Income Taxes	6 Months Ended
Oct. 04, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Note 9 — Income Taxes The Company currently estimates its annual effective income tax benefit rate to be approximately 80.0% for fiscal year 2014. The estimated annual effective income tax benefit rate differs from the expected statutory rate primarily due to federal and state research and development tax credits. The income tax benefit rate recorded for the three and six months ended October 4, 2013 exceeded the estimated annual income tax benefit rate primarily due to the release of a valuation allowance of $3.7 million on state net operating loss carryforwards. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was enacted on January 2, 2013. This legislation retroactively reinstated and extended the federal research and development tax credit through December 31, 2013. If the federal research and development tax credit is extended through the end of fiscal year 2014, the Company may have a higher annual effective tax benefit rate for fiscal year 2014, and the amount of any such tax rate reduction will depend on the effective date of any such extension, the terms of the extension, as well as the amount of eligible research and development expenses in the extended period. Future realization of the existing deferred tax asset ultimately depends on future profitability and the existence of sufficient taxable income of appropriate character (for example, ordinary income versus capital gains) within the carryforward period available under tax law. In the event that the Company’s estimate of taxable income is less than that required to utilize the full amount of any deferred tax asset, a valuation allowance is established. The Company’s analysis of the need for a valuation allowance considered the net income generated during the three and six months ended October 4, 2013 and the net losses incurred during both the three months ended June 28, 2013 and the fiscal year ended March 29, 2013. The cumulative loss from fiscal year 2013 and the three months ended June 28, 2013 was more significant than the income from the three and six months ended October 4, 2013 and a substantial portion of such loss resulted from an extinguishment of debt charge that was recorded upon the refinancing of the Company’s former 2016 Notes with the proceeds from the issuance of additional 2020 Notes, which provides a benefit to net income due to the lower interest rate of the 2020 Notes. The Company’s evaluation considered other factors, including the Company’s history of positive earnings, current earnings trends as its satellite subscriber base scales on its recently launched satellite, taxable income adjusted for certain items, the Company’s large contractual backlog, and forecasted income by jurisdiction. In the conclusion, consideration was also given to the lengthy period over which these net deferred tax assets can be realized, and the Company’s history of not having federal tax loss carryforwards expire unused. The Company evaluated its valuation allowance on state net operating loss carryforwards after the merger of ViaSat Communications, Inc. into ViaSat during the second quarter of fiscal year 2014. As a result, $3.7 million of the valuation on state net operating loss carryforwards was released during the three months ended October 4, 2013. For the three and six months ended October 4, 2013, the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits increased by $2.2 million and $3.2 million, respectively. In the next twelve months, it is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by up to approximately $1.0 million as a result of the expiration of the statute of limitations or settlements with tax authorities for previously filed tax returns.

Note 9 — Income Taxes

The Company currently estimates its annual effective income tax benefit rate to be approximately 80.0% for fiscal year 2014. The estimated annual effective income tax benefit rate differs from the expected statutory rate primarily due to federal and state research and development tax credits. The income tax benefit rate recorded for the three and six months ended October 4, 2013 exceeded the estimated annual income tax benefit rate primarily due to the release of a valuation allowance of $3.7 million on state net operating loss carryforwards. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was enacted on January 2, 2013. This legislation retroactively reinstated and extended the federal research and development tax credit through December 31, 2013. If the federal research and development tax credit is extended through the end of fiscal year 2014, the Company may have a higher annual effective tax benefit rate for fiscal year 2014, and the amount of any such tax rate reduction will depend on the effective date of any such extension, the terms of the extension, as well as the amount of eligible research and development expenses in the extended period.

Future realization of the existing deferred tax asset ultimately depends on future profitability and the existence of sufficient taxable income of appropriate character (for example, ordinary income versus capital gains) within the carryforward period available under tax law. In the event that the Company’s estimate of taxable income is less than that required to utilize the full amount of any deferred tax asset, a valuation allowance is established. The Company’s analysis of the need for a valuation allowance considered the net income generated during the three and six months ended October 4, 2013 and the net losses incurred during both the three months ended June 28, 2013 and the fiscal year ended March 29, 2013. The cumulative loss from fiscal year 2013 and the three months ended June 28, 2013 was more significant than the income from the three and six months ended October 4, 2013 and a substantial portion of such loss resulted from an extinguishment of debt charge that was recorded upon the refinancing of the Company’s former 2016 Notes with the proceeds from the issuance of additional 2020 Notes, which provides a benefit to net income due to the lower interest rate of the 2020 Notes. The Company’s evaluation considered other factors, including the Company’s history of positive earnings, current earnings trends as its satellite subscriber base scales on its recently launched satellite, taxable income adjusted for certain items, the Company’s large contractual backlog, and forecasted income by jurisdiction. In the conclusion, consideration was also given to the lengthy period over which these net deferred tax assets can be realized, and the Company’s history of not having federal tax loss carryforwards expire unused. The Company evaluated its valuation allowance on state net operating loss carryforwards after the merger of ViaSat Communications, Inc. into ViaSat during the second quarter of fiscal year 2014. As a result, $3.7 million of the valuation on state net operating loss carryforwards was released during the three months ended October 4, 2013.

For the three and six months ended October 4, 2013, the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits increased by $2.2 million and $3.2 million, respectively. In the next twelve months, it is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by up to approximately $1.0 million as a result of the expiration of the statute of limitations or settlements with tax authorities for previously filed tax returns.