INCOME TAXES

The following table reflects the provision for income taxes and the effective tax rate for the six months ended March 28, 2015 and March 29, 2014:



	Six months ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)	March 28, 2015			March 29, 2014
Income from operations before income taxes	$	19,613		$	8,109
Provision for income taxes	3,840			996
Net income	$	15,773		$	7,113

Effective tax rate	19.6		%	12.3		%

For the six months ended March 28, 2015, the effective income tax rate differed from the federal statutory tax rate primarily due to profits from foreign operations subject to a lower statutory tax rate than the U.S. statutory tax rate, and the impact of tax holidays, offset by an increase for deferred tax liabilities on unremitted earnings, an increase in valuation allowance against foreign deferred taxes, other U.S. deferred taxes and foreign withholding taxes.

For the six months ended March 29, 2014, the effective income tax rate differed from the federal statutory tax rate primarily due to profits from foreign operations subject to a lower statutory tax rate than the U.S. statutory tax rate, and the impact of tax holidays, offset by an increase for deferred tax liabilities on unremitted earnings, other U.S. deferred taxes and additional foreign expenses or benefits related to returns filed during the period.

The effective tax rate for the six months ended March 28, 2015 of 19.6% increased from the effective tax rate for the six months ended March 29, 2014 of 12.3% and the year ended September 27, 2014 of 18.3% primarily due to higher volume of local sales subject to a higher statutory tax rate and an increase in valuation allowance against foreign deferred taxes.

The Company's future effective tax rate would be affected if earnings were lower than anticipated in countries where it has lower statutory rates and higher than anticipated in countries where it has higher statutory rates, by changes in the valuation of its deferred tax assets and liabilities, or by changes in tax laws, regulations, accounting principles, or interpretations thereof. In addition, anticipated tax benefits from research expenditures and changes in assertions for foreign earnings permanently or non-permanently reinvested as a result of changes in facts and circumstances could significantly impact the effective tax rate. The Company regularly assesses the effects of these factors to determine the adequacy of its provision for income taxes.

It is reasonably possible that the amount of the unrecognized tax benefit with respect to certain unrecognized tax positions will decrease during the next 12 months due to the expected lapse of statutes of limitation. The Company does not expect the change to have a material effect on its statement of operations.