Income Taxes Level 3 (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign [Table Text Block]

Income from continuing operations before income taxes for the years ended December 31 was composed of the following components:

	2017		2016		2015
	(In thousands)
United States	$	347,680	$	287,946	$	331,622
Foreign	52,578		38,712		38,729
	$	400,258	$	326,658	$	370,351

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

Income tax (benefit) provision for the years ended December 31 consisted of the following:

	2017			2016			2015
	(In thousands)
Current:
United States	$	154,128		$	113,629		$	94,502
Foreign	12,187			12,084			9,270
State	4,934			16,150			13,207
Total current income taxes	171,249			141,863			116,979
Deferred:
United States	$	(314,389	)	$	(19,496	)	$	15,918
Foreign	618			22,708			(878		)
State	(4,067		)	4,278			3,008
Total deferred income taxes	(317,838		)	7,490			18,048
Total income taxes	$	(146,589	)	$	149,353		$	135,027

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

The differences between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and our effective tax rate for the years ended December 31 were as follows:

	2017			2016			2015
	(In thousands)
Computed tax provision at the applicable federal statutory income tax rate	$	140,090		$	114,331		$	129,623
State and local taxes, net of federal income tax benefits	8,216			13,279			10,542
Foreign jurisdiction differences	(6,782		)	(2,557		)	(5,183		)
Permanent differences associated with divestitures	1,925			9,267			2,909
Changes in uncertain tax positions and audit settlements	(105,821		)	5,669			4,046
Foreign valuation allowance, net of federal income tax benefits	1,186			15,850			—
Enactment of US Tax Reform	(146,160		)	—			—
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation	(18,521		)	—			—
Other	(20,722		)	(6,486		)	(6,910		)
(Benefit from) Provision for income taxes	$	(146,589	)	$	149,353		$	135,027
Total consolidated effective tax rate	(36.6		)%	45.7		%	36.5		%

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]

The tax effects of temporary differences and carryforwards that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 consisted of the following:

	2017			2016
	(In thousands)
Inventories and cemetery property	$	(222,431	)	$	(335,795	)
Property and equipment	(109,631		)	(149,450		)
Intangibles	(194,159		)	(294,251		)
Other	(4,902		)	(6,980		)
Deferred tax liabilities	(531,123		)	(786,476		)
Loss and tax credit carryforwards	170,979			157,795
Deferred revenue on preneed funeral and cemetery contracts	155,679			223,174
Accrued liabilities	62,727			84,230
Deferred tax assets	389,385			465,199
Less: Valuation allowance	(141,154		)	(132,500		)
Net deferred income tax liability	$	(282,892	)	$	(453,777	)

Schedule of Deferred Taxes Classification [Table Text Block]

Deferred tax assets and deferred income tax liabilities are recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31 as follows:

	2017			2016
	(In thousands)
Non-current deferred tax assets	$	873		$	861
Non-current deferred tax liabilities	(283,765		)	(454,638		)
Net deferred income tax liability	$	(282,892	)	$	(453,777	)

Summary of Income Tax Contingencies [Table Text Block]

The following table summarizes the activity related to our gross unrecognized tax benefits from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017 (in thousands):

	Federal, State, and Foreign Tax
	(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	191,680
Additions to tax positions related to the current year	3,235
Reductions to tax positions related to prior years	(12,370		)
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	182,545
Reduction to tax positions related to prior years	(4,219		)
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	178,326
Reductions to tax positions as a result of audit settlement	(30,333		)
Reductions to tax positions related to prior years	$	(68,538	)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	79,455

Summary of Operating Loss Carryforwards [Table Text Block]

Such loss carryforwards will expire as follows:

	Federal		State		Foreign		Total
	(In thousands)
2018	$	—	$	108,312	$	—	$	108,312
2019	—		127,914		—		127,914
2020	—		176,591		—		176,591
2021	—		158,672		—		158,672
Thereafter	—		3,232,606		7,151		3,239,757
Total	$	—	$	3,804,095	$	7,151	$	3,811,246

Summary of Valuation Allowance [Table Text Block]

At December 31, 2017, our loss and tax credit carryforward deferred tax assets and related valuation allowances by jurisdiction are as follows (presented net of federal benefit):

	Federal		State		Foreign		Total
			(In thousands)
Loss and tax credit carryforwards	$	—	$	150,031	$	20,948	$	170,979
Valuation allowance	$	—	$	104,637	$	36,517	$	141,154