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Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
9. Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes was $6 million and the benefit from income taxes was $76 million for the fiscal quarters ended January 31, 2021 and February 2, 2020, respectively.
The provision for income taxes for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2021 was primarily due to higher profits from continuing operations, partially offset by excess tax benefits from stock-based awards and the recognition of gross unrecognized tax benefits as a result of lapses of statutes of limitations and audit settlements.
The benefit from income taxes for the fiscal quarter ended February 2, 2020 was primarily due to the remeasurement of certain foreign deferred tax assets and liabilities and excess tax benefits from stock-based awards.
Uncertain Tax Positions
The balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $4,806 million and $4,748 million as of January 31, 2021 and November 1, 2020, respectively. This increase was primarily due to changes in uncertain tax positions from adjustments arising from audits conducted by tax authorities.
Accrued interest and penalties are included in other long-term liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of January 31, 2021 and November 1, 2020, the combined amount of cumulative accrued interest and penalties was approximately $341 million and $340 million, respectively.
As of January 31, 2021 and November 1, 2020, approximately $5,147 million and $5,088 million, respectively, of the unrecognized tax benefits, including accrued interest and penalties, would affect our effective tax rate if favorably resolved.
We are subject to U.S. income tax examination for fiscal years 2013 and later. Certain of our acquired companies are subject to tax examinations in major jurisdictions outside of the U.S. for fiscal years 2008 and later. It is possible that our existing unrecognized tax benefits may change up to $233 million as a result of lapses of the statute of limitations for certain audit periods and/or audit examinations expected to be completed within the next 12 months.