Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Income Taxes

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Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
NOTE 15. 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 continue to evaluate the impact of the CARES Act, including the modifications on the limitation of business interest for tax years beginning in 2019 and 2020 that we have considered in our analysis.
At December 31, 2019, we had net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of approximately $136.1 million that expire in 2021 through 2038 and for state income tax purposes of approximately $793.7 million that expire in years 2020 through 2039. For financial reporting purposes at December 31, 2019, we had a valuation allowance of $8.9 million, net of federal benefit, to offset the deferred tax assets related to the state net operating loss carryforwards along with a valuation allowance of $4.1 million to offset the deferred tax assets related to the federal net operating loss carryforwards. As a result of our adjusted cumulative three-year
pre-tax
book loss as of March 31, 2020, we performed an assessment of positive and negative evidence with respect to the realization of our net deferred tax assets. This assessment included the evaluation of scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, the availability of carryforwards and estimates of projected future taxable income. The economic uncertainty from the
COVID-19
pandemic provided additional negative evidence that outweighed positive evidence resulting in our conclusion that additional deferred tax assets of $37.1 million related to federal and state net operating loss carryforwards are more likely than not to be not realized. As such, an additional valuation allowance of $37.1 million for a total valuation allowance of $50.1 million, is recorded for the period ended March 31, 2020. 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 a valuation allowance of $50.1 million offsets deferred tax asset at March 31, 2020. We regularly review our financial forecasts 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. As a result of our adjusted cumulative three-year
pre-tax
book loss as of March 31, 2020, we performed an assessment of positive and negative evidence with respect to the realization of our net deferred tax assets. This assessment included the evaluation of scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, the availability of carryforwards and estimates of projected future taxable income. The economic uncertainty from the
COVID-19
pandemic provided additional negative evidence that outweighed positive evidence resulting in our conclusion that additional deferred tax assets of $37.1 million related to federal and state net operating loss carryforwards are more likely than not to be not realized. As such, an additional valuation allowance of $37.1 million for a total valuation allowance of $50.1 million, is recorded for the period ended March 31, 2020.