INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	9. 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 on 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. 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. We have recorded certain items to account for the tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, enacted on December 22, 2017, which among other items, lowered the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, we recorded certain tax provision to tax return true-up adjustments associated with items that were finalized as part of our 2017 tax return filing during the quarter. We recorded a $0.9 million tax benefit in the quarter, primarily for deferred tax temporary difference items that were claimed on the 2017 tax return at a 35% federal tax rate that were recorded at December 31, 2017 as anticipating to be deducted at a 21% federal tax rate. There are no remaining provisional items as of September 30, 2018. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2018. We record interest and penalties on potential income tax deficiencies as income tax expense. Our federal and state tax returns for the 2015 through 2017 tax years are subject to examination as of September 30, 2018. We do not expect to record or realize any material unrecognized tax benefits during 2018. As a result of the adoption of ASU No. 2014-01, Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures: Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects, the amortization of our low-income housing credit investments has been reflected as income tax expense. Accordingly, $0.5 million and $0.4 million of such amortization has been reflected as income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $1.4 million and $1.2 million of such amortization has been reflected as income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively. The amount of affordable housing tax credits, amortization and tax benefits recorded as income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 were $1.3 million, $1.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively. The carrying value of the investment in affordable housing credits is $12.3 million at September 30, 2018, compared to $13.8 million at December 31, 2017.

9. 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 on 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.

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.

We have recorded certain items to account for the tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, enacted on December 22, 2017, which among other items, lowered the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, we recorded certain tax provision to tax return true-up adjustments associated with items that were finalized as part of our 2017 tax return filing during the quarter. We recorded a $0.9 million tax benefit in the quarter, primarily for deferred tax temporary difference items that were claimed on the 2017 tax return at a 35% federal tax rate that were recorded at December 31, 2017 as anticipating to be deducted at a 21% federal tax rate. There are no remaining provisional items as of September 30, 2018.

There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2018. We record interest and penalties on potential income tax deficiencies as income tax expense. Our federal and state tax returns for the 2015 through 2017 tax years are subject to examination as of September 30, 2018. We do not expect to record or realize any material unrecognized tax benefits during 2018.

As a result of the adoption of ASU No. 2014-01, Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures: Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects, the amortization of our low-income housing credit investments has been reflected as income tax expense. Accordingly, $0.5 million and $0.4 million of such amortization has been reflected as income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $1.4 million and $1.2 million of such amortization has been reflected as income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively.

The amount of affordable housing tax credits, amortization and tax benefits recorded as income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 were $1.3 million, $1.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively. The carrying value of the investment in affordable housing credits is $12.3 million at September 30, 2018, compared to $13.8 million at December 31, 2017.