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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2016
Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate (ETR) (provision for income taxes divided by pretax income) for the first nine months of fiscal 2016 was 5.4%. Our year-to-date results reflect the projected fiscal year ETR, plus any discrete items. The ETR used to record the provision for income taxes for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 was 6.1%. The decrease in the effective tax rate in the first nine months of fiscal 2016 was primarily due to a release of reserves associated with a prior year tax filing, a statutory tax rate reduction in the United Kingdom and the retroactive extension of the R&D tax credit.
We recognize the benefit from a tax position only if it is more likely than not that the position would be sustained upon audit based solely on the technical merits of the tax position. At November 1, 2015, Cooper had unrecognized tax benefits of which, if recognized, $29.4 million would impact our ETR. For the nine-month period ended July 31, 2016, there were no material changes to the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits.
Interest and penalties of $3.7 million have been reflected as a component of the total liability at November 1, 2015. It is our policy to recognize the items of interest and penalties directly related to income taxes as additional income tax expense.
Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits at November 1, 2015, is $11.0 million related to tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts could significantly change during the next twelve months. This amount represents a decrease in unrecognized tax benefits related to expiring statutes in various jurisdictions worldwide and relates primarily to transfer pricing matters.
At July 31, 2016, the tax years for which Cooper remains subject to United States Federal income tax assessment upon examination are 2014 through 2015. Cooper remains subject to income tax examinations in other significant tax jurisdictions including the United Kingdom, Japan, France and Australia for the tax years 2012 through 2015.