Entity information:
Income Taxes

The components of income tax expense (benefit) are summarized as follows for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015:
(In thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Federal:
 
 
 
 
 
Current
$
2,791

 
$
3,360

 
$
3,199

Deferred
496

 
269

 
8

Provisional remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities
1,712

 

 

 
4,999

 
3,629

 
3,207

State:
 
 
 
 
 
Current
748

 
909

 
704

Deferred
124

 
85

 
151

 
872

 
994

 
855

 
$
5,871

 
$
4,623

 
$
4,062


 
A comparison of income tax expense at the Federal statutory rate in 2017, 2016 and 2015 to the Company’s provision for income taxes is as follows:
 (In thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Federal income tax 
$
4,352

 
$
4,729

 
$
4,327

Add (deduct) effect of: 
 
 
 

 
 

State income taxes net of federal income tax effect 
575

 
656

 
564

Tax-exempt interest income 
(728
)
 
(706
)
 
(724
)
Bank-owned life insurance 
(177
)
 
(187
)
 
(203
)
Executive compensation
139

 

 

Provisional remeasurement of federal deferred tax assets and liabilities
1,712

 

 

 Other items, net 
(2
)
 
131

 
98

Provision for income taxes 
$
5,871

 
$
4,623

 
$
4,062



The tax effects of existing temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are as follows at December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015:
(In thousands)
2017
 
2016
Deferred tax assets: 
 
 
 
     Allowance for loan losses 
$
2,253

 
$
2,993

     Unrealized loss on securities available for sale 
137

 
130

     Supplemental executive retirement plan liability
1,213

 
1,886

Other than temporary impairment loss
119

 
170

Depreciation
622

 
802

Non-accrual interest
330

 
313

     Other 
147

 
262

Total gross deferred tax assets
$
4,821

 
$
6,556

Deferred tax liabilities: 
 
 
 
Deferred costs
540

 

Pension liability
31

 
44

Acquisition accounting adjustments
44

 
52

Total gross deferred tax liabilities
$
615

 
$
96

 
 
 
 
Net deferred tax assets
$
4,206

 
$
6,460



Based upon the current facts, management has determined that it is more likely than not that there will be sufficient taxable income in future years to realize the deferred tax assets.  However, there can be no assurances about the level of future earnings.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act") was signed into law. ASC 740 (Income Taxes) requires the recognition of the effect of changes in tax laws or rates in the period in which the legislation is enacted. The changes in the deferred tax assets and liabilities remeasured at the new 21% federal tax rate are reflected in income tax expense for fiscal year 2017.

The Company performed a preliminary analysis and expensed an estimated $1.7 million impact of the lower corporate tax rates on the deferred tax assets and liabilities. This was a non-cash charge to income. The final impact may differ from this estimate due to, among other things, additional analysis, changes in interpretations and assumptions the Company made, additional regulatory guidance and actions the Company may take as a result of the Tax Act. Information that is needed to adjust provisional amounts would be the completion of all 2017 tax returns.