Total income tax expense (benefit) for the nine-month periods ending January 31, 2021, and February 2, 2020, were allocated as follows:

	January 31,		February 2,
(dollars in thousands)	2021		2020
Income from continuing operations	$	6,836	$	5,590
Loss from discontinued operations		—		(2,984	)
Total income tax expense	$	6,836	$	2,606

We recorded income tax expense of $6.8 million, or 80.1% of income before income taxes from continuing operations, for the nine-month period ending January 31, 2021, compared with income tax expense of $5.6 million, or 52.2% of income before income taxes from continuing operations, for the nine-month period ending February 2, 2020.

Our effective income tax rates associated with our continuing operations for the nine-month periods ended January 31, 2021, and February 2, 2020, were based upon the estimated effective income tax rate applicable for the full year after giving effect to any significant items related specifically to interim periods. When calculating the annual estimated effective income tax rate for the nine-months ending January 31, 2021, we were subject to a loss limitation rule in accordance with ASC Topic 740-270-30-36(a). This loss limitation rule required the taxable loss associated with our U.S. operations to be excluded from the annual estimated effective income tax rate calculation as it was determined that no tax benefit could be recognized resulting from the full valuation allowance against our U.S. income tax loss carryforward that is expected to originate during the current fiscal year. The effective income tax rate can be affected over the fiscal year by the mix and timing of actual earnings from our U.S. operations and foreign subsidiaries located in China and Canada versus annual projections, as well as changes in foreign currency exchange rates in relation to the U.S. dollar.

The following schedule summarizes the principal differences between income tax expense from continuing operations at the U.S. federal income tax rate and the effective income tax rate from continuing operations reflected in the consolidated financial statements for the nine-month periods ending January 31, 2021 and February 2, 2020:

	January 31,			February 2,
	2021			2020
U.S. federal income tax rate		21.0	%		21.0	%
U.S. valuation allowance	89.9				—
U.S. income tax law change		(41.3	)		—
Global Intangible Low Taxed Income Tax ("GILTI")		—			14.2
Withholding taxes associated with foreign jurisdictions		7.5			7.8
Foreign income tax rate differential		8.9			5.2
Tax effects of foreign exchange rate (losses) gains		(6.7	)		1.0
Other		0.8			3.0
		80.1	%		52.2	%

Effective July 20, 2020, the U.S. Treasury Department finalized and enacted previously proposed regulations regarding the GILTI tax provisions of the TCJA. Prior to this enactment, GILTI represented a significant U.S. income tax on our foreign earnings during fiscal 2019 ($2.1million) and fiscal 2020 ($1.9 million). With the enactment of these final regulations, we are now eligible for an exclusion from GILTI since we meet the provisions for the GILTI High-Tax exception included in the final regulations. In addition, the enactment of the new regulations and our eligibility for the GILTI High-Tax exception are retroactive to the original enactment of the GILTI tax provision, which includes our 2019 and 2020 fiscal years.

As a result of the newly enacted regulations, we recorded a non-cash income tax benefit of $3.5 million resulting from the re-establishment of certain U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards. This $3.5 million income tax benefit was recorded as a discrete event in which its full income tax effects were recorded in the first quarter and the nine-month year-to-date period of fiscal 2021.

In accordance with ASC Topic 740, we evaluate our deferred income taxes to determine if a valuation allowance is required. ASC Topic 740 requires that companies assess whether a valuation allowance should be established based on the consideration of all available evidence using a “more-likely-than-not” standard, with significant weight being given to evidence that can be objectively verified. Since the company operates in multiple jurisdictions, we assess the need for a valuation allowance on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis, considering the effects of local tax law.

As a result of the U.S. tax law change relating to the GILTI tax provisions of the TCJA, we assessed the need for an additional valuation allowance against our U.S. net deferred income taxes, as GILTI represented a significant source of our U.S. taxable income during fiscal 2019 and 2020 that offset our U.S. pre-tax losses during such years, and which offset is now reversed as a result of the retroactivity of the new regulations. Consequently, due to the retroactivity of the new regulations, we experienced a recent history of cumulative U.S. taxable losses during our last two fiscal years and we currently expect our history of U.S. pre-tax losses to continue into fiscal 2021. As a result of the significant weight of this negative evidence, we believe it is more-likely-than-not that our U.S. net deferred income tax assets will not be fully realizable. Accordingly, we recorded a non-cash income tax charge of $7.0 million to provide for a full valuation allowance against our U.S. net deferred income tax assets. This $7.0 million income tax charge was recorded as a discrete event in which its full income tax effects were recorded during the first quarter and the nine-month year-to-date period of fiscal 2021.

Additionally, we recorded a $714,000 income tax charge to provide for a full valuation allowance against a U.S. income tax loss carryforward that originated during the nine-month period of fiscal 2021.

Based on our assessments as of January 31, 2021, February 2, 2020, and May 3, 2020, valuation allowances against our net deferred income taxes pertain to the following:

(dollars in thousands)	January 31, 2021		February 2, 2020		May 3, 2020
U.S. federal and state net deferred income tax assets	$	8,544		711		867
U.S. capital loss carryforward		2,281		—		2,281
	$	10,825		711		3,148

In accordance with ASC Topic 740, we assess whether the undistributed earnings from our foreign subsidiaries will be reinvested indefinitely or eventually distributed to our U.S. parent company. As of January 31, 2021, we assessed the liquidity requirements of our U.S. parent company and determined that our undistributed earnings from our foreign subsidiaries would not be reinvested indefinitely and would be eventually distributed to our U.S. parent company. The conclusion reached from our assessment has been consistent with prior reporting periods. ASC Topic 740 requires that a deferred income tax liability should be recorded for undistributed earnings from foreign subsidiaries that will not be reinvested indefinitely, and as a result we recorded a deferred income tax liability associated with undistributed earnings from our foreign subsidiaries. Also, we assess the recognition of U.S. foreign income tax credits associated with foreign withholding and income tax payments and whether it is more-likely-than-not that our foreign income tax credits will not be realized. If it is determined that any foreign income tax credits need to be recognized or it is more-likely-than-not our foreign income tax credits will not be realized, an adjustment to our provision for income taxes will be recognized at that time.

As a result of the TCJA, a U.S. corporation is allowed a 100% dividend received deduction for earnings and profits received from a 10% owned foreign corporation. Therefore, a deferred income tax liability will be required only for withholding taxes that are incurred by our foreign subsidiaries. As a result, as of January 31, 2021, February 2, 2020, and May 3, 2020, we recorded a deferred income tax liability of $3.3 million, $3.4 million, and $3.4 million, respectively, for withholding taxes associated with undistributed earnings and profits from our foreign subsidiaries.

In accordance with ASC Topic 740, an unrecognized income tax benefit for an uncertain income tax position can be recognized in the first interim period during which the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is met by the end of a reporting period, or is effectively settled through examination, negotiation, or litigation, or the statute of limitations for the relevant taxing authority to examine and challenge the tax position has expired. If it is determined that any of the above conditions occur regarding our uncertain income tax positions, an adjustment to our unrecognized income tax benefits will be recorded at that time.

As of January 31, 2021, we had a $1.4 million total gross unrecognized income tax benefit, of which $1.1 million and $380,000 were recorded to income taxes payable-long-term and noncurrent deferred income taxes, respectively, in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of February 2, 2020, we had a $914,000 total gross unrecognized income tax benefit of which the entire amount was recorded to income taxes payable-long-term in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of May 3, 2020, we had a $1.3 million total gross income tax benefit of which the entire amount was recorded to income taxes payable-long term in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

As of January 31, 2021, we had a $1.4 million total gross unrecognized income tax benefit, of which $1.1 million would favorably affect the income tax rate in future periods. As of February 2, 2020, the entire $914,000 total gross unrecognized income tax benefit would have favorably affected the income tax rate in future periods. As of May 3, 2020, the entire $1.3 million total gross unrecognized income would have favorably affected the income tax rate in future periods.

Our gross unrecognized income tax benefit of $1.4 million relates to income tax positions for which significant change is currently not expected within the next year. This amount primarily relates to double taxation under applicable income tax treaties with foreign tax jurisdictions.