Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Apr. 02, 2022

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is determined using an estimated annual effective tax rate, which is generally less than the U.S. Federal statutory rate, primarily due to research and development (“R&D”) tax credits. Our effective tax rate may be subject to fluctuations during the year as new information is obtained, which may affect the assumptions used to estimate the annual effective tax rate, including factors such as expected utilization of R&D tax credits, valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, recognition or derecognition of tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions, and changes in or the interpretation of tax laws in jurisdictions where we conduct business. Also, excess tax benefits and tax detriments related to our equity compensation recognized in the condensed consolidated income statement could result in fluctuations in our effective tax rate period-over-period depending on the volatility of our stock price, number of restricted or performance stock units that vests, and stock options exercised during the period. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates, for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of our assets and liabilities along with net operating loss and tax credit carryovers.

We record a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets to reduce the net carrying value to an amount that we believe is more likely than not to be realized. When we establish or reduce our valuation allowances against our deferred tax assets, the provision for income taxes will increase or decrease, respectively, in the period when that determination is made.

We recorded income tax expense of $1.6 million for the three months ended April 2, 2022 compared to $1.1 million for the three months ended April 3, 2021. The increase in income tax expense for the first quarter of 2022 compared to the first quarter of 2021 was primarily due to higher pre-tax income for the first quarter of 2022 compared to the first quarter of 2021 and lower discrete tax benefits recognized in the first quarter of 2022 for net tax windfalls related to stock-based compensation. The increase in income tax expense was partially offset by higher income tax benefits recognized in the first quarter of 2022 related to the U.S. Federal research and development tax credit.

Our total amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $4.5 million and $4.4 million as of April 2, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. If recognized, $2.7 million would affect the effective tax rate. We record interest and penalty charges, if any, related to uncertain tax positions as a component of tax expense and unrecognized tax benefits. The amounts accrued for interest and penalty charges as of April 2, 2022 and December 31, 2021 were not significant. As a result of statute of limitations set to expire in the fourth quarter of 2022, we expect decreases to our unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $0.7 million in the next twelve months.

We file U.S. Federal and state income tax returns. We are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for tax years after 2017 and by state taxing authorities for tax years after 2016. While we are no longer subject to examination prior to those periods, carryforwards generated prior to those periods may still be adjusted upon examination by the IRS or state taxing authorities if they either have been or will be used in a subsequent period. We believe we have adequately accrued for tax deficiencies or reductions in tax benefits, if any, that could result from the examination and all open audit years.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”), which was signed into U.S. law in December 2017, eliminated the option to immediately deduct research and development expenditures in the year incurred under Section 174 effective January 1, 2022. The amended provision under Section 174 requires us to capitalize and amortize these expenditures over five years (for U.S.-based research). Although there is proposed legislation to temporarily reinstate the current deduction of the expenditures after 2021 through 2025, we must consider the changes under the TCJA. As of April 2, 2022, we recorded an increase to current income taxes payable by approximately $2.6 million and a decrease to net deferred tax liabilities by a similar amount. We are monitoring legislation for any further changes to Section 174 and the impact to the financial statements in 2022.