Entity information:
INCOME TAXES
The Company’s income tax provision on income from continuing operations consists of the following for the periods shown below (in thousands):
 
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Current
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
$
179,884

 
$
153,957

 
$
163,182

State
8,596

 
9,234

 
7,823

Foreign
21,327

 
12,703

 
17,947

 
209,807

 
175,894

 
188,952

Deferred
(918
)
 
5,808

 
660

 
$
208,889

 
$
181,702

 
$
189,612


The differences between the income tax provision on income from continuing operations at the federal statutory income tax rate and the tax provision shown in the accompanying consolidated statements of income for the periods shown below are as follows (in thousands):
 
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Tax at statutory rate of 35%
$
293,129

 
$
268,841

 
$
222,888

State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit
4,042

 
2,677

 
4,931

Stock compensation
(50,314
)
 
(43,565
)
 

Foreign rate differential
(29,685
)
 
(30,079
)
 
(14,332
)
Domestic manufacturing deduction
(17,832
)
 
(16,902
)
 
(17,834
)
Other—net
9,549

 
730

 
(6,041
)
Income tax provision
$
208,889

 
$
181,702

 
$
189,612


The components of the deferred taxes consist of the following at September 30 (in thousands):
 
2017
 
2016
Deferred tax liabilities:
 
 
 
Intangible assets
$
(647,140
)
 
$
(627,633
)
Property, plant and equipment
(29,240
)
 
(31,438
)
Unremitted foreign earnings
(10,784
)
 
(9,434
)
Employee benefits, compensation and other accrued obligations
107,195

 
86,229

Inventory
31,077

 
22,382

Net operating losses
33,462

 
29,266

Interest rate swaps and caps
15,961

 
36,478

Environmental
15,518

 
16,958

Product warranties
7,419

 
9,007

Other
8,797

 
3,216

Total
(467,735
)
 
(464,969
)
Add: Valuation allowance
(33,214
)
 
(27,286
)
Total net deferred tax liabilities
$
(500,949
)
 
$
(492,255
)

At September 30, 2017, the Company has United Kingdom net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $23.3 million, German net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $4.3 million and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $819.5 million that expire in various years from 2017 to 2034. A valuation allowance has been established equal to the amount of the net operating losses that the Company believes will not be utilized. The Company had state tax credit carryforwards of $2.6 million that expire from 2023 to 2029.
The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and local jurisdictions, as well as foreign jurisdictions located in Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal examinations for years before fiscal 2014. The Company is currently under examination in the U.S. for its fiscal 2014 federal taxes. The Company expects the examinations to be completed during fiscal 2018. In addition, the Company is subject to state income tax examinations for fiscal years 2009 and later.
The cumulative amount of the Company’s foreign undistributed net earnings for which no deferred taxes have been provided is approximately $176.0 million at September 30, 2017. The Company has no plans to repatriate such earnings in the foreseeable future.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):
 
2017
 
2016
Balance at beginning of period
$
8,706

 
$
6,859

Additions based on tax positions related to the prior year
500

 
2,014

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year
1,643

 
913

Reductions based on tax positions related to the prior year
(963
)
 
(801
)
Lapse in statute of limitations
(1,231
)
 
(1,483
)
Acquisitions

 
1,204

Balance at end of period
$
8,655

 
$
8,706


Unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2017 and 2016, the recognition of which would have an effect on the effective tax rate for each fiscal year, amounted to $8.7 million in each period. The Company classifies all income tax related interest and penalties as income tax expense, which were not significant for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015. As of September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company accrued $1.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively, for the potential payment of interest and penalties. The Company anticipates no significant changes to its total unrecognized tax benefits through fiscal 2017.