Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	7. Income Taxes Income taxes were a benefit of $8.2 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared to an expense of $1.5 million for the same quarter of 2017. The effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2018 was a benefit of 134.3% compared with an expense of 33.3% for the comparable period of 2017. Our effective tax rate is affected by state taxes, permanent differences, and tax credits, including the FICA tip credit, for both years while the first quarter of 2018 was significantly impacted by a $9.7 million reduction of our deferred tax liability caused by newly enacted tax laws. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was enacted into law. The Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates and modify policies, credits, and deductions for individuals and businesses. For businesses, the Act reduces the corporate federal tax rate from a maximum of 35% to a flat 21% rate. The corporate tax rate reduction was effective January 1, 2018. Because the Company has a fiscal year end of September 30, the reduced corporate tax rate will result in the application of a blended federal statutory tax rate for its fiscal year 2018 and then a flat 21% thereafter. Under generally accepted accounting principles, the Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. At September 30, 2017, the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were determined based on the then-current enacted federal tax rate of 35%. As a result of the reduction in the corporate income tax rate under the Act, the Company revalued its deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2017. Deferred tax assets and liabilities expected to be realized in fiscal year 2018 were re-measured using the aforementioned blended rate. All remaining deferred tax assets and liabilities were re-measured using the new statutory federal rate of 21%. These re-measurements collectively resulted in a discrete tax benefit of $9.7 million that was recognized during the three months ended December 31, 2017. The Company’s revaluation of its deferred tax assets and liabilities is subject to further clarification of the Act and refinements of its estimates. As a result, the actual impact on the deferred tax assets and liabilities and income tax expense due to the Act may vary from the amounts estimated. The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns for U.S. federal jurisdiction and various states. The Company is no longer subject to federal, state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2013. The Company’s federal income tax returns for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions pursuant to ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes. As of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2017, the liability for uncertain tax positions totaled approximately $865,000 in each period, which is included in current liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company recognizes interest accrued related to uncertain tax positions in interest expense and penalties in operating expenses. On December 22, 2017, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 18 (“SAB 118”), which provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. In accordance with SAB 118, the Company has made reasonable estimates related to the following areas impacted by the Act: existing timing differences, reversal of existing timing differences, and accelerated depreciation. As such, the Company has left the measurement period open as of December 31, 2017.

Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

7. Income Taxes

Income taxes were a benefit of $8.2 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared to an expense of $1.5 million for the same quarter of 2017. The effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2018 was a benefit of 134.3% compared with an expense of 33.3% for the comparable period of 2017. Our effective tax rate is affected by state taxes, permanent differences, and tax credits, including the FICA tip credit, for both years while the first quarter of 2018 was significantly impacted by a $9.7 million reduction of our deferred tax liability caused by newly enacted tax laws.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was enacted into law. The Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates and modify policies, credits, and deductions for individuals and businesses. For businesses, the Act reduces the corporate federal tax rate from a maximum of 35% to a flat 21% rate. The corporate tax rate reduction was effective January 1, 2018. Because the Company has a fiscal year end of September 30, the reduced corporate tax rate will result in the application of a blended federal statutory tax rate for its fiscal year 2018 and then a flat 21% thereafter.

Under generally accepted accounting principles, the Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. At September 30, 2017, the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were determined based on the then-current enacted federal tax rate of 35%. As a result of the reduction in the corporate income tax rate under the Act, the Company revalued its deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2017. Deferred tax assets and liabilities expected to be realized in fiscal year 2018 were re-measured using the aforementioned blended rate. All remaining deferred tax assets and liabilities were re-measured using the new statutory federal rate of 21%. These re-measurements collectively resulted in a discrete tax benefit of $9.7 million that was recognized during the three months ended December 31, 2017. The Company’s revaluation of its deferred tax assets and liabilities is subject to further clarification of the Act and refinements of its estimates. As a result, the actual impact on the deferred tax assets and liabilities and income tax expense due to the Act may vary from the amounts estimated.

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns for U.S. federal jurisdiction and various states. The Company is no longer subject to federal, state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2013. The Company’s federal income tax returns for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions pursuant to ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes. As of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2017, the liability for uncertain tax positions totaled approximately $865,000 in each period, which is included in current liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company recognizes interest accrued related to uncertain tax positions in interest expense and penalties in operating expenses.

On December 22, 2017, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 18 (“SAB 118”), which provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. In accordance with SAB 118, the Company has made reasonable estimates related to the following areas impacted by the Act: existing timing differences, reversal of existing timing differences, and accelerated depreciation. As such, the Company has left the measurement period open as of December 31, 2017.