15. Income Taxes

The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state, city, and foreign jurisdictions. Federal income tax audits have been completed through 2009. In the first quarter of 2013, the IRS began an examination of our 2010 and 2011 consolidated federal income tax returns. Certain proposed adjustments resulting from the IRS Examination of our 2005 through 2009 tax returns have been settled with the IRS Appeals Office, subject to final approval by the Joint Committee on Taxation of the U.S. Congress. Various state and other jurisdictions remain open to examination, including Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Illinois.

Huntington accounts for uncertainties in income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes. At December 31, 2014, Huntington had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $1.2 million in income tax liability related to tax positions. Due to the complexities of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from the current estimate of the tax liabilities. Huntington does not anticipate the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits to significantly change within the next 12 months.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of gross unrecognized tax benefits:

Any interest and penalties on income tax assessments or income tax refunds are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income as a component of provision for income taxes. Huntington recognized, $0.1 million of interest expense, $0.2 million of interest benefit, and $0.1 million of interest benefit for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Total interest accrued was $0.2 million and $0.1 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. All of the gross unrecognized tax benefits would impact the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized.

The following is a summary of the provision (benefit) for income taxes:

The following is a reconcilement of provision for income taxes:

At December 31, 2014, Huntington’s net deferred tax asset related to loss and other carryforwards was $192.4 million. This was comprised of federal net operating loss carryforwards of $35.9 million, which will begin expiring in 2023, $48.6 million of state net operating loss carryforward, which will begin expiring in 2015, an alternative minimum tax credit carryforward of $28.5 million, which may be carried forward indefinitely, a general business credit carryforward of $2.3 million, which will begin expiring in 2025, and a capital loss carryforward of $77.1 million, which expires in 2018.

In prior periods, Huntington established a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets for federal capital loss carryforwards, state deferred tax assets, and state net operating loss carryforwards. The federal valuation allowance was based on the uncertainty of forecasted federal taxable income expected of the required character in order to utilize the capital loss carryforward. The state valuation allowance was based on the uncertainty of forecasted state taxable income expected in applicable jurisdictions in order to utilize the state deferred tax assets and state net operating loss carryforwards. Based on current analysis of both positive and negative evidence and projected forecasted taxable income of the appropriate character and/or within applicable jurisdictions, the Company believes that it is more likely than not portions of the federal capital loss carryforward, the state deferred tax assets, and state net operating loss carryforwards will be realized. As a result of this analysis, the federal valuation allowance was reduced to $69.4 million compared to $96.3 million at December 31, 2013, for the portion of the capital loss carryforwards the Company expects to realize and the state valuation allowance was reduced to $3.7 million compared to $15.1 million in at December 31, 2013, for the portion of the state deferred tax assets and state net operating loss carryforwards the Company expects to realize.