2. Income Taxes

Deferred Income Tax Liabilities and Assets – Deferred income taxes are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax laws and rates. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax liabilities and assets were as follows:

2025

2024

Deferred tax liabilities:

Property and equipment tax/book differences

$

83,050,000

$

81,318,000

Interest rate swaps

1,799,000

2,173,000

Property tax method

1,860,000

1,324,000

Section 481a adjustment

1,164,000

Right of use asset

6,641,000

7,350,000

Total deferred tax liabilities

94,514,000

92,165,000

Deferred tax assets:

Insurance reserves

6,000,000

4,929,000

Advance payments on purchases contracts

986,000

746,000

Vacation accrual

2,178,000

1,959,000

Inventory

688,000

1,566,000

Deferred compensation

7,824,000

6,986,000

Lease liability

7,010,000

7,868,000

Other

4,788,000

4,344,000

Total deferred tax assets

29,474,000

28,398,000

Net deferred tax liabilities

$

65,040,000

$

63,767,000

Refundable current income taxes totaling $3.0 million and $16.9 million at September 27, 2025 and September 28, 2024, respectively, are included in the line item “Other current assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Income Tax Expense - Income tax expense differs from the amounts computed by applying the statutory federal rates to income before income taxes. The reasons for the differences were as follows:

2025

2024

2023

Federal tax at statutory rate

$

23,098,000

$

29,295,000

$

58,396,000

State income tax, net of federal tax benefits

3,237,000

3,892,000

9,247,000

Federal tax credits

(960,000)

(1,239,000)

(1,449,000)

Other

970,000

2,012,000

1,499,000

Total

$

26,345,000

$

33,960,000

$

67,693,000

Current and deferred income tax expense (benefit) was as follows:

2025

2024

2023

Current:

Federal

$

20,498,000

$

29,394,000

$

61,562,000

State

4,200,000

5,898,000

12,789,000

Total current expense

24,698,000

35,292,000

74,351,000

Deferred:

Federal

1,722,000

(565,000)

(5,802,000)

State

(75,000)

(767,000)

(856,000)

Total deferred (benefit) expense

1,647,000

(1,332,000)

(6,658,000)

Total expense

$

26,345,000

$

33,960,000

$

67,693,000

 

About Income Taxes Disclosures

The income tax disclosure reveals how much a company actually pays in taxes versus what the statutory rate would predict. Analysts focus on the effective tax rate (ETR) reconciliation, which breaks down every item driving the gap between the 21% federal rate and the company's reported ETR — including R&D credits, foreign rate differentials, and state taxes. Deferred tax assets (DTAs) and their valuation allowances signal management's confidence in future profitability: a rising allowance suggests the company doubts it can use accumulated tax benefits. Uncertain tax benefit (UTB) reserves quantify exposure to IRS challenges on aggressive positions.

Key signals to watch: sudden ETR drops without clear operational reasons, large increases in valuation allowances, growing UTB balances, and significant unremitted foreign earnings. Post-TCJA, pay attention to GILTI and BEAT provisions that affect multinational tax structures. Compare the cash taxes paid (from the cash flow statement) against the income tax provision to gauge earnings quality.