(9) Income Taxes

Liberty Broadband, as consolidated, was included in the federal consolidated income tax return of Liberty through November 4, 2014. Subsequent to the Broadband Spin-Off, Liberty Broadband files separate federal consolidated income tax returns. The tax provision included in these financial statements has been prepared on a stand-alone basis, as if Liberty Broadband was not part of the consolidated Liberty group for the periods prior to the Broadband Spin-Off. Charter is not included in the Liberty Broadband consolidated group tax return as Liberty Broadband owns less than 80% of the company. A portion of the income taxes allocated to Liberty Broadband by Liberty were treated as an equity contribution by Liberty upon completion of the Broadband Spin-Off.

Income tax benefit (expense) consists of:

Income tax benefit (expense) differs from the amounts computed by applying the U.S. federal income tax rate of 35% as a result of the following: 

For the year ended December 31, 2016 the significant reconciling items, as noted in the table above, are the result of the effect of state income taxes.

For the year ended December 31, 2015 the significant reconciling items, as noted in the table above, are the result of the impairment to non-deductible goodwill related to Skyhook’s legacy U-TDOA service.

For the year ended December 31, 2014 the significant reconciling items, as noted in the table above, are the result of the impairment to non-deductible goodwill at Skyhook related to its Wi-Fi location software solution and a tax loss from the liquidation of a consolidated subsidiary at Skyhook.

The tax effects of temporary differences and tax attributes that give rise to significant portions of the deferred income tax assets and deferred income tax liabilities are presented below:

The Company’s valuation allowance decreased $683 thousand in 2016, which affected tax expense during the year ended December 31, 2016.

At December 31, 2016, the Company has a deferred tax liability on investments of $527.2 million primarily as a result of the merger between Time Warner Cable and Charter, as discussed in note 6.

At December 31, 2016, Liberty Broadband had federal and state net operating losses (on a tax effected basis) and tax credit carryforwards for income tax purposes aggregating approximately $23.0 million. These net operating losses and credit carryforwards are expected to be utilized prior to expiration, except for $6.9 million which based on current projections, may expire unused and accordingly are subject to a valuation allowance.  The carryforwards that are expected to be utilized will begin to expire in 2022.

As of December 31, 2016, the Company had not recorded tax reserves related to unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions.

As of December 31, 2016, Liberty’s tax years prior to 2013 are closed for federal income tax purposes, and the IRS has completed its examination of Liberty’s 2013 through 2014 tax years. The tax loss carryforwards from the 2011 through 2014 tax years are still subject to adjustment. The IRS has completed its examination of Liberty Broadband’s 2015 tax year. Liberty Broadband’s 2016 tax year is being examined as part of the IRS’s Compliance Assurance Process “CAP” program. As discussed earlier, because Liberty Broadband’s ownership of Charter is less than the required 80%, Charter is not consolidated with Liberty Broadband for federal income tax purposes.