benefit) for the years ended December 31 are as follows:



	2015			2014			2013
Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit)
Domestic	$	26,383		$	(74,402	)	$	54,630
Foreign	(1,584		)	(2,171		)	1,090
	$	24,799		$	(76,573	)	$	55,720
Income tax provision (benefit)
Current income tax provision (benefit):
Federal	$	6,427		$	2,778		$	15,392
State	2,185			(472		)	1,965
Foreign	1,145			586			1,559
Total current	9,757			2,892			18,916
Deferred income tax provision (benefit):
Federal	(7,472		)	(38,829		)	(5,490		)
State	925			(1,817		)	(1,141		)
Foreign	(395		)	(701		)	(1,015		)
Total deferred	(6,942		)	(41,347		)	(7,646		)
	$	2,815		$	(38,455	)	$	11,270

The Company made income tax payments of $10.9 million, $10.2 million and $10.8 million during 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. During the same periods, income tax refunds totaled $0.2 million, $0.9 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

A reconciliation of the federal statutory and effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31 is as follows:



	2015			2014			2013
Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit)	$	24,799		$	(76,573	)	$	55,720
Statutory taxes (benefit) at 35.0%	$	8,679		$	(26,801	)	$	19,502
State and local income taxes	(439		)	(7,112		)	136
Valuation allowance	3,525			5,742			(12		)
Non-deductible expenses	787			632			1,081
Percentage depletion	(8,406		)	(8,572		)	(8,057		)
R&D and other federal credits	(1,854		)	(1,397		)	(1,173		)
Other, net	(332		)	322			520
Tax settlements	855			(1,269		)	(727		)
Income tax provision	$	2,815		$	(38,455	)	$	11,270
Effective income tax rate	11.4		%	50.2		%	20.2		%

As of December 31, 2015, the cumulative unremitted earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are approximately $8.6 million. The Company has provided a cumulative deferred tax liability in the amount of $0.3 million with respect to the cumulative unremitted earnings of the Company as of December 31, 2015 which are expected to be repatriated. The Company has continued to conclude all remaining foreign earnings in excess of this amount will be indefinitely reinvested in its foreign operations and, therefore, the recording of deferred tax liabilities for such unremitted earnings is not required. It is impracticable to determine the amount of unrecognized deferred taxes with respect to these permanently reinvested earnings; however, foreign tax credits would be available to reduce, in part, U.S. income taxes in the event of a distribution.

A detailed summary of the total deferred tax assets and liabilities in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets resulting from differences in the book and tax basis of assets and liabilities follows:



	December 31
	2015		2014
Deferred tax assets
Tax carryforwards	$	12,812	$	8,531
Inventories	4,680		7,027
Accrued expenses and reserves	30,640		28,842
Other employee benefits	14,253		13,264
Partnership investment - development costs	21,766		14,536
Other	16,170		14,885
Total deferred tax assets	100,321		87,085
Less: Valuation allowance	11,723		8,521
	88,598		78,564
Deferred tax liabilities
Depreciation and depletion	42,679		43,111
Accrued pension benefits	3,610		858
Unremitted foreign earnings	296		223
Total deferred tax liabilities	46,585		44,192
Net deferred asset	$	42,013	$	34,372

The following table summarizes the tax carryforwards and associated carryforward periods and related valuation allowances where the Company has determined that realization is uncertain:



	December 31, 2015
	Net deferred tax asset		Valuation allowance		Carryforwards expire during:
Non-U.S. net operating loss	$	915	$	915	2021 - Indefinite
State losses	11,098		7,605		2016 - 2034
Research credit	2,807		—		2028 - 2029
Alternative minimum tax credit	1,871		—		Indefinite
Total	$	16,691	$	8,520



	December 31, 2014
	Net deferred tax asset		Valuation allowance		Carryforwards expire during:
Non-U.S. net operating loss	$	772	$	772	2020 - Indefinite
State losses	9,791		5,687		2015 - 2033
Alternative minimum tax credit	1,396		—		Indefinite
Total	$	11,959	$	6,459

The Company evaluates its deferred tax assets to determine if a valuation allowance is required. A valuation allowance is required where realization is determined to no longer meet the “more likely than not” standard. The establishment of a valuation allowance does not have an impact on cash, nor does such an allowance preclude the Company from using its loss carryforwards or other deferred tax assets in future periods.

Based upon the review of historical earnings and the relevant expiration of carryforwards, including utilization limitations in the various state taxing jurisdictions, the Company believes the valuation allowances are appropriate and does not expect to release valuation allowances within the next twelve months that would have a significant effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

The tax returns of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries are under routine examination by various taxing authorities. The Company has not been informed of any material assessment for which an accrual has not been previously provided and the Company would vigorously contest any material assessment. Management believes any potential adjustment would not materially affect the Company's financial condition or results of operations.

The following is a reconciliation of the Company's total gross unrecognized tax benefits, defined as the aggregate tax effect of differences between tax return positions and the benefits recognized in the financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. Approximately $3.9 million and $3.0 million of these gross amounts as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, relate to permanent items that, if recognized, would impact the effective income tax rate. This amount differs from the gross unrecognized tax benefits presented in the table below due to the decrease in U.S. federal income taxes which would occur upon the recognition of the state tax benefits included herein.



	2015			2014			2013
Balance at January 1	$	3,466		$	7,848		$	2,691
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years	1,230			453			5,615
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	531			921			78
Reductions due to settlements with taxing authorities	(256		)	(4,701		)	(191		)
Reductions due to lapse of the applicable statute of limitations	(101		)	(1,055		)	(345		)
Balance at December 31	$	4,870		$	3,466		$	7,848

The Company records interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions as a component of the income tax provision. The Company recognized net (benefit)/expense of $0.2 million, $(0.9) million and $0.4 million in interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions during 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The total amount of interest and penalties accrued was $0.7 million and $0.5 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

The Company expects the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change within the next 12 months; however, the change in unrecognized tax benefits, which is reasonably possible within the next 12 months, is not expected to have a significant effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In general, the Company operates in taxing jurisdictions that provide a statute of limitations period ranging from three to five years for the taxing authorities to review the applicable tax filings. The examination of the 2011 and 2012 U.S. federal tax returns concluded in the second quarter of 2014. The Company does not have any additional material taxing jurisdictions in which the statute of limitations has been extended beyond the applicable time frame allowed by law.