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Note 17 - Income Taxes
 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

17.

Income Taxes


The total income tax expense of $0.6 million and $1.2 million recognized for the three and six months ended April 30, 2014, respectively, was primarily due to various state tax expenses and state tax reserves for uncertain state tax positions. The total income tax benefit of $2.6 million for the three months ended April 30, 2013 was primarily due to a favorable state tax audit settlement, offset slightly by state tax expenses. The total income tax benefit of $12.1 million recognized for the six months ended April 30, 2013 was primarily due to the release of reserves for a federal tax position that was settled with the Internal Revenue Service and a favorable state tax audit settlement, offset slightly by state tax expenses.


Deferred federal and state income tax assets primarily represent the deferred tax benefits arising from temporary differences between book and tax income which will be recognized in future years as an offset against future taxable income. If the combination of future years’ income (or loss) and the reversal of the timing differences results in a loss, such losses can be carried forward to future years. In accordance with ASC 740, we evaluate our deferred tax assets quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required. ASC 740 requires that companies assess whether valuation allowances should be established based on the consideration of all available evidence using a “more likely than not” standard. Because of the downturn in the homebuilding industry, resulting in significant inventory and intangible impairments in prior years, we are in a three-year cumulative loss position as of April 30, 2014, a factor which is significant negative evidence in considering whether deferred tax assets are realizable that cannot currently be overcome with other positive evidence. Our valuation allowance for deferred taxes amounted to $936.3 million and $927.1 million at April 30, 2014 and October 31, 2013, respectively. The valuation allowance increased during the six months ended April 30, 2014 primarily due to additional valuation allowance recorded for the federal and state tax benefits related to the losses incurred during this period. If, at some time in the future, we determine to reverse all or a portion of our deferred tax asset valuation allowance, such amount would be recorded as an income tax benefit on our consolidated statement of operations, resulting in a material impact to net income and stockholder’s equity.