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Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Oct. 01, 2016
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 38.0% and 42.2% during the three-month and six-month periods ended October 1, 2016, respectively, and 27.1% and 27.6% during the three-month and six-month periods ended September 26, 2015, respectively. The effective tax rates for the three-month and six-month periods ended October 1, 2016 were higher than the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 35% as a result of state and local taxes and additional tax reserves largely associated with certain income tax audits, partially offset by the proportion of earnings generated in lower taxed foreign jurisdictions versus the U.S. The effective tax rate for the six months ended October 1, 2016 was also unfavorably impacted by additional tax reserves associated with an income tax settlement. The effective tax rates for the three-month and six-month periods ended September 26, 2015 were lower than the statutory income tax rate as a result of the proportion of earnings generated in lower taxed foreign jurisdictions versus the U.S. The effective tax rate for the six months ended September 26, 2015 was also lower than the statutory income tax rate due to the reversal of certain tax reserves as a result of the expiration of statutes of limitations and a change in estimate related to the assessment period of certain tax liabilities.
During the three months ended September 26, 2015, the Company concluded, with the assistance of a third-party consultant, that based on recent audit settlements and taxpayer audit trends, the assessment period associated with certain tax liabilities established under ASC Topic 740, "Income Taxes," should be reduced. This change was considered a change in estimate for accounting purposes and the related impact was recorded during the second quarter of Fiscal 2016. This change lowered the Company's provision for income taxes by $8 million, including interest and penalties, and net of deferred tax asset reversals, and increased basic and diluted earnings per share by $0.09 for each of the three-month and six-month periods ended September 26, 2015.
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 $74 million and $81 million as of October 1, 2016 and April 2, 2016, respectively, and is included within non-current liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the consolidated balance sheets. The net reduction of $7 million in unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties, primarily related to state reserve releases of $3 million, as well as settlements of $12 million, partially offset by an increase of $8 million related to an income tax settlement and an income tax audit during the fiscal year.
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the Company's effective tax rate was $55 million and $60 million as of October 1, 2016 and April 2, 2016, 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 its fiscal year ended April 1, 2006.