INCOME TAXES

The Company’s income tax (benefit) expense and related effective rates were as follows (in thousands, except percentage data):



	For the 13 Weeks Ended September 30, 2017			For the 13 Weeks Ended October 1, 2016			For the 39 Weeks Ended September 30, 2017			For the 39 Weeks Ended October 1, 2016
Income tax (benefit) expense	$	(3,230	)	$	6,451		$	(100,746	)	$	13,230
Effective tax rate	37.1		%	25.0		%	20.3		%	27.5		%

The higher effective tax rate in the Third Quarter as compared to the Prior Year Quarter is attributable to a higher structural rate resulting from an increased forecasted loss from the Company's U.S. operations which is tax-benefited at a higher tax rate than the tax rates used to calculate the tax expense on the profits from the Company's foreign operations. There were also favorable discrete items occurring in the quarter. These positive impacts were partially offset by the increased tax expense resulting from all of the foreign and some of the U.S. goodwill impairment charge being permanently nondeductible for tax purposes. The lower effective tax rate for the Year to Date Period as compared to the Prior Year YTD Period is primarily attributable to the increased tax expense resulting from all of the foreign and some of the U.S. goodwill impairment charge being permanently nondeductible for tax purposes and unfavorable discrete items that occurred in the Year to Date Period, mostly due to the additional tax expense resulting from the adoption of ASU 2016-09. See "Note 1-Financial Statement Policies" for additional disclosures about ASU 2016-09.

As of September 30, 2017, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, was $21.7 million, of which $19.0 million would favorably impact the effective tax rate in future periods, if recognized. The Company is subject to examinations in various state and foreign jurisdictions for its 2011-2016 tax years, none of which the Company believes are significant, individually or in the aggregate. Tax audit outcomes and timing of tax audit settlements are subject to significant uncertainty.

The Company has classified uncertain tax positions as long-term income taxes payable, unless such amounts are expected to be paid within twelve months of the condensed consolidated balance sheet date. As of September 30, 2017, the Company had recorded $2.3 million of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, for positions that are expected to be settled within the next twelve months. Consistent with its past practice, the Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax overpayments and income tax underpayments in income tax expense and income taxes receivable/payable. At September 30, 2017, the total amount of accrued income tax-related interest and penalties included in the condensed consolidated balance sheet was $2.8 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The income tax related interest expense accrued in the Third Quarter was offset by reductions of interest expense associated with the derecognition of uncertain tax benefits. For the Year To Date Period, the Company accrued income tax-related interest expense $0.5 million.

An increase in long-term deferred tax assets is mostly attributable to the future tax amortization of the tax basis in goodwill and trade names which were impaired for GAAP purposes, as well as an increased amount of foreign tax credit carry forwards.

As of September 30, 2017, as a result of proposed U.S. Tax Reform and the planned refinancing of existing debt obligations, the Company is continuing to evaluate its current assertions with respect to certain undistributed earnings in various foreign jurisdictions. At present, the Company believes it can meet its future U.S. obligations through a combination of earnings not considered indefinitely reinvested, future current earnings of foreign subsidiaries, and distributions of earnings in jurisdictions within which no additional U.S. tax would be incurred as a result of excess foreign tax credits associated with such earnings. The Company will continue to monitor its indefinite reinvestment assertions with respect to all foreign jurisdictions as developments occur within proposed U.S. Tax Reform proposals and the planned refinancing of its existing debt obligations.