v3.25.4
Note 11 - Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2025
Income Taxes  
Income Taxes

11. Income Taxes


Income taxes (receivable) payable, including deferred benefits, consists of the following:


October 31,

(In thousands)

2025

2024

State income taxes:

Current

$ 222 $ 5,479

Deferred

(74,825 ) (76,571 )

Federal income taxes:

Current

- -

Deferred

(154,792 ) (164,493 )

Total

$ (229,395 ) $ (235,585 )


The (benefit) provision for income taxes is composed of the following:


Year Ended October 31,

(In thousands)

2025

2024

2023

Current income tax expense:

Federal (1)

$ - $ - $ -

State (2)

10,775 13,312 8,101

Total current income tax expense:

10,775 13,312 8,101

Federal

9,701 64,230 46,821

State

1,746 (2,461 ) (4,862 )

Total deferred income tax expense:

11,447 61,769 41,959

Total

$ 22,222 $ 75,081 $ 50,060


(1)

The current federal income tax expense is net of the use of federal net operating losses totaling $38.5 million (tax effected $8.1 million), $290.1 million (tax effected $60.9 million) and $221.2 million (tax effected $46.4 million) for the years ended October 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.


(2)

The current state income tax expense is net of the use of state net operating losses totaling $14.1 million (tax effected $1.0 million), $110.0 million (tax effected $8.6 million) and $113.3 million (tax effected $8.3 million) for the years ended October 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.


The total income tax expense for the years ended October 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 was $22.2 million, $75.1 million and $50.1 million, respectively. These amounts were primarily attributable to federal and state taxes on income before taxes and non-deductible executive compensation, along with less state net operating losses (“NOL”) available to utilize. These increases were partially offset by energy efficient hometax credits. In fiscal 2025, income tax expense was further reduced by the benefit of deductible losses from our debt extinguishment. Income tax expense for fiscal years 2024 and 2023 includes the favorable impact of releasing state valuation allowances. The federal tax expense for all periods presented was not paid in cash as it was offset by the use of our existing NOL carryforwards.


As of October 31, 2025, we have remaining federal NOL carryforwards of $360.1 million that expire between 2031 and 2038, and $15.7 million have an indefinite carryforward period. Our total remaining state NOL carryforwards are $1.8 billion which expire between 2027 and 2045, and $62.3 million that have an indefinite carryforward period. Our total remaining tax credit carryforwards of $32.4 million expire between 2027 through 2045.


On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ("OBBBA") was enacted and signed into U.S. law. The OBBBA modifies or extends provisions enacted by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and introduces new provisions including the repeal of our ability to claim energy efficient home credits for homes that close after June 30, 2026. While the OBBBA does not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements, we will continue to monitor additional guidance issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service and various state agencies.


The Company recognizes deferred income taxes for deferred tax benefits arising from NOL carryforwards and temporary differences between book and tax income which will be recognized in future years as an offset against future taxable income. As part of our analysis, we considered both positive and negative factors that impact profitability and whether those factors would lead to a change in estimate of our deferred tax assets (“DTAs”) that may be realized in the future. At October 31, 2025, the Company has determined that it is more likely than not that sufficient taxable income will be generated in the future to realize its DTAs, net of any state valuation allowances.


Deferred tax assets and liabilities have been recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows:


October 31,

(In thousands)

2025

2024

Deferred tax assets:

Impairments

 $ 14,517 $ 22,742

Capitalized expenses

 3,777 4,420

Warranty reserves

4,170 4,319

Incentive compensation

13,407 13,777

Provision for losses

18,581 15,236

Federal net operating losses

78,907

87,041

State net operating losses

121,354 123,673

Tax credit carryforwards

32,434 27,482

Other

7,389 10,699

Total deferred tax assets

294,536 309,389

Deferred tax liabilities:

Inventory valuation differences

(9,242 )

(8,610 )

Joint ventures

 (1,111 ) (4,017 )
Other

(1,602 )

-

Total deferred tax liabilities

(11,955 ) (12,627 )

Valuation allowance

(52,964 ) (55,698 )

Deferred tax assets, net

$ 229,617 $ 241,064


Our effective tax rate varied from the statutory federal income tax rate. The effective tax rate is affected by a number of factors. The sources of these factors were as follows:


Year Ended October 31,

2025

2024

2023

Federal statutory income tax rate

21.0 % 21.0 % 21.0 %

State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit

11.5 6.6 6.1
Non-deductible compensation

6.3


2.3


1.4
Tax-deductible losses from debt extinguishment

(10.2 )

-


-
Sale of assets to an unconsolidated joint venture

1.3


-


-

Permanent differences, net

1.7 (0.1 ) (0.4 )

Deferred tax asset valuation allowance

 (0.3 ) (4.1 ) (6.3 )

Tax credits

(5.6 ) (2.0 ) (2.2 )
Other 0.1 - -

Effective tax rate

25.8 % 23.7 % 19.6 %


At October 31, 2025, and 2024, we do not have any unrecognized tax benefits or open tax positions. Our policy is to accrue interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits and include them in the provision for income taxes.


The consolidated federal tax returns have been audited through October 31, 2024 and these years are closed. We are also subject to various income tax examinations in the states in which we do business. The outcome for a particular audit cannot be determined with certainty prior to the conclusion of the audit, appeal, and in some cases, litigation process. As each audit is concluded, adjustments, if any, are recorded in the period determined. To provide for potential exposures, tax reserves are recorded, if applicable, based on reasonable estimates of potential audit results. However, if the reserves are insufficient upon completion of an audit, there could be an adverse impact on our financial position and results of operations. The statute of limitations for our major tax jurisdictions remains open for examination for tax years 2021 to 2024.