INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2017
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES	9.INCOME TAXES Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities, subject to a judgmental assessment of the recoverability of deferred tax assets. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more-likely-than-not that some of the deferred tax assets may not be realized. Significant judgment is applied when assessing the need for valuation allowances. Areas of estimation include the Company’s consideration of future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. Should a change in circumstances lead to a change in judgment about the utilization of deferred tax assets in future years, the Company would adjust the related valuation allowances in the period that the change in circumstances occurs, along with a corresponding increase or charge to income. During each fiscal year, management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to utilize the existing deferred tax assets. For fiscal year 2016, the Company ultimately determined that it was more-likely-than-not that the entire California net operating loss will not be utilized prior to expiration. Significant pieces of objective evidence evaluated included the Company’s history of utilization of California net operating losses in prior years for each of its subsidiaries, as well as the Company’s forecasted amount of net operating loss utilization for certain members of the combined group. As a result, the Company recorded a valuation allowance in the amount of $72,000 at the end of fiscal year 2016 related to California net operating losses. There was no change to the valuation allowance during the nine month period ended September 29, 2017. For acquired business entities, if the Company identifies changes to acquired deferred tax asset valuation allowances or liabilities related to uncertain tax positions during the measurement period and they relate to new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date, those changes are considered a measurement period adjustment and the Company records the offset to goodwill. The Company records all other changes to deferred tax asset valuation allowances and liabilities related to uncertain tax positions in current period income tax expense. The Company recognizes the tax benefit from uncertain tax positions if it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on examination by the tax authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit is measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. As of September 29, 2017, the Company recorded a liability of $0.3 million for uncertain tax positions related to miscellaneous tax deductions taken in open tax years. Included in this amount are $0.1 million of tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. No interest and penalties have been recorded related to unrecognized tax benefits as of September 29, 2017. Based on management’s estimates and determination of an effective tax rate for the year, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $1.3 million and $1.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2017, as compared to an income tax expense of $0.5 million and $2.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. During the nine months ended September 29, 2017, the difference between the effective tax rate and the federal statutory rate is primarily attributable to tax deductions related to non-qualified stock option exercises which were significant in the nine months ended September 29, 2017. In accordance with ASU 2016-09 (see Note 1 “—Basis of Presentation, Organization and Operations of the Company”), the income tax benefit related to non-qualified stock option exercises has been included as a reduction of 16.3% to the Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 29, 2017. The effective tax rate also varies from the federal statutory rate due to the impact of state income tax expense, an adjustment to the estimate of the deferred tax asset related to stock options from fiscal year 2016, and certain expenses that are non-deductible for tax purposes, including meals and entertainment, compensation expense related to incentive stock options, and employee gifts.

9.INCOME TAXES

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities, subject to a judgmental assessment of the recoverability of deferred tax assets. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more-likely-than-not that some of the deferred tax assets may not be realized. Significant judgment is applied when assessing the need for valuation allowances. Areas of estimation include the Company’s consideration of future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. Should a change in circumstances lead to a change in judgment about the utilization of deferred tax assets in future years, the Company would adjust the related valuation allowances in the period that the change in circumstances occurs, along with a corresponding increase or charge to income.

During each fiscal year, management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to utilize the existing deferred tax assets. For fiscal year 2016, the Company ultimately determined that it was more-likely-than-not that the entire California net operating loss will not be utilized prior to expiration. Significant pieces of objective evidence evaluated included the Company’s history of utilization of California net operating losses in prior years for each of its subsidiaries, as well as the Company’s forecasted amount of net operating loss utilization for certain members of the combined group. As a result, the Company recorded a valuation allowance in the amount of $72,000 at the end of fiscal year 2016 related to California net operating losses. There was no change to the valuation allowance during the nine month period ended September 29, 2017.

For acquired business entities, if the Company identifies changes to acquired deferred tax asset valuation allowances or liabilities related to uncertain tax positions during the measurement period and they relate to new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date, those changes are considered a measurement period adjustment and the Company records the offset to goodwill. The Company records all other changes to deferred tax asset valuation allowances and liabilities related to uncertain tax positions in current period income tax expense.

The Company recognizes the tax benefit from uncertain tax positions if it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on examination by the tax authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit is measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. As of September 29, 2017, the Company recorded a liability of $0.3 million for uncertain tax positions related to miscellaneous tax deductions taken in open tax years. Included in this amount are $0.1 million of tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. No interest and penalties have been recorded related to unrecognized tax benefits as of September 29, 2017.

Based on management’s estimates and determination of an effective tax rate for the year, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $1.3 million and $1.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2017, as compared to an income tax expense of $0.5 million and $2.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. During the nine months ended September 29, 2017, the difference between the effective tax rate and the federal statutory rate is primarily attributable to tax deductions related to non-qualified stock option exercises which were significant in the nine months ended September 29, 2017. In accordance with ASU 2016-09 (see Note 1 “—Basis of Presentation, Organization and Operations of the Company”), the income tax benefit related to non-qualified stock option exercises has been included as a reduction of 16.3% to the Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 29, 2017. The effective tax rate also varies from the federal statutory rate due to the impact of state income tax expense, an adjustment to the estimate of the deferred tax asset related to stock options from fiscal year 2016, and certain expenses that are non-deductible for tax purposes, including meals and entertainment, compensation expense related to incentive stock options, and employee gifts.