INCOME TAXES AND DEFERRED TAXES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

The Company files a consolidated income tax return including all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries on a calendar year basis. Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Under this method, a deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the enacted tax rates which will be in effect when the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax bases of existing assets and liabilities are expected to be reported in the Company’s income tax returns. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period of change. A valuation allowance is recognized as a reduction to deferred tax assets when management determines it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be available to offset future income tax liabilities.

Accounting standards for income taxes prescribe a recognition threshold and measurement process for financial statement recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return, and also provide guidance on the de-recognition of previously recorded benefits and their classification, as well as the proper recording of interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosures and transition. The Company periodically reviews its income tax positions based on tax laws and regulations and financial reporting considerations, and records adjustments as appropriate. This review takes into consideration the status of current taxing authorities’ examinations of the Company’s tax returns, recent positions taken by the taxing authorities on similar transactions, if any, and the overall tax environment.

As of September 30, 2015, the Company had an insignificant amount of unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions, none of which would materially affect the effective tax rate if recognized. The Company does not anticipate that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease in the next twelve months. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits in the income tax expense. The Company files consolidated income tax returns in U.S. federal jurisdiction and in the Oregon and Idaho state jurisdictions. The tax years which remain subject to examination by the taxing authorities are the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011.

Tax credit investments: The Company invests in low income housing tax credit funds that are designed to generate a return primarily through the realization of federal tax credits. The Company accounts for these investments in accordance with ASU 2014-01 and has applied that standard to all prior periods presented. Under this ASU, the cost of tax credit investments is amortized over the life of the investment using a proportional amortization method and tax credit investment amortization expense is a component of the provision for income taxes.

The following table presents the balances of the Company’s tax credit investments and related unfunded commitments at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (in thousands):



	September 30, 2015		December 31, 2014
Tax credit investments	$	5,447	$	4,858
Unfunded commitments—tax credit investments	1,425		2,864

The following table presents other information related to the Company's tax credit investments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended September 30				Nine Months Ended September 30
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Tax credits and other tax benefits recognized	$	329	$	211	$	958	$	633
Tax credit amortization expense included in provision for income taxes	255		185		745		536