XML 23 R13.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.10.0.1
Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes

7. Income Taxes

 

Income taxes were an expense of $1.8 million and a benefit of $4.9 million for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, compared to income tax expense of $1.9 million and $5.2 million for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017, respectively. The effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2018 was an expense of 25.3% and a benefit of 25.0%, respectively, compared with an expense of 32.9% and 33.3% for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017, respectively. 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 the newly enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”).

 

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was enacted into law. The Tax 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.

 

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 Tax Act, the Company initially 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 remeasured using the aforementioned blended rate. All remaining deferred tax assets and liabilities were re-measured using the new statutory federal rate of 21%. These remeasurements collectively resulted in a discrete tax benefit of $9.7 million that was recognized during the nine months ended June 30, 2018. 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 Tax 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 were recently examined by the Internal Revenue Service with no changes.

 

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions pursuant to ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes. As of June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, the liability for uncertain tax positions totaled approximately $865,000 as of each date, 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 Act. In accordance with SAB 118, the Company has made reasonable estimates related to the following areas impacted by the Tax Act: existing timing differences, reversal of existing timing differences, and accelerated depreciation. As such, the Company has left the measurement period open as of June 30, 2018.