INCOME TAXES	3 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES	12. 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. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the “CAA”) was signed into law on December 27, 2020. The CAA provides further COVID-19 economic relief by providing an expansion of the employee retention tax credit. At this time, we are still evaluating the impact of the CAA on our results and will monitor any additional legislation related to COVID-19 and its impact on our results. During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we assessed and recorded the estimated year-to-date impact of recent changes in income tax laws to address the unfavorable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act included economic relief and modifications, most notably the net operating loss carryback provisions for the U.S. For the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we recorded an income tax expense of $546,000 compared to income tax benefit of $597,000 for the same period in fiscal 2020. Our effective tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 was 45%, compared to 40% in the corresponding prior year period. The year-over-year increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to changes in geographic mix of income and loss which includes jurisdictions with differing tax rates and other events that are not consistent from period to period, such as changes in income tax laws to address the unfavorable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a discrete income tax expense related to unvested stock awards in the first three months of fiscal 2021. Our unrecognized tax benefits were $221,000 as of January 31, 2021 and $204,000 as of October 31, 2020, 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 January 31, 2021, the gross amount of interest accrued, reported in Accrued expenses, was approximately $38,000, 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 August 2021 and August 2024. Currently, our subsidiary in France is under tax audit for the fiscal years 2018 and 2019.

INCOME TAXES

3 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2021

12. 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.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the “CAA”) was signed into law on December 27, 2020. The CAA provides further COVID-19 economic relief by providing an expansion of the employee retention tax credit. At this time, we are still evaluating the impact of the CAA on our results and will monitor any additional legislation related to COVID-19 and its impact on our results.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we assessed and recorded the estimated year-to-date impact of recent changes in income tax laws to address the unfavorable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act included economic relief and modifications, most notably the net operating loss carryback provisions for the U.S. For the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we recorded an income tax expense of $546,000 compared to income tax benefit of $597,000 for the same period in fiscal 2020. Our effective tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 was 45%, compared to 40% in the corresponding prior year period. The year-over-year increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to changes in geographic mix of income and loss which includes jurisdictions with differing tax rates and other events that are not consistent from period to period, such as changes in income tax laws to address the unfavorable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a discrete income tax expense related to unvested stock awards in the first three months of fiscal 2021.

Our unrecognized tax benefits were $221,000 as of January 31, 2021 and $204,000 as of October 31, 2020, 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 January 31, 2021, the gross amount of interest accrued, reported in Accrued expenses, was approximately $38,000, 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 August 2021 and August 2024.

Currently, our subsidiary in France is under tax audit for the fiscal years 2018 and 2019.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

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