INCOME TAXES	6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2020
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES	13. INCOME TAXES Our provision for income taxes and effective tax rate are affected by the geographical composition of pre-tax income which includes jurisdictions with differing tax rates, conditional reduced tax rates and other events that are not consistent from period to period, such as changes in income tax laws. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act includes several provisions that provide economic relief for individuals and businesses. The CARES Act, among other things, includes tax provisions relating to refundable payroll tax credits, the deferral of employer’s social security payments, and modifications to net operating loss carryback provisions. We are currently evaluating the impact of the CARES Act on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. We recorded an income tax benefit during the first six months of fiscal 2020 of $1.4 million compared to a tax expense of $4.9 million for the same period in fiscal 2019. Our effective tax rate for the first six months of fiscal 2020 was 22%, compared to 29% for the same period in fiscal 2019. Our unrecognized tax benefits were $230,000 as of April 30, 2020 and $225,000 as of October 31, 2019, and in each case included accrued interest. We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as components of income tax expense. As of April 30, 2020, the gross amount of interest accrued, reported in Accrued expenses, was approximately $37,000, which did not include the federal tax benefit of interest deductions. We file U.S. federal and state income tax returns, as well as tax returns in several foreign jurisdictions. The statutes of limitations with respect to unrecognized tax benefits will expire between July 2020 and July 2024.

13. INCOME TAXES

Our provision for income taxes and effective tax rate are affected by the geographical composition of pre-tax income which includes jurisdictions with differing tax rates, conditional reduced tax rates and other events that are not consistent from period to period, such as changes in income tax laws.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act includes several provisions that provide economic relief for individuals and businesses. The CARES Act, among other things, includes tax provisions relating to refundable payroll tax credits, the deferral of employer’s social security payments, and modifications to net operating loss carryback provisions. We are currently evaluating the impact of the CARES Act on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

We recorded an income tax benefit during the first six months of fiscal 2020 of $1.4 million compared to a tax expense of $4.9 million for the same period in fiscal 2019. Our effective tax rate for the first six months of fiscal 2020 was 22%, compared to 29% for the same period in fiscal 2019.

Our unrecognized tax benefits were $230,000 as of April 30, 2020 and $225,000 as of October 31, 2019, and in each case included accrued interest.

We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as components of income tax expense. As of April 30, 2020, the gross amount of interest accrued, reported in Accrued expenses, was approximately $37,000, which did not include the federal tax benefit of interest deductions.

We file U.S. federal and state income tax returns, as well as tax returns in several foreign jurisdictions. The statutes of limitations with respect to unrecognized tax benefits will expire between July 2020 and July 2024.