INCOME TAXES

The income tax provision for continuing operations consists of the following:



	2014		2013		2012
	(In thousands)
Current:
State	$	14,384	$	6,860	$	84
Federal	16,039		6,325		646
Deferred:
State	4,314		7,385		2,214
Federal	118,604		77,566		23,419
Total income tax expense provision from continuing operations	$	153,341	$	98,136	$	26,363

A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax amount to the recorded expense follows:



	2014		2013		2012
	(In thousands)
Income from continuing operations before federal income taxes	$	400,744	$	251,328	$	98,199
Expected income tax at statutory rate	140,259		87,965		34,370
State income taxes	11,570		9,297		1,493
Other differences	1,512		874		292
Changes in valuation allowance	—		—		(9,792		)
Income tax expense recorded for continuing operations	$	153,341	$	98,136	$	26,363

The tax effects of temporary differences and net operating loss carryforwards, which give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are estimated as follows:



	2014			2013			2012
	(In thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforward	$	1,091		$	1,462		$	1,513
FASB ASC 718 compensation expense	1,562			634			762
AMT credit	24,053			7,968			1,643
Charitable contributions carryover	150			25			5
Unrealized loss on hedging activities	—			8,540			3,836
Foreign tax credit carryforwards	2,074			2,074			2,074
Accrued liabilities	1,260			—			—
State net operating loss carryover	2,627			4,408			4,315
Total deferred tax assets	32,817			25,111			14,148
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets	(3,145		)	(4,743		)	(4,629		)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance	29,672			20,368			9,519
Deferred tax liabilities:
Oil and gas property basis difference	183,767			72,173			15,049
Investment in pass through entities	38,315			8,799			3,618
Non-oil and gas property basis difference	849			249			227
Investment in nonconsolidated affiliates	—			46,495			9,232
Unrealized gain on hedging activities	37,006			—			—
Total deferred tax liabilities	259,937			127,716			28,126
Net deferred tax liability	$	(230,265	)	$	(107,348	)	$	(18,607	)

The Company has an available federal tax net operating loss carryforward estimated at approximately $3.1 million as of December 31, 2014. This carryforward will begin to expire in the year 2034. Based upon the December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 net deferred tax liability position of the Company's oil and gas assets, management believes that this is a positive source of evidence to utilize the carryforward before it expires. Therefore, a valuation allowance has not been provided at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. The Company also has state net operating loss carryovers of $50.5 million from Louisiana that will begin to expire in 2014, alternative minimum tax credits of $24.1 million with no expiration date and federal foreign tax credit carryovers of $2.1 million which begin to expire in 2017. The Company has recorded a valuation allowance of $3.1 million related to state net operating loss carryovers and foreign tax credit carryovers as the carryovers may not be utilized based upon a more likely than not basis.

In 2012, the Diamondback Contribution generated an estimated $61.9 million taxable gain. As a result, the Company recognized $9.8 million of its deferred tax assets which had previously been subject to a valuation allowance. The Company also recognized $25.6 million of deferred tax expense in 2012 primarily due to the utilization of prior net operating losses from the Diamondback Contribution gain. In 2013, the sale of Diamondback common shares generated $120.0 million taxable gain resulting in deferred tax expense of $35.7 million and current tax expense of $13.2 million. In 2014, the sale of the remaining shares of Diamondback, as well as the sale of Blackhawk, generated $203.3 million and $83.7 million taxable gains, respectively, resulting in a deferred tax expense of $79.4 million and $32.3 million, respectively. The Company's current federal tax expense in 2014, 2013 and 2012 is primarily attributable to alternative minimum tax, primarily generated by taxable gains from the sale of shares of Diamondback and the sale of assets by Blackhawk in 2014.

At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company owed approximately $17.7 million and $11.0 million, respectively, for state and federal income taxes payable which is included on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.