10. Income Taxes

Our provision for income taxes is based on estimated effective tax rates derived from an estimate of annual consolidated earnings before taxes, adjusted for nondeductible expenses, other permanent items and any applicable credits. Our income tax expense is primarily a non-cash charge due to the utilization of U.S. net operating losses.

The following table presents the provision for income taxes and the effective tax rates (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	September 27,		September 28,		September 27,		September 28,
	2014		2013		2014		2013
Income before income taxes	$	3,409	$	50,828	$	19,358	$	82,474
Provision for income taxes	$	2,557	$	17,461	$	8,258	$	28,465
Effective tax rate		75.0%		34.4%		42.7%		34.5%

Our income tax expense for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal year 2015 was above the federal statutory rate primarily due to the inclusion of foreign losses in the period from the close of the Acquisition to the end of the quarter at foreign statutory rates below the U.S. federal statutory rate. Our income tax expense for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal year 2014 was slightly below the federal statutory rate primarily due to the effect of the federal research and development credit which was extended through December 31, 2013 by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which was enacted on January 2, 2013.

We had no unrecognized tax benefits as of September 27, 2014. The Company does not believe that its unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease during the next 12 months.

We accrue interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of the provision for income taxes. As of September 27, 2014, the balance of accrued interest and penalties was zero. No interest or penalties were incurred during the first six months of fiscal year 2015 or 2014.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax in multiple state and foreign jurisdictions. Fiscal years 2011 through 2014 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which we are subject.