Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405]

Note 16 - Income Taxes

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Note 16 - Income Taxes
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Notes to Financial Statements  
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 16.

INCOME TAXES

 

The components of income tax expense are as follows:

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

2024

   

2023

   

2022

 
   

(In Thousands)

 

Current tax expense:

                       

Federal

  $ 51,897     $ 35,124     $ 56,318  

State

    3,194       3,616       3,621  

Total current tax expense

    55,091       38,740       59,939  

Deferred tax (benefit) expense:

                       

Federal

    (2,227 )     (1,057 )     (4,110 )

State

    (1,124 )     52       1,495  

Total deferred tax (benefit)

    (3,351 )     (1,005 )     (2,615 )

Total income tax expense

  $ 51,740     $ 37,735     $ 57,324  

 

The Company’s total income tax expense differs from the amounts computed by applying the Federal income tax statutory rates to income before income taxes. A reconciliation of the differences is as follows:

 

   

Year Ended December 31, 2024

 
   

Amount

   

% of Pre-tax Earnings

 
   

(In Thousands)

 

Income tax at statutory federal rate

  $ 58,585       21.00

%

Effect on rate of:

               

State income tax, net of federal tax effect

    1,787       0.64

%

Tax-exempt income, net of expenses

    (14 )     (0.01 )%

Bank-owned life insurance contracts

    (2,002 )     (0.72 )%

Excess tax benefit from stock compensation

    (1,117 )     (0.40 )%

Federal tax credits, net of related amortization

    (6,297 )     (2.26 )%

Other

    798       0.36 %

Effective income tax and rate

  $ 51,740       18.61

%

 

   

Year Ended December 31, 2023

 
   

Amount

   

% of Pre-tax Earnings

 
    (In Thousands)  

Income tax at statutory federal rate

  $ 51,363       21.00

%

Effect on rate of:

               

State income tax, net of federal tax effect

    3,339       1.37

%

Tax-exempt income, net of expenses

    (92 )     (0.04 )%

Bank-owned life insurance contracts

    (1,591 )     (0.65 )%

Excess tax benefit from stock compensation

    (1,242 )     (0.51 )%

Federal tax credits, net of related amortization

    (16,002 )     (6.54 )%

Other

    1,960       0.80 %

Effective income tax and rate

  $ 37,735       15.43

%

 

   

Year Ended December 31, 2022

 
   

Amount

   

% of Pre-tax Earnings

 
   

(In Thousands)

 

Income tax at statutory federal rate

  $ 64,796       21.00

%

Effect on rate of:

               

State income tax, net of federal tax effect

    7,247       2.35

%

Tax-exempt income, net of expenses

    (188 )     (0.06 )%

Bank-owned life insurance contracts

    (1,812 )     (0.59 )%

Excess tax benefit from stock compensation

    (1,091 )     (0.35 )%

Federal tax credits, net of related amortization

    (11,131 )     (3.61 )%

Other

    (497 )     (0.16 )%

Effective income tax and rate

  $ 57,324       18.58

%

 

The components of net deferred tax asset are as follows:

 

   

December 31,

 
   

2024

   

2023

 
   

(In Thousands)

 

Deferred tax assets:

               

Allowance for credit losses

  $ 41,431     $ 38,483  

Other real estate owned

    255       253  

Nonqualified equity awards

    1,375       1,354  

Nonaccrual interest

    814       327  

State tax credits carryforward

    2,195       2,011  

Deferred loan fees

    4,074       3,806  

Reserve for unfunded commitments

    -       144  

Accrued bonus

    3,910       3,052  

Capital loss carryforward

    1,716       1,648  

Lease liability

    6,790       6,886  

Deferred revenue

    -       8  

Net unrealized loss on securities available for sale

    10,937       18,129  

Other deferred tax assets

    1,996       2,323  

Total deferred tax assets

    75,493       78,424  
                 

Deferred tax liabilities:

               

Depreciation

    4,138       4,289  

Prepaid expenses

    781       735  

Investments

    950       1,484  

Right-of-use assets and other leasing transactions

    6,541       6,639  

Other deferred tax liabilities

    1,335       2,359  

Total deferred tax liabilities

    13,745       15,506  

Net deferred tax assets

  $ 61,748     $ 62,918  

 

The Company believes its net deferred tax asset is recoverable as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 based on the expectation of future taxable income and other relevant considerations.

 

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. 

 

The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. Federal income tax return and various consolidated and separate company state income tax returns. The Company is currently open to audit under the statute of limitations by the Internal Revenue Service for the years ended December 31, 2022 through 2024. The Company is also currently open to audit by several state departments of revenue for the years ended December 31, 2022 through 2024. The audit periods differ depending on the date the Company began business activities in each state.

 

Accrued interest and penalties on unrecognized income tax benefits totaled $495,000 and $450,000 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized income tax benefits are recorded in the provision for income taxes. The Company has $1,511,000 of unrecognized tax benefits (net of the federal benefit on state income tax issues) recorded as of December 31, 2024. Unrecognized income tax benefits as of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, that, if recognized, would impact the effective income tax rate totaled $1,511,000 and $1,653,000 (net of the federal benefit on state income tax issues), respectively.

 

The following table presents a summary of the changes during 2024, 2023 and 2022 in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that are included in the consolidated balance sheets:

 

   

2024

   

2023

   

2022

 
   

(In Thousands)

 

Balance, beginning of year

  $ 2,092     $ -     $ 3,659  

Increases related to prior year tax positions

    -       1,285       -  

Decreases related to prior year tax positions

    (854 )     -       (2,860 )

Increases related to current year tax positions

    675       807       -  

Lapse of statute

    -       -       (799 )

Balance, end of year

  $ 1,913     $ 2,092     $ -