Note 9 - Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

9. Income Taxes

We account for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, (“ASC 740”). The provision or benefit for income taxes is attributable to U.S. federal, state, and foreign income taxes. Our effective tax rate (“ETR”) used for interim periods is based on an estimated annual effective tax rate, including the tax effect of items required to be recorded discretely in the interim periods in which those items occur. Our ETR is different than the statutory rate in the U.S. due to foreign income taxed at different rates than the U.S., generation of tax credits, changes in uncertain tax benefit positions, changes to valuation allowances, and the impact of Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) and the Base Erosion and Anti-abuse Tax (“BEAT”). In addition, we have numerous tax holidays related to our manufacturing operations in Malaysia and the Philippines. The tax holiday periods expire at various times in the future; however, we actively seek to obtain new tax holidays.

We conduct business globally and, as a result, Cohu or one or more of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the US and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, we are subject to examinations by taxing authorities throughout the world and are currently under examination in Germany, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. We believe our financial statement accruals for income taxes are appropriate.

Companies are required to assess whether a valuation allowance should be recorded against their deferred tax assets (“DTAs”) based on the consideration of all available evidence, using a “more likely than not” realization standard. The four sources of taxable income that must be considered in determining whether DTAs will be realized are, (1) future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences (i.e. offset of gross deferred tax assets against gross deferred tax liabilities); (2) taxable income in prior carryback years, if carryback is permitted under the tax law; (3) tax planning strategies and (4) future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards.

In assessing whether a valuation allowance is required, significant weight is to be given to evidence that can be objectively verified. We have evaluated our DTAs at each reporting period, including an assessment of our cumulative income or loss over the prior three-year period and future periods, to determine if a valuation allowance was required.

Based on the evidence available, including a lack of sustainable earnings and history of expiring unused NOLs, and tax credits, we continue to maintain our judgment that a previously recorded valuation allowance against substantially all of our net deferred tax assets in the United States is still required. If a change in judgment regarding this valuation allowance were to occur in the future, we will record a potentially material deferred tax benefit, which could result in a favorable impact on the effective tax rate in that period.

In accordance with the disclosure requirements as described in ASC 740, we have classified unrecognized tax benefits as non-current income tax liabilities, or a reduction in non-current deferred tax assets, unless expected to be paid within one year. Our continuing practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.