Income Taxes:

Our income tax expense (benefit) consists of the following for the periods presented:



	Three Months Ended
	June 30, 2019			July 1, 2018
	(in thousands)
Federal and state income taxes	$	(2,332	)	$	(2,251	)
Foreign income taxes ⁽¹⁾	345			77
Income tax benefit	$	(1,987	)	$	(2,174	)



	Six Months Ended
	June 30, 2019		July 1, 2018
	(in thousands)
Federal and state income taxes	$	4,566	$	1,284
Foreign income taxes ⁽¹⁾	625		475
Income tax expense	$	5,191	$	1,759

__________________

(1) Including foreign taxes withheld.

Our effective income tax rate was 18.5% and 29.3% for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and July 1, 2018, respectively. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2019 differs from the statutory rate primarily due to state income taxes and the negative impact of nondeductible litigation costs related to the Merger (as defined in Note 13. “Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information”), nondeductible penalties, and foreign income taxes (withheld on royalties and franchise fees earned from international franchisees not offset by foreign tax credits due to the foreign tax credit limitation), nondeductible penalties and other expenses, and foreign income taxes (taxes withheld on royalties and franchise fees earned from international franchisees not offset by foreign tax credits due to the foreign tax credit limitation) partially offset by the favorable impact of employment-related federal income tax credits. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended July 1, 2018, differs from the statutory tax rate primarily due to state income taxes including the impact of certain state tax legislation enacted during the second quarter of 2018 that increased the amount of income subject to state taxation, nondeductible litigation costs related to the Merger, non-deductible penalties and other expenses partially offset by the favorable impact of employment-related federal income tax credits and an adjustment recorded during the three months ended July 1, 2018 to the provisional estimate provided at the end of Fiscal 2017 to account for the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) enacted on December 22, 2017 pursuant to Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”).

Our effective income tax rate was 29.3% and 35.1% for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2019 and July 1, 2018, respectively. Our effective income tax rate for the six-month period ended June 30, 2019 differs from the statutory rate primarily due to state taxes and the negative impact of nondeductible litigation costs related to the Merger (as defined in Note 13. “Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information”), nondeductible penalties and other expenses, and foreign income taxes (withheld on royalties and franchise fees received from international franchisees not offset by foreign tax credits due to the foreign tax credit limitation) primarily offset by the favorable impact of employment-related tax credits. Our effective income tax rate for the six-month period ended July 1, 2018 differs from the statutory tax rate primarily due to state income taxes including the impact of certain state tax legislation enacted during the second quarter of 2018 that increased the amount of income subject to state taxation, nondeductible litigation costs related to the Merger, non-deductible penalties and other expenses partially offset by the favorable impact of employment-related federal income tax credits, an adjustment recorded during the second quarter of 2018 to the provisional estimate provided at the end of Fiscal 2017 to account for the impact of the TCJA enacted on December 22, 2017 pursuant to SAB 118, a one-time adjustment to deferred tax (the tax effect of the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment existing as of January 1, 2018) resulting from the change in our intent to no longer indefinitely reinvest monies loaned to our Canadian subsidiary recorded in the first quarter of 2018, and an increase in a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets associated our Canadian operations that could expire before they are utilized.

For the periods presented herein, we have used the year-to-date effective tax rate (the “discrete method”), as prescribed by ASC 740-270, Accounting for Income Taxes-Interim Reporting when a reliable estimate of the estimated annual rate cannot be made. We believe at this time, the use of the discrete method is more appropriate than the annual effective tax rate method due to significant variations in the customary relationship between income tax expense and projected annual pre-tax income or loss which occurs when annual projected pre-tax income or loss nears a relatively small amount in comparison to the differences between income and deductions determined for financial statement purposes versus income tax purposes. Using the discrete method, we have determined our current and deferred income tax expense as if the interim period were an annual period.

Our liability for uncertain tax positions (excluding interest and penalties) was $4.2 million as of June 30, 2019 and $4.3 million as of December 30, 2018 and if recognized would decrease our provision for income taxes by $3.3 million. Within the next twelve months, we could settle or otherwise conclude certain ongoing income tax audits and resolve uncertain tax positions as a result of expiring statutes of limitations or payment. As such, it is reasonably possible that the liability for uncertain tax positions could decrease by as much as $3.7 million within the next twelve months.

Total accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits was $1.2 million as of June 30, 2019 and $1.1 million as of December 30, 2018, respectively. On the Consolidated Balance Sheets, we include current interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in “Accrued interest,” current penalties in “Accrued expenses” and noncurrent accrued interest and penalties in “Other noncurrent liabilities.”