NOTE 14 - FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

 

Income tax expense was as follows (dollars in thousands):

The difference between the financial statement tax expense and amount computed by applying the statutory federal tax rate to pretax income was reconciled as follows (dollars in thousands):

The realization of deferred tax assets (net of a recorded valuation allowance) is largely dependent upon future taxable income, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and the ability to carryback losses to available tax years. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, we consider positive and negative evidence, including taxable income in carry-back years, scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, expected future taxable income and tax planning strategies.  At December 31, 2018, a valuation allowance of $92,000 was established for a capital loss carryforward related to the liquidation of assets of a partnership interest the Bank acquired through a loan settlement.  This valuation allowance was maintained at December 31, 2019.  Management believes it is more likely than not that all of the remaining deferred tax assets will be realized against deferred tax liabilities and projected future taxable income.

 

The net deferred tax asset recorded included the following amounts of deferred tax assets and liabilities (dollars in thousands):

There were no unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2019 and 2018 and the Company does not expect the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly increase or decrease in the next twelve months. The Company is no longer subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for years before 2015.