INCOME TAXES	6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2017
INCOME TAXES [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	NOTE 8 - INCOME TAXES The effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate of 35% in the three and six month periods ended April 30, 2017 and May 1, 2016, primarily due to earnings being taxed at lower statutory rates in foreign jurisdictions, combined with the benefit of various investment credits in a foreign jurisdiction. Valuation allowances in jurisdictions with historic losses eliminate the tax benefit of these jurisdictions. As of May 1, 2016, the Company determined that deferred tax assets of $2.5 million, whose realization was previously not considered to be more likely than not, are realizable and, therefore, reduced their related valuation allowance. During the three month period ended May 1, 2016, the Company realized a $2.4 million benefit, which resulted from the reversal of a previously recorded undistributed earnings tax liability in a foreign jurisdiction. As a result of a shareholder action to approve a dividend in this jurisdiction, the Company determined that it is no longer liable for this tax. In addition, during April 2016, $0.7 million of withholding tax was incurred upon the completion of a foreign subsidiary’s share redemption. Unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions were $4.2 million at April 30, 2017 and $4.6 million at October 30, 2016, all of which, if recognized, would favorably impact the Company’s effective tax rate. Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits was $0.1 million at April 30, 2017 and October 30, 2016. In the six month period ended April 30, 2017, the net reduction of unrecognized tax benefit reflects the resolution of tax issues with the foreign tax authorities including the recognition of $0.5 million in previously unrecognized tax benefits. Although the timing of the expirations of statutes of limitations may be uncertain, as they can be dependent upon the settlement of tax audits, the Company believes that it is reasonably possible that up to $0.8 million of its uncertain tax positions (including accrued interest and penalties, and net of tax benefits) may be resolved over the next twelve months. The resolution of these uncertain tax positions may result from either or both the lapses of statutes of limitations and tax settlements. PKLT Co. Ltd., the Company's FPD manufacturing facility in Taiwan, has been accorded a tax holiday, which started in 2012 and expires in 2017. This tax holiday had no dollar or per share effect in the three or six month periods ended April 30, 2017 and May 1, 2016. Photronics DNP Mask Corporation (“PDMC”), the Company’s IC manufacturing facility in Taiwan, was accorded a tax holiday that commenced in 2015 and expires in 2019. The Company realized $0.1 million in tax benefits from this tax holiday in each of the three month periods ended April 30, 2017 and May 1, 2016, and $0.2 million in the six month periods ended April 30, 2017 and May 1, 2016. This tax holiday had no per share effect in the three and six month periods ended April 30, 2017 and May 1, 2016.

NOTE 8 - INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate of 35% in the three and six month periods ended April 30, 2017 and May 1, 2016, primarily due to earnings being taxed at lower statutory rates in foreign jurisdictions, combined with the benefit of various investment credits in a foreign jurisdiction. Valuation allowances in jurisdictions with historic losses eliminate the tax benefit of these jurisdictions.

As of May 1, 2016, the Company determined that deferred tax assets of $2.5 million, whose realization was previously not considered to be more likely than not, are realizable and, therefore, reduced their related valuation allowance. During the three month period ended May 1, 2016, the Company realized a $2.4 million benefit, which resulted from the reversal of a previously recorded undistributed earnings tax liability in a foreign jurisdiction. As a result of a shareholder action to approve a dividend in this jurisdiction, the Company determined that it is no longer liable for this tax. In addition, during April 2016, $0.7 million of withholding tax was incurred upon the completion of a foreign subsidiary’s share redemption.

Unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions were $4.2 million at April 30, 2017 and $4.6 million at October 30, 2016, all of which, if recognized, would favorably impact the Company’s effective tax rate. Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits was $0.1 million at April 30, 2017 and October 30, 2016. In the six month period ended April 30, 2017, the net reduction of unrecognized tax benefit reflects the resolution of tax issues with the foreign tax authorities including the recognition of $0.5 million in previously unrecognized tax benefits. Although the timing of the expirations of statutes of limitations may be uncertain, as they can be dependent upon the settlement of tax audits, the Company believes that it is reasonably possible that up to $0.8 million of its uncertain tax positions (including accrued interest and penalties, and net of tax benefits) may be resolved over the next twelve months. The resolution of these uncertain tax positions may result from either or both the lapses of statutes of limitations and tax settlements.

PKLT Co. Ltd., the Company's FPD manufacturing facility in Taiwan, has been accorded a tax holiday, which started in 2012 and expires in 2017. This tax holiday had no dollar or per share effect in the three or six month periods ended April 30, 2017 and May 1, 2016. Photronics DNP Mask Corporation (“PDMC”), the Company’s IC manufacturing facility in Taiwan, was accorded a tax holiday that commenced in 2015 and expires in 2019. The Company realized $0.1 million in tax benefits from this tax holiday in each of the three month periods ended April 30, 2017 and May 1, 2016, and $0.2 million in the six month periods ended April 30, 2017 and May 1, 2016. This tax holiday had no per share effect in the three and six month periods ended April 30, 2017 and May 1, 2016.