Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 28, 2019

(12) Income Taxes

Income tax expense consisted of the following (in thousands):

	2019		2018		2017
Current:
Federal	$	12,299	$	12,483	$	19,153
State		3,293		2,871		4,046
		15,592		15,354		23,199
Deferred:
Federal		2,591		708		2,734
State		480		920		28
		3,071		1,628		2,762
Income tax expense	$	18,663	$	16,982	$	25,961

The following table provides a reconciliation between the statutory federal income tax rate and our effective income tax rate:

	2019			2018			2017
Statutory federal income tax		21.0	%		21.0	%		35.0	%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit		3.6			3.3			2.5
Stock-based compensation		(4.3	)		(1.1	)		(1.5	)
R&D tax credits		(2.2	)		(2.0	)		(1.1	)
Changes in unrecognized tax benefits		(0.5	)		1.2			(0.6	)
Manufacturing deduction		—			—			(3.5	)
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act effects		—			(3.9	)		(1.9	)
Other		1.0			1.1			(0.4	)
Effective income tax rate		18.6	%		19.6	%		28.5	%

We file income tax returns with the U.S. federal government and various state jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, we are subject to examination by federal and state taxing authorities. We are no longer subject to federal income tax examinations for years prior to 2016 or state income tax examinations prior to 2015.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was enacted. The TCJA reduced the statutory federal tax rate from 35% to 21% starting in 2018. In addition, there were various other tax law changes that impacted us. In connection with the reduction of the federal tax rate, we recognized a provisional tax benefit of $1.7 million for the year ended December 30, 2017. This provisional tax benefit was related to the re-measurement of U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities using a federal tax rate of 21%, which, under the TCJA, is expected to be in place when such deferred assets and liabilities reverse in future periods. During 2018, we updated our provisional tax benefit based on new information, including a tax planning analysis, and recorded an additional $2.9 million tax benefit.

Deferred Income Taxes

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to deferred income taxes were as follows (in thousands):

	2019			2018
Deferred tax assets:
Stock-based compensation	$	8,342		$	7,633
Operating lease liabilities⁽¹⁾		90,059			—
Deferred rent and lease incentives⁽¹⁾		—			6,994
Warranty and returns liabilities		7,215			6,857
Net operating loss carryforwards and credits		1,987			2,324
Compensation and benefits		4,698			3,699
Other		3,953			3,406
Total gross deferred tax assets		116,254			30,913
Valuation allowance		(615	)		(615	)
Total gross deferred tax assets after valuation allowance		115,639			30,298
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property and equipment		30,274			29,912
Operating lease right-of-use assets⁽¹⁾		82,340			—
Deferred revenue		3,859			1,749
Other		2,974			3,459
Total gross deferred tax liabilities		119,447			35,120
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(3,808	)	$	(4,822	)

⁽¹⁾	^{See Note 1, Business and summary of Significant Accounting Policies, New Accounting Pronouncements, Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance, regarding the impact of our adoption of ASC Topic 842, Leases.}

At December 28, 2019, we had net operating loss carryforwards for federal purposes of $1 million, which will expire between 2025 and 2027, and for state income tax purposes of $1 million, which will expire between 2028 and 2034.

We evaluate our deferred income taxes quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required. As part of this evaluation, we assess whether valuation allowances should be established for any deferred tax assets that are not considered more likely than not to be realized, using all available evidence, both positive and negative. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency, and severity of historical losses, forecasts of future profitability, taxable income in available carryback periods and tax planning strategies. In making such judgments, significant weight is given to evidence that can be objectively verified. We have provided a $0.6 million valuation allowance resulting primarily from our inability to utilize certain foreign net operating losses, and federal net operating losses associated with our 2015 acquisition of BAM Labs, Inc.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

Reconciliations of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits were as follows (in thousands):

	Federal and State Tax
	2019			2018			2017
Beginning balance	$	3,866		$	2,839		$	3,460
Increases related to current-year tax positions		638			778			330
Increases related to prior-year tax positions		134			595			87
Decreases related to prior-year tax positions		(363	)		—			(1,038	)
Lapse of statute of limitations		(663	)		(333	)		—
Settlements with taxing authorities		(275	)		(13	)		—
Ending balance	$	3,337		$	3,866		$	2,839

As of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, we had $3 million and $4 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits, which if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits is not expected to change materially within the next 12 months.