Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Taxes

v2.4.1.9
Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
Income before income taxes is summarized below:
 
Year Ended December 31,
Dollars in thousands
2014
 
2013
 
2012
United States
$
37,547

 
$
32,136

 
$
52,422

Foreign
10,990

 
20,651

 
18,555

 
$
48,537

 
$
52,787

 
$
70,977


Income tax expense (benefit) is summarized as follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
Dollars in thousands
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Current:
 
 
 
 
 
United States:
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
$
(3,079
)
 
$
(3,658
)
 
$
7,791

State
5,335

 
1,968

 
733

Foreign
20,311

 
14,599

 
9,518

 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred:
 
 
 
 
 
United States:
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
4,703

 
10,720

 
15,612

State
(379
)
 
2,820

 
4,296

Foreign
(2,815
)
 
(841
)
 
(4,071
)
 
$
24,076

 
$
25,608

 
$
33,879


Total income tax expense differs from the amount computed by multiplying income before income taxes by the U.S. federal income tax statutory rate. The reasons for this difference are as follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Dollars in thousands
Amount
 
% of Pre-Tax
Income
 
Amount
 
% of Pre-Tax
Income
 
Amount
 
% of Pre-Tax
Income
Computed Expected Tax Expense
$
16,988

 
35.0
 %
 
$
18,476

 
35.0
 %
 
$
24,842

 
35.0
 %
Foreign Taxes
11,221

 
23.1
 %
 
12,470

 
23.6
 %
 
13,171

 
18.6
 %
Tax Effect Different From Statutory Rates
(3,389
)
 
(7.0
)%
 
(8,920
)
 
(16.9
)%
 
(8,080
)
 
(11.4
)%
State Taxes, net of federal benefit
3,117

 
6.4
 %
 
4,099

 
7.8
 %
 
4,757

 
6.7
 %
Foreign Tax Credits
(3,043
)
 
(6.3
)%
 
(1,484
)
 
(2.8
)%
 
(1,867
)
 
(2.6
)%
Change in Valuation Allowance
2,800

 
5.8
 %
 
1,975

 
3.7
 %
 
(1,662
)
 
(2.3
)%
Uncertain Tax Positions
(1,125
)
 
(2.3
)%
 
2,472

 
4.7
 %
 
(6,642
)
 
(9.4
)%
Permanent Differences
676

 
1.4
 %
 
4,005

 
7.6
 %
 
5,477

 
7.7
 %
Prior Year Return to Provision Adjustments
(2,618
)
 
(5.4
)%
 
(6,268
)
 
(11.9
)%
 
4,057

 
5.7
 %
Other
(551
)
 
(1.1
)%
 
(1,217
)
 
(2.3
)%
 
(174
)
 
(0.2
)%
Unremitted Foreign Earnings-Current Year Adjustment
—

 
—
 %
 
—

 
—
 %
 
—

 
—
 %
Actual Tax Expense
$
24,076

 
49.6
 %
 
$
25,608

 
48.5
 %
 
$
33,879

 
47.8
 %

    
The components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are shown below:
 
December 31,
Dollars in thousands
2014
 
2013
Deferred tax assets
 
 
 
Current deferred tax assets:
 
 
 
Reserves established against realization of certain assets
$
2,156

 
$
1,504

Accruals not currently deductible for tax purposes
4,897

 
7,223

Other state deferred tax asset, net
412

 
990

Foreign Local Office
11

 
223

Gross current deferred tax assets
7,476

 
9,940

Current deferred tax valuation allowance
—

 
—

Net current deferred tax assets
7,476

 
9,940

Non-current deferred tax assets:
 
 
 
Federal net operating loss carryforwards
17,235

 
—

State net operating loss carryforwards
1,130

 
864

Other state deferred tax asset, net
1,246

 
1,909

Foreign Tax Credits
37,344

 
27,462

FIN 48
4,870

 
8,317

Foreign tax
28,645

 
18,499

Asset Impairment
38,931

 
48,743

Accruals not currently deductible for tax purposes
—

 
1,017

Deferred compensation
3,210

 
2,436

Other
—

 
—

Gross long-term deferred tax assets
132,611

 
109,247

Valuation Allowance
(9,922
)
 
(6,827
)
Net non-current deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance
122,689

 
102,420

Net deferred tax assets
130,165

 
112,360

Deferred tax liabilities:
 
 
 
Non-current deferred tax liabilities:
 
 
 
Property, Plant and equipment
(43,637
)
 
(32,505
)
Foreign tax local
(4,985
)
 
(1,440
)
Other state deferred tax liability, net
(3,491
)
 
(4,819
)
Other
(2
)
 
(3
)
Gross non-current deferred tax liabilities
(52,115
)
 
(38,767
)
Net deferred tax asset
$
78,050

 
$
73,593


As part of the process of preparing the consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to determine its provision for income taxes. This process involves estimating the annual effective tax rate and the nature and measurements of temporary and permanent differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences and the operating loss and tax credit carryforwards result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income of appropriate character in each taxing jurisdiction during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities (including the impact of available carryback and carryforward periods), projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. To the extent the Company believes that it does not meet the test that recovery is more likely than not, it establishes a valuation allowance. To the extent that the Company establishes a valuation allowance or changes this allowance in a period, it adjusts the tax provision or tax benefit in the consolidated statement of operations. We use our judgment in determining provisions or benefits for income taxes, and any valuation allowance recorded against previously established deferred tax assets. Based upon the factors considered by management in assessing the realizability of the deferred tax assets, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of these deductible differences, net of the existing valuation allowances at December 31, 2014. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced.
On September 13, 2013, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations that address costs incurred in acquiring, producing, or improving tangible property (the “tangible property regulations”). The tangible property regulations are generally effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. The tangible property regulations required the Company to make additional tax accounting method changes as of January 1, 2014; however, the impact of these changes has not been material to the Company’s consolidated financial position, its results of operations, or both.
The 2014 results include income tax benefits of $2.2 million related to the settlement of our US Federal Internal Revenue Service refund claim for periods 2008-2011 and $25.0 million for depreciation and amortization relating to our two arctic-class drilling rigs in Alaska. In addition, we increased our valuation allowance by $2.8 million primarily related to foreign net operating losses.
The 2013 results include income tax benefits of $3.3 million related to the enacted Mexican tax reform as applied to the expected future utilization of deferred tax assets and liabilities and $20.9 million for depreciation and amortization relating to our two arctic-class drilling rigs in Alaska. In addition, we increased our valuation allowance by $2.0 million primarily related to foreign net operating losses.
The 2012 results include income tax expenses of $1.7 million related to the effective settlement of our US Federal Internal Revenue Service examination for the 2006 through 2010 periods and $7.7 million for depreciation and amortization relating to our two arctic-class drilling rigs in Alaska. In addition, we decreased our valuation allowance by $1.7 million primarily related to foreign NOLs.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
Dollars in thousands
 
Balance at January 1, 2014
$
(12,209
)
Additions based on tax positions taken during a prior period
(3,862
)
Additions based on tax positions taken during the current period
(385
)
Reductions related to settlement of tax matters
6,088

Reductions based on tax positions taken during a prior period
2,169

Balance at December 31, 2014
$
(8,199
)

In many cases, our uncertain tax positions are related to tax years that remain subject to examination by tax authorities. The following describes the open tax years, by major tax jurisdiction, as of December 31, 2014:
Colombia
2010-present
Kazakhstan
2007-present
Mexico
2009-present
Papua New Guinea
2011-present
Russia
2011-present
United States — Federal
2012-present
United Kingdom
2012-present

At December 31, 2014, we had a liability for unrecognized tax benefits of $8.2 million ($3.6 million of which, if recognized, would favorably impact our effective tax rate), which includes payments of approximately $6.1 million made during 2014 in settlement of notices of assessment in Kazakhstan which were fully reserved.
The Company recognized interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 we had approximately $3.3 million and $7.9 million of accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, respectively. We recognized an increase of $0.7 million of interest and no penalties on unrecognized tax benefits for the year ended December 31, 2014.
As of December 31, 2014, the Company has permanently reinvested accumulated undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries and, therefore, has not recorded a deferred tax liability related to subject earnings. Upon distribution of additional earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise, we would likely be subject to US income taxes and foreign withholding taxes. It is not practicable to determine precisely the amount of taxes that may be payable on the eventual remittance of these earnings because of the application of US foreign tax credits. While we currently claim foreign tax credits, we may not be in a credit position if and when future remittances of foreign earnings occur, or the limitation imposed by the Internal Revenue Code and regulations thereunder may not allow the credits to be utilized during the applicable carryback and carryforward periods.