The provision for income taxes, excluding the tax effect of equity method gains (losses), consists of the following (in thousands):
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Current tax expense
 
 


 


     Federal
$
13,527

 
$
6,225

 
$
3,613

     State and local
3,694

 
1,781

 
1,680

     Foreign
626

 
524

 
620

Total current tax expense
$
17,847

 
$
8,530

 
$
5,913

Deferred tax (benefit) expense
 
 


 

     Federal
$
(7,279
)
 
$
(6,376
)
 
$
(297
)
     State and local
472

 
13,046

 
(2,086
)
     Foreign
—

 
—

 
—

Total deferred tax (benefit) expense
$
(6,807
)
 
$
6,670

 
$
(2,383
)
Provision for income taxes
$
11,040

 
$
15,200

 
$
3,530