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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Dec. 27, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
Effective Tax Rate
The Company's effective tax rate, which is calculated by dividing each fiscal period's provision for income taxes by pretax income, was 28.6% and 26.9% for the three-month periods ended December 27, 2014 and December 28, 2013, respectively, and 29.0% for both of the nine-month periods ended December 27, 2014 and December 28, 2013. The effective tax rates for the periods presented were lower than the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 35% principally as a result of earnings generated in lower taxed jurisdictions and income tax benefits resulting from legal entity restructuring of certain of the Company's foreign operations during both Fiscal 2015 and Fiscal 2014. The lower effective tax rate for the three-month and nine-month periods ended December 28, 2013 was also favorably impacted by tax reserve reductions associated with the conclusion of a tax examination.
Uncertain Income Tax Benefits
The Company classifies interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as part of its provision for income taxes. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties, was $112 million and $132 million as of December 27, 2014 and March 29, 2014, respectively, and is included within non-current liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the consolidated balance sheets. The reduction in unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties, primarily related to tax audit settlements of approximately $29 million, approximately $23 million of which related to an audit settlement for the taxable years ended April 2, 2011 and March 31, 2012. No material adjustments were recorded within the Company's provision for income taxes in relation to these settlements.
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the Company's effective tax rate was $83 million and $86 million as of December 27, 2014 and March 29, 2014, respectively.
Future Changes in Unrecognized Tax Benefits
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits relating to the Company's tax positions is subject to change based on future events including, but not limited to, settlements of ongoing tax audits and assessments and the expiration of applicable statutes of limitations. Although the outcomes and timing of such events are highly uncertain, the Company does not anticipate that the balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, will change significantly during the next twelve months. However, changes in the occurrence, expected outcomes, and timing of such events could cause the Company's current estimate to change materially in the future.
The Company files a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return, as well as tax returns in various state, local, and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is generally no longer subject to examinations by the relevant tax authorities for years prior to fiscal year 2006.