INCOME TAXES

The following table reflects the provision for income taxes and the effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016:



	Three months ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)	December 31, 2016			January 2, 2016
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes	$	18,191		$	(1,356	)
Income tax expense / (benefit)	2,608			(1,265		)
Net income	$	15,583		$	(91	)

Effective tax rate	14.3		%	(93.3		)%

For the three months ended December 31, 2016, the effective income tax rate differed from the federal statutory tax rate primarily due to tax benefits from profits in foreign operations subject to a lower statutory tax rate than the federal rate, tax benefits from domestic research expenditures, and the impact of tax holidays, partially offset by an increase for deferred taxes on unremitted earnings, foreign withholding taxes, and an increase in valuation allowance against certain foreign deferred tax assets.

For the three months ended January 2, 2016, 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, tax benefits from domestic research expenditures, and the impact of tax holidays, offset by an increase for deferred taxes on unremitted earnings, an increase in valuation allowance against certain foreign deferred tax assets and foreign withholding taxes.

The effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2016 of 14.3% reflects a year-to-date tax expense of $2.6 million on a year-to-date income of $18.2 million. The effective tax rate for the three months ended January 2, 2016 of (93.3)% reflects a year-to-date tax benefit of $(1.3) million on a year-to-date loss of $(1.4) million. The tax expense for the three months ended December 31, 2016 of $2.6 million differed from the tax benefit for the three months ended January 2, 2016 of $(1.3) million was primarily due to higher year-to-date worldwide profit, and a one-time tax benefit from changes in law in fiscal 2016.

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 increase or decrease during the next 12 months due to the expected lapse of statutes of limitation and / or settlements of tax examinations. The Company is currently under income tax examination by tax authorities in certain foreign jurisdictions.