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Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes

10. INCOME TAXES

We account for income taxes in accordance with FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740). ASC 740 requires the recording of deferred income taxes that reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. We exercise significant judgment in the evaluation of the amount and timing of the recognition of the resulting tax assets and liabilities. The judgments and estimates required for the evaluation are updated based upon changes in business factors and the tax laws. If actual results differ from the assumptions and other considerations used in estimating the amount and timing of tax recognized, there can be no assurance that additional expenses will not be required in future periods.

 

As a result of the consolidation for accounting purposes of the SASCO reverse mortgage securitization trust during 2013, a deferred tax asset (DTA) of approximately $4.9 million was recorded. In addition, we recorded a $1.8 million deferred tax liability associated with our original investment in SASCO. However, because SASCO was not consolidated for income tax purposes, a full valuation allowance was also recorded on this DTA due to the uncertainty of its realization, as the realization was dependent on future taxable income. On January 27, 2014 the separate company SASCO tax structure was eliminated, which permits tax consolidation within the Bank’s tax return filings on a prospective basis. At this date, the uncertainty surrounding the realization of the DTA was eliminated. Accordingly, we removed the $4.9 million valuation allowance as well as eliminated the $1.8 million deferred tax liability, which resulted in an overall income tax benefit of $6.7 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2014.

ASC 740 prescribes a minimum probability threshold that a tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. We recognize, when applicable, interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes in the financial statements. Assessment of uncertain tax positions under ASC 740 requires careful consideration of the technical merits of a position based on our analysis of tax regulations and interpretations.

There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2015. We record interest and penalties on potential income tax deficiencies as income tax expense. Our federal and state tax returns for the 2011 through 2014 tax years are subject to examination as of March 31, 2015. No state income tax return examinations are currently in process. We do not expect to record or realize any material unrecognized tax benefits during 2015.