INCOME TAXES

6 Months Ended

Jun. 29, 2019

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

Under FASB Accounting Standards Codification 740-270, Income Taxes - Interim Reporting, each interim period is considered an integral part of the annual period and tax expense is measured using an estimated annual effective tax rate. Estimates of the annual effective tax rate at the end of interim periods are, of necessity, based on evaluation of possible future events and transactions and may be subject to subsequent refinement or revision. The Company calculates its quarterly tax provision consistent with the guidance provided by ASC 740-270, whereby the Company forecasts its estimated annual effective tax rate then applies that rate to its year-to-date pre-tax book income (loss). In addition, the Company excludes jurisdictions with a projected loss for the year or the year-to-date loss where the Company cannot recognize a tax benefit from its estimated annual effective tax rate. The impact of such an exclusion could result in a higher or lower effective tax rate during a particular quarter, based upon the mix and timing of actual earnings versus annual projections. In addition to the tax resulting from applying the estimated annual effective tax rate to pre-tax income (loss), the Company includes certain items treated as discrete events to arrive at an estimated effective tax rate. Future changes in the forecasted annual income (loss) projections, tax rate changes, or discrete tax items could result in significant adjustments to quarterly income tax expense in future periods in accordance with ASC 740-270.

For the six months ended June 29, 2019, the Company's estimated annual effective income tax rate was approximately 34.3%, which varied from the statutory rate primarily due to state income tax expense, valuation allowances, foreign income taxes, and the net impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“U.S. Tax Reform”). U.S. Tax Reform was enacted by the United States on December 22, 2017. U.S. Tax Reform incorporates significant changes to U.S. corporate income tax laws including, among other things, a reduction in the federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, an exemption for dividends received from certain foreign subsidiaries, a one-time repatriation tax on deemed repatriated earnings from foreign subsidiaries, immediate expensing of certain depreciable tangible assets, limitations on the deduction for net interest expense and certain executive compensation and the repeal of the Domestic Production Activities Deduction. The effective tax rate including discrete items related to unrecognized tax benefits and adjustments to state income tax rates was 30.4% for the six months ended June 29, 2019.

Valuation allowance

As of June 29, 2019, the Company remains in a valuation allowance position, in the amount of $20.5 million, against its deferred tax assets for certain state and Canadian jurisdictions for certain entities as it is currently deemed “more likely than not” that the benefit of such net tax assets will not be utilized as the Company continues to be in a three-year cumulative loss position for these states and Canadian jurisdictions. The Company will continue to monitor the positive and negative factors for these jurisdictions and make further changes to the valuation allowances as necessary. As a result of the Merger, net operating losses may be subject to limitation under Section 382.

Unrecognized tax benefits

Despite the Company’s belief that its tax return positions are consistent with applicable tax laws, the Company believes that certain positions could be challenged by taxing authorities. The Company’s tax reserves reflect the difference between the tax benefit claimed on tax returns and the amount recognized in the consolidated financial statements. These reserves have been established based on management’s assessment as to potential exposure attributable to permanent differences and interest and penalties applicable to both permanent and temporary differences. The tax reserves are reviewed periodically and adjusted in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as progress of tax audits, lapse of applicable statutes of limitations and changes in tax law. The Company is currently under examination by various taxing authorities. During the six months ended June 29, 2019, the tax reserves increased by approximately $6.8 million after excluding the reserves from the Ply Gem Merger. The increase is primarily due to uncertain tax positions that were previously netted against deferred tax assets related to net operating losses in accordance with ASC 740 in addition to interest expense related to previously recorded unrecognized tax benefits.

The liability for unrecognized tax benefits as of June 29, 2019 was approximately $11.8 million and is recorded in other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

Tax receivable agreement (“TRA”) liability

The TRA liability generally provides for the payment by Ply Gem to a third party entity of 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, in the U.S. federal, state and local income tax that Ply Gem actually realizes as a result of (i) net operating loss carryovers (“NOLs”) from periods ending before January 1, 2013, (ii) deductible expenses attributable to Ply Gem’s 2013 initial public offering and (iii) deductions related to imputed interest. This liability carried over to the Company in connection with the consummation of the Merger on November 16, 2018. Ply Gem’s future taxable income estimate was used to determine the cumulative NOLs that are expected to be utilized and the TRA liability was accordingly adjusted using the 85% TRA rate as Ply Gem retains the benefit of 15% of the tax savings. As of June 29, 2019, the Company had a $24.8 million current liability for the amount due pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement.