Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Components of Provision for Income Taxes

The following table sets forth the components of the provision for income taxes in the periods indicated:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Current income tax expense:
U.S. federal	$	39,279		$	126,585		$	174,264
State and local		4,611			22,004			35,128
Total	$	43,890		$	148,589		$	209,392
Deferred income tax (benefit):
U.S. federal	($	46,345	)	($	51,145	)	($	6,718	)
State and local		(7,757	)		(8,426	)		(1,427	)
Total	($	54,102	)	($	59,571	)	($	8,145	)
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes	($	10,212	)	$	89,018		$	201,247

Components of Deferred Income Tax Assets (Liabilities)

The following table sets forth the components of our deferred income tax assets (liabilities) as of the dates indicated:

	As of December 31,
	2013			2012
Deferral of book costs	($	1,748	)	($	1,810	)
Property and equipment		(1,807	)		(6,416	)
Pension		(10,566	)		(2,712	)
Other		(1,189	)		(2,308	)
Gross deferred tax (liabilities)	($	15,310	)	($	13,246	)
Deferred revenue	$	10,902		$	14,687
Accounts receivable		3,551			6,073
Legal accrual		3,455			2,018
Compensation and benefits		3,316			1,643
Stock-based compensation		20,794			22,680
Operating leases		2,386			735
Legal settlement accrual		0			17,834
Other assets		8,356			18,772
Other contingent liabilities		108,423			30,822
Gross deferred tax assets	$	161,183		$	115,264
Net deferred income tax asset	$	145,873		$	102,018

Difference Between U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate and Effective Income Tax Rate as a Percentage of Income

The difference between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and our effective income tax rate as a percentage of income in the periods indicated is reconciled in the following table:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate		(35.0	%)		35.0	%		35.0	%
PEAKS Trust rate differential		11.9	%		0	%		0	%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit		(5.6	%)		3.4	%		4.0	%
Other		1.3	%		0.6	%		0.4	%
Effective income tax rate		(27.4	%)		39.0	%		39.4	%

Activity with Respect to Unrecognized Tax Benefits

The following table sets forth the activity with respect to our unrecognized tax benefits in the period indicated:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Balance as of January 1	$	20,690		$	22,050		$	22,888
Increases (decreases) from:
Tax positions taken during a prior period		1,675			195			1,042
Tax positions taken during the current period		870			759			2,434
Settlements with taxing authorities		186			(1,027	)		(2,487	)
Lapse of statute of limitations		(1,130	)		(1,287	)		(1,827	)
Balance as of December 31	$	22,291		$	20,690		$	22,050