Entity information:

NOTE 12 – INCOME TAXES

A reconciliation of the income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 to the “expected” tax expense, which was computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 35 percent for 2017, 2016 and 2015 to income before income tax expense, is as follows:

 

     2017      2016      2015  

Computed “expected” tax expense

   $ 16,321      $ 13,931      $ 8,785  

Increase (reduction) in tax expense resulting from:

        

State tax expense, net of federal tax effect

     333        805        1,031  

Effect of statutory rate changes enacted (1)

     5,323        —          —    

Non-deductible merger costs

     19        114        20  

Incentive stock options

     429        152        58  

Bank owned life insurance

     (286      (227      (214

Tax-exempt interest income, net of expense

     (2,585      (1,801      (703

Insurance premiums

     (347      (364      —    

Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock

     (728      (911      —    

Other

     52        47        44  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income tax expense

   $ 18,531      $ 11,746      $ 9,021  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)  On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted tax reform legislation commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), resulting in significant modifications to existing law. As a result of the changes under the Tax Act, the Company recorded incremental income tax expense of $5,323 during the year ended December 31, 2017, which consisted primarily of the remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities at the new federal statutory rate of 21%. Prior to the enactment of the Tax Act, deferred tax assets and liabilities were measured at the previous federal statutory rate of 35%.

 

Income tax expense (benefit) was as follows:

 

     2017      2016      2015  

Current expense

        

Federal

   $ 13,653      $ 11,416      $ 8,302  

State

     1,093        1,294        1,777  

Deferred expense

        

Federal

     (957      (908      (867

State

     (581      (56      (191

Deferred tax revaluation expense

     5,323        —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income tax expense

   $ 18,531      $ 11,746      $ 9,021  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The sources of deferred income tax assets (liabilities) at December 31, 2017 and 2016 and the tax effect is as follows:

 

     2017      2016  

Deferred tax assets:

     

Organizational and start-up costs

   $ 64      $ 115  

Allowance for loan losses

     5,367        6,340  

Unrealized loss on securities

     2,403        4,826  

Net operating loss carry forward

     2,317        4,332  

Purchase accounting fair value adjustments

     1,006        1,914  

Accrued other expenses

     567        512  

Nonaccrual loan interest

     355        468  

Loan fees

     511        312  

Other

     552        139  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax asset

     13,142        18,958  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

     

Mortgage servicing rights

   $ (933    $ (1,429

Premises and equipment

     (753      (1,080

Prepaid expenses

     (469      (527

Purchase accounting fair value adjustments

     (264      (639

Mortgage banking derivatives

     —          (8

Other

     (716      (262
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax liability

     (3,135      (3,945
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax asset

   $ 10,007      $ 15,013  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

At December 31, 2017, the federal net operating loss remaining from the acquisition of MidSouth Bank totaled $11.0 million, which will expire at various dates from 2025 to 2031. The federal net operating losses that can be utilized are subject to an annual limitation of $1.3 million. Deferred tax assets are recognized for net operating losses because the benefit is more likely than not to be realized.

The Company does not have any uncertain tax positions and did not have any interest and penalties recorded in the income statement for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax of the state of Tennessee. The Company is no longer subject to examination by taxing authorities for years before 2014.