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Income Taxes
 3 Months Ended
Jan. 01, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
Our income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and reserves for unrecognized tax benefits reflect management's best assessment of estimated current and future taxes to be paid. We are subject to income taxes in both the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgments and estimates are required in determining the consolidated income tax expense.
Unrecognized Tax Benefit
As of January 1, 2016, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $59.9 million, of which $49.0 million, if recognized, would reduce our effective tax rate. As of September 25, 2015, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $65.2 million, of which $53.0 million, if recognized, would reduce our effective tax rate. The decrease was due to the effective settlement of an IRS tax examination in which the related tax reserve balance was re-classified from long-term income tax payable to current income tax payable. Our net liability for unrecognized tax benefits is classified within other non-current liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets.
Withholding Taxes
We recognize licensing revenue gross of withholding taxes, which our licensees remit directly to their local tax authorities, and for which we receive a partial foreign tax credit in our income tax provision. The foreign current tax includes this withholding tax expense while the appropriate foreign tax credit benefit is included in current federal and foreign taxes. Withholding taxes were as follows (in thousands):
 
Fiscal Quarter Ended
 
January 1,
2016
December 26,
2014
Withholding taxes
$
9,782

$
12,200


Effective Tax Rate
Each period, the combination of multiple different factors can impact our effective tax rate. These factors include both recurring items such as tax rates and the relative amount of income earned in foreign jurisdictions, as well as discrete items such as changes to our uncertain tax positions, that may occur in, but are not necessarily consistent between periods.
Our effective tax rate decreased from 23% in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 to 21% in the first quarter of fiscal 2016, which reflects an increased benefit from federal R&D tax credits. The overall decrease in the rate was partially offset by the impact of our settlement of the I.R.S. audit for tax years 2011 and 2012.