Note 7 - Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Jun. 27, 2015

Notes to Financial Statements

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

(7) Income Taxes

Effective income tax rate

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The Company’s effective income tax rate was 34.6% for the nine-month period ended June 27, 2015 compared with 34.8% for the nine-month period ended June 28, 2014. The year-over-year reduction in the effective rate was primarily due to changes in permanent book versus tax differences. The effective income tax rates for both periods were based upon the estimated rate applicable for the entire fiscal year adjusted to reflect any significant items related specifically to interim periods.

Deferred income taxes.

As of June 27, 2015, the Company has recorded a current deferred tax asset (net of valuation allowance) of $1.5 million in other current assets and a non-current deferred tax liability of $6.5 million in other liabilities on its consolidated balance sheet. The Company has $13.3 million of state net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) that begin to expire in 2017, but principally expire between 2017 and 2032. The Company has also recorded $220,000 of gross deferred tax assets for various state tax credits that begin to expire in 2015, but principally expire between 2015 and 2020.

In accordance with ASC Topic 740

Income Taxes

, the Company evaluates its deferred tax assets to determine if a valuation allowance is required 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. The realization of the Company’s deferred tax assets is entirely dependent upon the Company’s ability to generate future taxable income in applicable jurisdictions. Since the Company operates in multiple jurisdictions, it assesses the need for a valuation allowance on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis, considering the applicable tax laws. The Company recorded a valuation allowance of $546,000 and $547,000 as of June 27, 2015 and September 27, 2014, respectively, pertaining to various state NOLs and tax credits that were not expected to be utilized.

The valuation allowance established by the Company is subject to periodic review and adjustment based on changes in facts and circumstances and would be reduced should the Company utilize the state NOLs and tax credits against which an allowance had previously been provided or determine that such utilization was more likely than not.

Uncertainty in income taxes

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As of June 27, 2015, the Company has no material, known tax exposures that require the establishment of a liability for uncertain tax positions.

The Company files U.S. federal income tax returns as well as state and local income tax returns in various jurisdictions. Federal and various state tax returns filed by the Company subsequent to 2010 remain subject to examination together with certain state tax returns filed by the Company subsequent to 2003.