INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Jul. 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 included several provisions that provide economic relief for individuals and businesses. The CARES Act, among other things, included tax provisions relating to refundable payroll tax credits, the deferral of employer’s social security payments, and modifications to net operating loss carryback provisions. On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the “CAA”), which includes the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, was signed into law and provided further COVID-19 economic relief with an expansion of the employee retention credit. As a result, we recorded a benefit of $2.9 million related to the employee retention credit during the nine months of fiscal 2021. During the third 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. We recorded an income tax expense during the nine months of fiscal 2021 of $2.6 million compared to an income tax benefit of $2.3 million for the same period in 2020. Our effective tax rate for the nine months of fiscal 2021 was 36%, compared to 46% in the corresponding prior year period. The year-over-year change in the effective tax rate was primarily due to changes in geographic mix of income and loss that includes jurisdictions with differing tax rates, various discrete income tax expense items, and more specifically related to the prior year period, and changes in income tax laws to address the unfavorable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our unrecognized tax benefits were $268,000 as of July 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 July 31, 2021, the gross amount of interest accrued, reported in Accrued expenses, was approximately $41,000, 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 Taiwan is under tax audit for fiscal year 2018.

INCOME TAXES

9 Months Ended

Jul. 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 included several provisions that provide economic relief for individuals and businesses. The CARES Act, among other things, included tax provisions relating to refundable payroll tax credits, the deferral of employer’s social security payments, and modifications to net operating loss carryback provisions. On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated

Appropriations Act of 2021 (the “CAA”), which includes the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act

and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, was signed into law and provided further COVID-19 economic relief with an expansion of

the employee retention credit. As a result, we recorded a benefit of $2.9 million related to the employee retention credit during the

nine months of fiscal 2021.

During the third 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. We recorded an income tax expense during the nine months of fiscal 2021 of $2.6 million compared to an income tax benefit of $2.3 million for the same period in 2020. Our effective tax rate for the nine months of fiscal 2021 was 36%, compared to 46% in the corresponding prior year period. The year-over-year change in the effective tax rate was primarily due to changes in geographic mix of income and loss that includes jurisdictions with differing tax rates, various discrete income tax expense items, and more specifically related to the prior year period, and changes in income tax laws to address the unfavorable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our unrecognized tax benefits were $268,000 as of July 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 July 31, 2021, the gross amount of interest accrued, reported in Accrued expenses, was approximately $41,000, 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 Taiwan is under tax audit for fiscal year 2018.

- 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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