INCOME TAXES

The Company reported the following operating results for the periods presented (in thousands):



	Three months ended
	March 27, 2020			March 29, 2019
Loss before income taxes	$	(21,225	)	$	(11,625	)
Provision for income taxes	729			(319		)
Effective income tax rate	(3.4		)%	2.7		%

The Company operates in multiple jurisdictions and its profits are taxed pursuant to the tax laws of these jurisdictions. The Company’s effective income tax rate may be affected by changes in, or interpretations of tax laws and tax agreements in any given jurisdiction, utilization of net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards, changes in geographical mix of income and expense, and changes in management’s assessment of matters such as the ability to realize deferred tax assets. The Company’s effective tax rate varies from year to year primarily due to the absence of several one-time, discrete items that benefited or decremented the tax rates in the previous years.

The Company's effective income tax rate of (3.4)% for the three months ended March 27, 2020 was different from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21%, primarily due to the full valuation allowance against U.S. federal, California and other states deferred tax assets, foreign withholding taxes and income taxes on earnings from operations in foreign tax jurisdictions.

The Company's effective income tax rate of 2.7% for the three months ended March 29, 2019 was different from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21%, primarily due to geographical mix of income and losses, full valuation allowance against U.S. federal, California and other states deferred tax assets, foreign withholding taxes and income taxes on earnings from operations in foreign tax jurisdictions. In addition, during the three months ended March 29, 2019, the Company recorded a one-time benefit of approximately $0.8 million due to a valuation allowance release for one of its foreign subsidiaries. This release of valuation allowance was due to changes in forecasted taxable income resulting from the Company receiving a favorable tax ruling during the first quarter of 2019.

The Company files U.S. federal and state, and foreign income tax returns in jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations during which such tax returns may be audited and adjusted by the relevant tax authorities. The 2016 through 2019 tax years generally remain subject to examination by U.S. federal and most state tax authorities. In significant foreign jurisdictions, the 2014 through 2019 tax years generally remain subject to examination by their respective tax authorities. If, upon the conclusion of an audit, the ultimate determination of taxes owed in the jurisdictions under audit is for an amount in excess of the tax provision the Company has recorded in the applicable period, the Company’s overall tax expense, effective tax rate, operating results and cash flow could be materially and adversely impacted in the period of adjustment.

On July 27, 2015, the U.S. Tax Court issued an opinion in Altera Corp. v. Commissioner, 145 T.C. No.3 (2015) related to the treatment of stock-based compensation expense in an intercompany cost-sharing arrangement. A final decision was entered by the U.S. Tax Court on December 1, 2015 (the “2015 Decision”). On February 19, 2016, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service filed a notice of appeal in Altera Corp. v. Commissioner, 145 T.C. No. 3 (2015), to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Ninth Circuit was to decide whether a regulation that mandates that stock-based compensation costs related to the intangible development activity of a qualified cost sharing arrangement (a “QCSA”) must be included in the joint cost pool of the QCSA (the “all costs rule”) is consistent with the arm’s length standard as set forth in Section 482 of the Internal Revenue Code. On June 7, 2019, the Ninth Circuit overturned the earlier Tax Court decision and ruled to include share-based compensation in the cost sharing pool. On July 22, 2019, Altera Corp. filed a petition for an en banc rehearing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which was denied on November 12, 2019. Altera filed a petition for a writ of certiorari on February 10, 2020 asking the Supreme Court to review the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision, but it has not yet been granted. The Company has not changed its historical position of including share-based compensation in the cost base consistent with the Ninth Circuit’s ruling.

As of March 27, 2020, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties, was approximately $17.0 million, of which $15.7 million would affect the Company’s effective tax rate if the benefits are eventually recognized, subject to valuation allowance considerations. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax positions in income tax expense. The net interest and penalty charges recorded as of March 27, 2020 were not material

On March 27, 2020, the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” was signed into law. The new legislation includes a number of income tax provisions applicable to individuals and businesses. The Company is required to recognize the effect of the tax law changes in the period of enactment for the three months ended March 27, 2020, such as the reclassification of the long term receivable of $0.5 million for the alternative minimum tax credit refund to short term receivable.