INCOME TAXES

The following table reflects the provision for income taxes and the effective tax rate for the nine months ended June 27, 2015 and June 28, 2014:



	Nine months ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)	June 27, 2015			June 28, 2014
Income from operations before income taxes	$	35,877		$	39,633
Income tax (benefit)/expense	(4,935		)	5,904
Net income	$	40,812		$	33,729

Effective tax rate	(13.8		)%	14.9		%

For the nine months ended June 27, 2015, the effective income tax rate differed from the federal statutory tax rate primarily due to tax benefits from research and development expenditures, profits from foreign operations subject to a lower statutory tax rate than the federal rate, and the impact of tax holidays, offset by an increase in valuation allowance against certain foreign deferred tax assets, foreign earnings not permanently reinvested, and foreign withholding taxes. In addition, total discrete tax benefit of $13.7 million was recorded primarily related to the reduction in the deferred tax liabilities as a result of the change in permanent reinvestment assertion for the nine months ended June 27, 2015 due to a business structure reorganization.

For the nine months ended June 28, 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 federal rate and the impact of tax holidays, offset by an increase for deferred tax liabilities on unremitted earnings and additional domestic and foreign expenses or benefits related to returns filed in the period.

The effective tax rate for the period ended June 27, 2015 of (13.8)% decreased from the effective tax rate for the period ended June 28, 2014 of 14.9% and the year ended September 27, 2014 of 18.3% primarily due to a net decrease of deferred tax liabilities on certain unremitted foreign earnings as a result of the change in permanent reinvestment assertion, and tax benefits from research and development expenditures, offset by lower profits in foreign jurisdiction and an increase in valuation allowance against certain foreign deferred tax assets.

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, changes in assertion 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 resulting from 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.