Entity information:
(
8
)
Income Taxes
 
The components
of income tax expense for the years ended
December 31, 2017,
2016
and
2015
were as follows:
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
                         
Current
  $
12,882
     
8,500
     
3,836
 
Deferred
   
62
     
257
     
874
 
Expense of operating loss carryforwards
   
896
     
637
     
766
 
Enacted rate change
   
6,231
     
-
     
-
 
Total income tax expense
  $
20,071
     
9,394
     
5,476
 
 
The difference betwee
n income tax expense and the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before taxes for the years ended
December 31, 2017,
2016
and
2015
is as follows:
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
                         
Tax expense at statutory rate (35%)
  $
14,716
     
10,084
     
5,831
 
State income tax expense, net
   
1,059
     
727
     
416
 
Cash surrender value income
   
(470
)    
(284
)    
(147
)
Tax-exempt interest
   
(288
)    
(295
)    
(168
)
Noncontrolling interest
   
(667
)    
(547
)    
(703
)
Merger-related expenses
   
242
     
108
     
114
 
Stock options
   
(517
)    
-
     
-
 
Enacted rate change
   
6,231
     
-
     
-
 
Other
   
(235
)    
(399
)    
133
 
Total income tax expense
  $
20,071
     
9,394
     
5,476
 
 
The following
table summarizes the components of deferred taxes at
December 31, 2017
and
2016.
 
   
2017
   
2016
 
                 
Deferred income tax assets:
               
Allowance for loan losses
  $
6,991
     
7,318
 
Accrued expenses
   
396
     
6
 
Operating loss carryforwards and credits
   
4,787
     
5,611
 
Premises and equipment
   
560
     
733
 
Non-accrual interest income
   
66
     
91
 
Stock-based compensation
   
771
     
1,118
 
Other real estate
   
276
     
-
 
Deferred compensation
   
564
     
430
 
Goodwill and intangible assets
   
175
     
206
 
Other
   
95
     
233
 
Total gross deferred income tax assets
   
14,681
     
15,746
 
                 
Deferred income tax liabilities:
               
Unrealized gains on investment securities available-for-sale
   
126
     
135
 
Prepaid expenses
   
380
     
475
 
Core deposit intangible
   
1,125
     
772
 
Derivatives
   
234
     
80
 
Investment in pass-through entity
   
775
     
797
 
Total gross deferred income tax liabilities
   
2,640
     
2,259
 
Net deferred income tax assets
  $
12,041
     
13,487
 
 
Pursuant to ASC
740
-
10
-
30
-
2
Income Taxes
, deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates applicable to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  On
December 22, 2017,
the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of
2017
was enacted, which provides for a reduction in the corporate tax rate from a maximum tax rate of
35
percent to a flat tax rate of
21
percent effective for tax years beginning after
December 31, 2017. 
As a result, the Company revalued its deferred tax assets and liabilities as of
December 31, 2017,
and recorded the effect of this change as a component of tax expense.  The tax expense recorded related to the change in the enacted federal tax rate as of
December 31, 2017
was
$6,231,000.
 
 
As of
December 31,
20
17,
the Company had net operating loss carryforwards totaling approximately
$19,788,000
for federal taxes and
$14,538,000
for state taxes that will begin to expire in
2028,
unless previously utilized. The federal operating loss carryforwards are subject to limitation under Section
382
of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986,
as amended (the “Code”), but are expected to be utilized within the carryforward period. The state net operating loss carryforwards are also subject to limitation under Section
382
of the Code. These net operating losses are also expected to be utilized during the carryforward period.