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Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
INCOME TAXES
We file a consolidated federal income tax return in the United States with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and file tax returns in various state and foreign jurisdictions. Tax returns are typically examined and settled at either the exam level or through an appeal process.
Subsequent to the end of the quarter, we received notification from the IRS that the required reviews for tax years 2008-2010 as well as the remaining refund claims relating to 1999-2007 have been approved at the required administrative levels. We anticipate an insignificant impact to tax expense as a result of the settlement, however; we expect to receive cash of approximately $100 million.
We had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $145.3 million, $208.0 million and $146.4 million as of July 31, 2013 and 2012 and April 30, 2013, respectively. The gross unrecognized tax benefits decreased $1.1 million and increased $1.6 million during the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. We believe it is reasonably possible that the balance of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $33 million before July 31, 2014. Approximately $15.5 million of the anticipated decrease is due to the settlement of the IRS examination of our 2008 through 2010 tax returns while the remaining decrease is due to the expiration of statutes of limitations and anticipated settlements of state audit issues. This amount is included in accrued income taxes in our consolidated balance sheet. The remaining amount is classified as long-term and is included in other noncurrent liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.
Our effective tax rate for continuing operations was 38.6% and 37.6% for the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Due to losses in both periods, a discrete tax benefit in either period increases the tax rate while an item of discrete tax expense decreases the tax rate. During the current quarter, a net discrete tax expense of $0.2 million was recorded compared to a net discrete tax benefit of $2.7 million in the same period of the prior year. This net difference in discrete tax expense was related to differences in income tax reserves recorded of $4.4 million offset by a decrease in state interest receivable of $1.9 million. The 1.0% increase in our tax rate over the prior year was due to the change in discrete tax items which was partially offset by a decrease in the base tax rate.