
	INCOME TAXES

Our tax rates for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended July 8, 2018 were impacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), which was enacted into law on December 22, 2017. As a fiscal year taxpayer, certain provisions of the Tax Act impacted us in fiscal year 2018, including a reduction in the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate (the “Tax Rate”), while other provisions will be effective starting at the beginning of fiscal year 2019. The Tax Rate reduction was effective as of January 1, 2018, and will be phased in, resulting in a statutory federal tax rate of 24.5% for our fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and 21.0% for subsequent fiscal years.

As of July 8, 2018, we provisionally accounted for the results of the Tax Act. The provision for income taxes is based on a reasonable estimate of the effects on our existing deferred tax balances. Tax expense of $0.9 million in the quarter and $32.1 million year-to-date, with no tax benefit in the quarter and $2.3 million year-to-date related to Qdoba, was recognized and is included as a component of income taxes from continuing operations. This tax expense consists primarily of a $30.8 million re-measurement of our deferred tax assets and liabilities due to the enactment of the Tax Act. The impact of the Tax Act is based upon estimates and interpretations which may be refined as further authoritative guidance is issued and is expected to be completed by the first quarter of fiscal year 2019.

The 2018 income tax provisions reflect tax rates of 26.5% in the quarter and 46.9% year-to-date, compared with 32.1% and 36.5%, respectively, in 2017. The major components of the year-over-year change in tax rates were the non-cash impact of the enactment of the Tax Act, including the revaluation of all deferred tax assets and liabilities at the reduced federal statutory tax rate, partially offset by the decrease in the federal statutory tax rate and the excess tax benefit on 2018 stock compensation. The final annual tax rate cannot be determined until the end of the fiscal year; therefore, the actual annual 2018 rate could differ from our current estimates.

The following is a summary of the components of each tax rate (in thousands):



	Quarter										Year-to-date
	July 8, 2018					July 9, 2017					July 8, 2018					July 9, 2017
Income tax expense at statutory rate	$	18,715		28.6	%	$	17,032		37.0	%	$	46,752		28.9	%	$	57,993		37.9	%
Non-cash impact of the Tax Act	878			1.3	%	—			—	%	32,082			19.8	%	—			—	%
Stock compensation excess tax benefit	(1,268		)	(1.9	)%	—			—	%	(2,084		)	(1.3	)%	—			—	%
Valuation allowance release on wage tax credits	(1,312		)	(2.0	)%	(1,743		)	(3.8	)%	(1,312		)	(0.8	)%	(1,743		)	(1.1	)%
Other	321			0.5	%	(525		)	(1.1	)%	460			0.3	%	(322		)	(0.2	)%
(1)	$	17,334		26.5	%	$	14,764		32.1	%	$	75,898		46.9	%	$	55,928		36.5	%

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(1)	Percentages may not add due to rounding.