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Domestic and foreign components of income (loss) before income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, are as follows (in thousands): 

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The annual tax provision (benefit) is different from the amount that would be provided by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to our pretax income (loss). The reasons for the difference are (in thousands): 

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We evaluated the positive and negative evidence available to determine the amount of valuation allowance required on our deferred tax assets. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the balances of our valuation allowances were $23 million, primarily for foreign net operating loss carryforwards. For the year ended December 31, 2012, deferred tax assets remained constant, on a net basis, with utilization matching additions. The individual components of our net deferred tax assets are reflected in the table below. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets for tax loss carryforwards were reduced by utilization of approximately $71 million. Also, during the fourth quarter of 2010, due to increased gross profits and a favorable outlook for metal prices supporting future taxable income and our assessment that our deferred tax assets were more likely than not recoverable, we recorded a reduction in valuation allowance on U.S. deferred assets of $88 million. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered recoverable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income are reduced. 

The components of the net deferred tax asset were as follows (in thousands): 

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## December 31, 

We plan to permanently reinvest earnings from foreign subsidiaries. For the years 2012, 2011 and 2010, we had no unremitted foreign earnings. Foreign net operating losses carried forward are shown above as a deferred tax asset, with a corresponding valuation allowance as discussed below. 

We recorded a valuation allowance to reflect the estimated amount of deferred tax assets, which may not be realized principally due to the expiration of foreign net operating losses and foreign tax credit carryforwards. The changes in the valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, are as follows (in thousands): 

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