INCOME TAXES (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Summary of the Components of the (Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes
The following is a summary of the components of the (benefit) provision for income taxes for Verso:
 
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Current tax provision (benefit):
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. federal
$

 
$

 
$

U.S. state and local
(594
)
 
38

 
(96
)
Total current tax provision (benefit)
(594
)
 
38

 
(96
)
Deferred tax (benefit) provision:
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. federal
(111,899
)
 
(120,029
)
 
(58,563
)
U.S. state and local
(14,371
)
 
(12,621
)
 
(6,486
)
Total deferred tax (benefit) provision
(126,270
)
 
(132,650
)
 
(65,049
)
Less: valuation allowance
123,875

 
132,050

 
63,721

Total income tax (benefit) provision
$
(2,989
)
 
$
(562
)
 
$
(1,424
)
Reconciliation of Income Tax Expense using the Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate Compared with Actual Income Tax Expense
A reconciliation of income tax expense using the statutory federal income tax rate compared with actual income tax expense follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Tax at Statutory U.S. Rate of 34%
$
(121,019
)
 
$
(38,001
)
 
$
(59,586
)
Increase resulting from:
 

 
 

 
 

Nondeductible transaction costs
9,274

 
1,756

 

Meals and entertainment
173

 
173

 
197

Nondeductible lobbying expenses
162

 
80

 
46

Disallowed compensation

 

 
680

Other disallowed expenses
3

 
4

 
36

Net permanent differences
9,612

 
2,013

 
959

Valuation allowance
123,875

 
132,050

 
63,721

Benefit from change in prior tax position

 
(93,039
)
 

State income taxes (benefit)
(14,763
)
 
(3,740
)
 
(6,550
)
Other
(694
)
 
155

 
32

Total income tax (benefit) provision
$
(2,989
)
 
$
(562
)
 
$
(1,424
)
Summary of the Significant Components of Deferred Tax Position
The following is a summary of the significant components of our deferred tax position:
 
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2014
 
2013
Deferred tax assets:
 
 
 
Net operating loss and credit carryforwards
$
479,569

 
$
417,536

Pension
14,547

 
9,606

Payment-in-kind interest
10,142

 
10,211

Compensation reserves
10,025

 
8,348

Inventory reserves
9,875

 
7,546

Inventory capitalization
3,343

 
2,885

Capitalized expenses
5,143

 

Bad debt reserves
761

 
841

Other
2,230

 
2,046

Gross deferred tax assets
535,635

 
459,019

Less: valuation allowance
(453,729
)
 
(323,335
)
Deferred tax assets, net of allowance
$
81,906

 
$
135,684

Deferred tax liabilities:
 

 
 

Property, plant, and equipment
$
(52,183
)
 
$
(100,507
)
Cancellation of debt income deferral
(17,335
)
 
(21,878
)
Deferred repair charges
(7,631
)
 
(6,188
)
Intangible assets
(5,578
)
 
(8,241
)
Unrealized hedge income
(345
)
 
(4,046
)
Prepaid expenses
(2,613
)
 
(998
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
(85,685
)
 
(141,858
)
Net deferred tax liabilities
$
(3,779
)
 
$
(6,174
)