Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Apr. 26, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

We recognized an income tax expense of $64 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 and income tax benefit of $5 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. The income tax expense as a percentage of income before income tax was 6.6% for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 and income tax benefit as a percentage of income before income tax was 1.3% for the first quarter of fiscal year 2020.

The increase in our effective tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 as compared to the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 was primarily due to a decrease of tax benefits from stock-based compensation.

Our effective tax rates for the first quarter of fiscal years 2021 and 2020 were lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% due to income earned in jurisdictions that are subject to taxes lower than the U.S. federal statutory tax rate, tax benefits related to stock-based compensation, and the benefit of the U.S. federal research tax credit.

For the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, there have been no material changes to our tax years that remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions. Additionally, there have been no material changes to our unrecognized tax benefits and any related interest or penalties since the fiscal year ended January 26, 2020.

While we believe that we have adequately provided for all uncertain tax positions, or tax positions where we believe it is not more-likely-than-not that the position will be sustained upon review, amounts asserted by tax authorities could be greater or less than our accrued position. Accordingly, our provisions on federal, state and foreign tax related matters to be recorded in the future may change as revised estimates are made or the underlying matters are settled or otherwise resolved with the respective tax authorities. As of April 26, 2020, we do not believe that our estimates, as otherwise provided for, on such tax positions will significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months.