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Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Income Taxes
Income Tax Provision

    Income before income taxes includes the following components:
Year Ended December 31
202420232022
(thousands)
Domestic$500,270 $643,060 $1,144,790 
Foreign1,489 1,989 1,591 
Income before income taxes$501,759 $645,049 $1,146,381 
    
    The income tax provision shown in the Consolidated Statements of Operations includes the following:
Year Ended December 31
202420232022
(thousands)
Current income tax provision
Federal$101,542 $133,323 $177,023 
State26,279 28,250 52,046 
Foreign— — (12)
Total current127,821 161,573 229,057 
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)
Federal(2,915)(629)54,852 
State(269)(68)3,921 
Foreign768 517 893 
Total deferred(2,416)(180)59,666 
Income tax provision$125,405 $161,393 $288,723 
    The effective tax rate varies from the U.S. Federal statutory income tax rate principally due to the following:
Year Ended December 31
202420232022
(thousands, except percentages)
Income before income taxes$501,759 $645,049 $1,146,381 
Statutory U.S. income tax rate21.0 %21.0 %21.0 %
Statutory tax provision$105,369 $135,460 $240,740 
State taxes20,491 22,249 45,037 
Unrecognized tax benefits55 (154)6 
Tax credits(805)(226)(570)
Foreign rate differential393 111 370 
Stock-based compensation(3,882)(1,113)(1,529)
Nondeductible executive compensation4,672 3,174 2,433 
Meals and entertainment940 1,239 911 
Other(1,828)653 1,325 
Total$125,405 $161,393 $288,723 
Effective income tax rate25.0 %25.0 %25.2 %

    During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, cash paid for taxes, net of refunds received, was $130.6 million, $133.0 million, and $260.0 million, respectively.

    Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts for income tax purposes. The components of our net deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2024 and 2023, are summarized as follows:
December 31, 2024December 31, 2023
(thousands)
Deferred tax assets
Employee benefits$29,141 $35,445 
Lease liabilities21,136 24,576 
Inventories8,142 5,849 
Foreign net operating loss carryforward274 130 
Other12,152 10,276 
Deferred tax assets$70,845 $76,276 
Deferred tax liabilities
Property and equipment$(105,735)$(108,832)
Right-of-use assets(18,556)(22,256)
Intangible assets and other(19,480)(19,523)
Other(2,218)(2,825)
Deferred tax liabilities$(145,989)$(153,436)
Total deferred tax assets (liabilities), net$(75,144)$(77,160)
    As of December 31, 2024, we have foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $5.6 million, which if unused, will expire in years 2036 through 2044. We have state income tax credits totaling $1.7 million as of December 31, 2024, which if unused, will expire in years 2032 through 2034. The foreign net operating loss and state credit carryforwards in the income tax returns filed included unrecognized tax benefits. The deferred tax assets recognized for those net operating losses and state credit carryforwards are presented net of these unrecognized tax benefits.

Income Tax Uncertainties

    The following table summarizes the changes related to our gross unrecognized tax benefits excluding interest and penalties:
202420232022
(thousands)
Balance as of January 1$1,559 $1,734 $1,782 
Increases related to prior years' tax positions— 4 — 
Increases related to current years' tax positions103 — 13 
Decreases related to prior years' tax positions— — (14)
Lapse of statute of limitations(106)(179)(47)
Balance as of December 31$1,556 $1,559 $1,734 

    As of December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, we had $1.6 million, $1.6 million, and $1.7 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, excluding interest and penalties. Of the total unrecognized tax benefits recorded, $1.5 million, $1.5 million, and $1.7 million (net of the federal benefit for state taxes), respectively, would impact the effective tax rate if recognized.

    We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, we recognized an insignificant amount of interest and penalties related to taxes. We recognize tax liabilities and adjust these liabilities when our judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available or as new uncertainties arise. We do not expect the unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly over the next twelve months.
    We file income tax returns in the U.S. and various state and foreign jurisdictions. Tax years 2021 to present remain open to examination in the U.S. and tax years 2020 to present remain open to examination in Canada and various states. We recorded net operating losses in Canada beginning in 2006 that are subject to examinations and adjustments up to four years following the year in which they are utilized.