INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Jul. 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 nine month periods ended July 30, 2017 and July 31, 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 July 31, 2016, we 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 nine month period ended July 31, 2016, we 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, we determined that we are no longer liable for this tax. In addition, during the nine month period ended July 31, 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 $3.2 million at July 30, 2017 and $4.6 million at October 30, 2016, all of which, if recognized, would favorably impact our effective tax rate. Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits was $0.1 million at July 30, 2017 and October 30, 2016. In the three and nine month periods ended July 30, 2017, the net reduction of unrecognized tax benefits was $0.8 and $1.2 respectively. The net reductions reflect the resolution of tax issues with foreign tax authorities and the expiration of assessment periods. Although the timing of the expirations of statutes of limitations may be uncertain, as they can be dependent upon the settlement of tax audits, we believe that it is reasonably possible that up to $1.1 million of our 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., our 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 nine month periods ended July 30, 2017 and July 31, 2016. Photronics DNP Mask Corporation (“PDMC”), our IC manufacturing facility in Taiwan, was accorded a tax holiday that commenced in 2015 and expires in 2019. We realized $0.1 million in tax benefits from this tax holiday in each of the three month periods ended July 30, 2017 and July 31, 2016, and $0.2 million in the nine month periods ended July 30, 2017 and July 31, 2016. This tax holiday had no per share effect in the three and nine month periods ended July 30, 2017 and July 31, 2016.

NOTE 8 - INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate of 35% in the three and nine month periods ended July 30, 2017 and July 31, 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 July 31, 2016, we 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 nine month period ended July 31, 2016, we 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, we determined that we are no longer liable for this tax. In addition, during the nine month period ended July 31, 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 $3.2 million at July 30, 2017 and $4.6 million at October 30, 2016, all of which, if recognized, would favorably impact our effective tax rate. Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits was $0.1 million at July 30, 2017 and October 30, 2016. In the three and nine month periods ended July 30, 2017, the net reduction of unrecognized tax benefits was $0.8 and $1.2 respectively. The net reductions reflect the resolution of tax issues with foreign tax authorities and the expiration of assessment periods. Although the timing of the expirations of statutes of limitations may be uncertain, as they can be dependent upon the settlement of tax audits, we believe that it is reasonably possible that up to $1.1 million of our 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., our 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 nine month periods ended July 30, 2017 and July 31, 2016. Photronics DNP Mask Corporation (“PDMC”), our IC manufacturing facility in Taiwan, was accorded a tax holiday that commenced in 2015 and expires in 2019. We realized $0.1 million in tax benefits from this tax holiday in each of the three month periods ended July 30, 2017 and July 31, 2016, and $0.2 million in the nine month periods ended July 30, 2017 and July 31, 2016. This tax holiday had no per share effect in the three and nine month periods ended July 30, 2017 and July 31, 2016.