Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2022

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

To determine our income tax expense or benefit for interim periods, consistent with accounting standards, we apply the estimated annual effective income tax rate to year-to-date results, adjusted for any applicable discrete items. Our estimated annual effective tax rates from continuing operations for the three months ended January 31, 2022 and 2021 were 25.3% and 26.0%, respectively. The difference between our effective income tax rate and the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% principally results from discrete tax items, U.S. state tax, non-U.S. tax rate differential and other permanent differences. The primary discrete items affecting the 2022 effective rate were a charge of $0.5 million related to the vesting or exercise of equity-based compensation awards and a benefit of $0.3 million for the true-up of our accruals and related deferred taxes from prior year. The 2021 effective tax rate was primarily impacted by a discrete benefit of $0.5 million related to the vesting or exercise of equity-based compensation awards and a charge of $0.8 million for the true-up of our deferred taxes from prior year filings.

As of January 31, 2022, our liability for uncertain tax positions (UTP) of $1.4 million relates to certain U.S. federal and state tax items regarding the interpretation of tax laws and regulations, including a minimal amount of interest and penalties. We include all interest and penalties related to uncertain tax benefits within our income tax provision account. To the extent interest and penalties are not assessed with respect to uncertain tax positions or the uncertainty of deductions in the future, amounts accrued will be reduced and reflected as a reduction of the overall income tax provision. Our total unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would not materially affect our effective tax rate. We do not believe that the recorded amount of unrecognized tax benefits will decrease significantly within the next twelve months.

We evaluate the likelihood of realization of our deferred tax assets by considering both positive and negative evidence. We maintain a valuation allowance for certain state net operating losses which totaled $1.3 million as of January 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021.