INCOME TAXES

6 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

The provision for income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2019 is based on our projected annual effective tax rate for fiscal year 2020, adjusted for specific items that are required to be recognized in the period in which they are incurred.

The provision for income taxes was $11,059 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to $5,594 for the prior year period.

When compared to the statutory rate of 21%, the effective tax rate of 13.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was primarily due to tax benefits of $3,209 as a result of tax credits anticipated to be utilized and $1,402 due to geographic mix of earnings.

The provision for income taxes for the six months ended September 30, 2019 is based on our projected annual effective tax rate for fiscal year 2020, adjusted for specific items that are required to be recognized in the period in which they are incurred. The provision for income taxes was $26,934 for the six months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to $11,348 for the prior year period.

When compared to the statutory rate of 21%, the effective tax rate of 18.6% for the six months ended September 30, 2019 was primarily due to a tax benefit of $11,749 from changes in unrecognized tax benefits due to audit settlements, a benefit of $6,026 as a result of tax credits anticipated to be utilized, and a benefit of $3,170 from our geographic mix of earnings. To a lesser extent the rate was also affected by excess tax benefits from employee stock-based compensation. These benefits were partially offset by a tax expense of $19,826 from the reversal of net deferred tax benefits relating to the Altera case, discussed below.

On July 27, 2015, the U.S. Tax Court issued an opinion in Altera Corp. v. Commissioner, which concluded that related parties in an intercompany cost-sharing arrangement are not required to share costs related to stock-based compensation. In February 2016, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service appealed the decision to the U.S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On June 7, 2019, the Ninth Circuit reversed the 2015 decision of the U.S. Tax Court. As a result of this decision, we are no longer reflecting a net tax benefit within our financial statements related to the removal of stock-based compensation from our intercompany cost-sharing arrangement. During the six months ended September 30, 2019, we removed the deferred tax asset and a deferred tax liability associated with this matter from our financial statements, resulting in a cumulative net discrete income tax expense of $19,826. On July 22, 2019, the taxpayer requested a rehearing before the full Ninth Circuit and may subsequently appeal from the Ninth Circuit to the U.S. Supreme Court. As a result, the final outcome of the case is uncertain. We will continue to monitor ongoing developments of this matter and potential impacts to our financial statements.

In addition, on June 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, which overturned previous case law that precluded states from requiring retailers to collect and remit sales and use tax collection on sales made to in-state customers unless the retailer had physical presence in the state. Although this case is limited to sales tax collection obligations, we continue to monitor the potential impact of this decision on our state income tax footprint.

We are regularly examined by domestic and foreign taxing authorities. Examinations may result in tax assessments in excess of amounts claimed and the payment of additional taxes. We believe our tax positions comply with applicable tax law, and that we have adequately provided for reasonably foreseeable tax assessments. It is possible that settlement of audits or the expiration of the statute of limitations may have an impact on our effective tax rate in future periods.