Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2022

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Effective Tax Rate

We estimate our annual effective tax rate at the end of each fiscal quarter. The effective tax rate takes into account our estimations of annual pre-tax income, the geographic mix of pre-tax income and interpretations of tax laws and possible outcomes of audits.

The following table presented the provision for income taxes and the effective tax rates:

	Three Months Ended   January 31,
	2022			2021
	(in thousands)
Income before income taxes	$	327,243		$	177,104
Provision for income taxes	$	13,902		$	15,076
Effective tax rate	4.2		%	8.5		%

Our effective tax rate for the three months ended January 31, 2022 is lower than the statutory federal corporate tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to U.S. federal research tax credits, foreign-derived intangible income deduction, excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation, and U.S. foreign tax credits, partially offset by state taxes, the effect of non-deductible stock-based compensation, and higher taxes on certain foreign earnings.

Our effective tax rate decreased in the three months ended January 31, 2022 as compared to the same period in fiscal 2021, primarily due to excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation.

The timing of the resolution of income tax examinations, and the amounts and timing of various tax payments that are part of the settlement process, are highly uncertain. Variations in such amounts and/or timing could cause large fluctuations in the balance sheet classification of current and non-current assets and liabilities. We believe that in the coming 12 months, it is reasonably possible that either certain audits and ongoing tax litigation will conclude or the statute of limitations on certain state and foreign income and withholding taxes will expire, or both. Given the uncertainty as to ultimate settlement terms, the timing of payment and the impact of such settlements on other uncertain tax positions, the range of the estimated potential decrease in underlying unrecognized tax benefits is between $0 and $45 million.

Non-U.S. Examinations

Hungarian Tax Authority

In 2017, the Hungarian Tax Authority (the HTA) assessed withholding taxes of approximately $25.0 million and interest and penalties of $11.0 million, against our Hungary subsidiary (Synopsys Hungary). Synopsys Hungary contested the assessment with the Hungarian Administrative Court (Administrative Court). As required under Hungarian law, Synopsys Hungary paid the assessment and recorded a tax expense due to an unrecognized tax benefit of $17.4 million, which is net of estimated U.S. foreign tax credits. The Administrative Court found against Synopsys Hungary, and we appealed to the Hungarian Supreme Court. During 2021, the Hungarian Supreme Court

heard our appeal and remanded the case to the Administrative Court for further proceedings. The Administrative Court once again ruled against Synopsys Hungary and we filed another appeal with the Hungarian Supreme Court. The Hungarian Supreme Court heard our appeal on January 27, 2022, vacated the lower court's decision and remanded the case back to the Administrative Court for further proceedings. We expect to receive the Hungarian Supreme Court's written decision in the second quarter of fiscal 2022.

We are also under examination by the tax authorities in certain other jurisdictions. No material assessments have been proposed in these examinations.