Income Taxes

The income tax provision for the first nine months of fiscal 2014 and 2013 was as follows:



	Nine months ended August 31,
	2014			2013
	(In millions)
Federal and state current income tax expense	$	5.4		$	9.6
Net deferred benefit	(5.5		)	(207.2		)
Impact of change in research credit estimates	1.2			(2.0		)
Income tax provision (benefit)	$	1.1		$	(199.6	)
Cash paid for income taxes	$	4.6		$	6.3

The effective tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal 2014 is (1.8)% and differs from the federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to the significant non-deductible premium on the 4 1/16% Debentures repurchased during the first nine months of fiscal 2014, which the Company has treated for tax purposes as a non-recurring, discrete event due to the inability to accurately estimate an annualized total, as well as the impacts from state income taxes, changes in estimates related to the fiscal 2012 research and development credits, and certain expenditures which are permanently not deductible for tax purposes. The effective benefit tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal 2013 was 718.0% and differs from the federal statutory tax rate of 35% primarily as a result of releasing a valuation allowance of $188.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2013 for previously provided for deferred tax assets.

As of August 31, 2014, the total liability for uncertain income tax positions, including accrued interest and penalties, was $8.0 million. Due to the high degree of uncertainty regarding the timing of potential future cash flows associated with the respective liabilities, the Company is unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate of the amount and period in which these liabilities might be paid. It is reasonably possible that a reduction of up to $0.3 million of unrecognized tax benefits and related interest may occur within the next 12 months as a result of the expiration of certain statute of limitations.