INCOME TAXES

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2024

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

12.  INCOME TAXES

Our provision for income taxes and effective tax rate is 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.

We recorded an income tax benefit during the first six months of fiscal 2024 of $0.6 million compared to income tax expense of $0.9 million for the same period in 2023. Our effective tax rate for the first six months of fiscal 2024 was 9%, compared to 35% in the corresponding prior year period. The year-over-year decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to changes in geographic mix of income and loss that includes jurisdictions with differing tax rates, a discrete item related to stock compensation, and the impact of valuation allowances on an overall lower level of income before taxes.

Our unrecognized tax benefits were $189,000 as of April 30, 2024 and $182,000 as of October 31, 2023, 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 April 30, 2024, the gross amount of interest accrued, reported in Accrued expenses, was approximately $51,000, 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 2024 and August 2025.