NOTE 17. INCOME TAXES

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for future tax consequences attributable to differences between our consolidated financial statement carrying amount of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. We measure these deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which these temporary differences are expected to reverse. We recognize the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities resulting from a change in tax rates in income in the period that includes the date of the change. We recognized no adjustments for our unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2018 and 2017.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Act”) was signed into law making significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code. Changes include, but are not limited to, a corporate tax rate decrease from 35% to 21% effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-05, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (SEC Update) Investments—Debt Securities (Topic 320).    ASU 2018-05 amends certain SEC material in Topic 740 for the income tax accounting implications of the recently issued Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act.”) The guidance allows for a measurement period of up to one year from the enactment date to finalize the accounting related to the Act. ASU 2018-05 is effective immediately. We have calculated our best estimate of the impact of the Act in our year end income tax provision in accordance with our understanding of the Act and guidance available as of the date of this filing.

For financial reporting purposes, we recorded a valuation allowance of $6.2 million as of December 31, 2017 to offset $6.0 million of the deferred tax assets related to the state net operating loss carryforwards and $0.2 million associated with asset impairments. For financial reporting purposes, we recorded a valuation allowance of $4.5 million as of December 31, 2016 to offset $4.2 million of the deferred tax assets related to the state net operating loss carryforwards and $0.3 million associated with asset impairments.

At December 31, 2017, we had net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of approximately $153.1 million that expire in 2020 through 2037 and for state income tax purposes of approximately $790.4 million that expire in years 2018 through 2037. For financial reporting purposes at December 31, 2017, we had a valuation allowance of $6.2 million, net of federal benefit, to offset $6.0 million of the deferred tax assets related to the state net operating loss carryforwards and $0.2 million associated with asset impairments. Our evaluation was performed for tax years that remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions, which range from 2013 through 2017.

The amortization of our indefinite-lived intangible assets for tax purposes but not for book purposes creates deferred tax liabilities. A reversal of deferred tax liabilities may occur when indefinite-lived intangibles: (1) become impaired; or (2) are sold, which would typically only occur in connection with the sale of the assets of a station or groups of stations or the entire company in a taxable transaction. Due to the amortization for tax purposes and not book purposes of our indefinite-lived intangible assets, we expect to continue to generate deferred tax liabilities in future periods exclusive of any impairment losses in future periods. These deferred tax liabilities and net operating loss carryforwards result in differences between our provision for income tax and cash paid for taxes.

Valuation Allowance (Deferred Taxes)

For financial reporting purposes, we recorded a valuation allowance of $6.2 million as of September 30, 2018 to offset $6.0 million of the deferred tax assets related to the state net operating loss carryforwards and $0.2 million associated with asset impairments. We regularly review our financial forecasts in an effort to determine our ability to utilize the net operating loss carryforwards for tax purposes. Accordingly, the valuation allowance is adjusted periodically based on our estimate of the benefit the company will receive from such carryforwards.