Meritage Homes Corporation Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current taxes:
Federal	$ 58,461us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	$ 43,675us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	$ (589)us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit
State	1,133	1,345	122
Current income taxes	59,594us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	45,020us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(467)us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Deferred taxes:
Federal	(3,470)	10,232	(62,581)
State	10,052	(2,044)	(13,261)
Deferred income taxes	6,582us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	8,188us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(75,842)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Income tax expense (benefit)	$ 66,176us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	$ 53,208us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	$ (76,309)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit

Amount of current federal tax expense (benefit) pertaining to income (loss) from continuing operations.

Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to taxable income (loss) from continuing operations.

Amount of current state and local tax expense (benefit) pertaining to income (loss) from continuing operations.

Amount of deferred federal income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to income (loss) from continuing operations.

Amount of deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to income (loss) from continuing operations.

Amount of deferred state and local tax expense (benefit) pertaining to income (loss) from continuing operations.