INCOME TAXES

The components of income before income taxes are as follows (in thousands):



	Fiscal years ended September 30,
	2015		2014			2013
United States	$	2,462	$	(5,097	)	$	(395	)
International	6,183		5,894			8,633
Income before income taxes	$	8,645	$	797		$	8,238

The components of the income tax provision (benefit) are as follows (in thousands):



	Fiscal years ended September 30,
	2015			2014			2013
Current:
Federal	$	240		$	(309	)	$	1,418
State	308			(58		)	263
Foreign	2,278			2,196			3,148
Deferred:
U.S.	(566		)	(2,623		)	(2,270		)
Foreign	(203		)	(160		)	(126		)
Income tax provision (benefit)	$	2,057		$	(954	)	$	2,433

10. INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)

The net deferred tax asset consists of the following (in thousands):



	As of September 30,
	2015			2014
Current deferred tax asset	$	3,379		$	3,221
Non-current deferred tax asset	5,666			7,383
Current deferred tax liability	(36		)	—
Non-current deferred tax liability	(135		)	(272		)
Net deferred tax asset	$	8,874		$	10,332

Uncollectible accounts and other reserves	$	1,075		$	1,023
Depreciation and amortization	190			276
Inventories	999			1,297
Compensation costs	7,148			8,606
Tax carryforwards	1,185			1,347
Valuation allowance	(862		)	(572		)
Identifiable intangible assets	(861		)	(1,645		)
Net deferred tax asset	$	8,874		$	10,332

As of September 30, 2015, we have estimated carryforwards for tax purposes as follows: We have $0.7 million of carryforwards mostly related to state research and development credits of tax credits and $0.5 million related to non-U.S. net operating losses. The majority of the state research and development tax credits and non-U.S. net operating losses have an unlimited carryforward period. The majority of our non-U.S. tax credit carryforwards will expire in 2027.

Our valuation allowance for certain U.S. and foreign locations increased to $0.9 million at September 30, 2015 from $0.6 million at September 30, 2014, due to foreign losses and limitations on current year state research and development credits. The amount of the deferred tax assets realized could vary if there are differences in the timing or amount of future reversals of existing deferred tax liabilities or changes in the amounts of future taxable income. If our future taxable income projections are not realized, an additional valuation allowance may be required, and would be reflected as income tax expense at the time that any such change in future taxable income is determined.

The reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax amount to our income tax provision (benefit) is as follows (in thousands):



	Fiscal years ended September 30,
	2015			2014			2013
Statutory income tax amount	$	2,939		$	271		$	2,801
Increase (decrease) resulting from:
State taxes, net of federal benefits	(222		)	(281		)	(32		)
Utilization of tax credits	(250		)	(76		)	(601		)
Manufacturing deduction	(285		)	(92		)	(65		)
Discrete tax benefits	(845		)	(1,470		)	(863		)
Foreign operations	181			316			166
Valuation reserve	297			11			65
Adjustment of tax contingency reserves	71			168			800
Meals and entertainment	93			99			80
Employee stock purchase plan	76			85			77
Other, net	2			15			5
Income tax provision (benefit)	$	2,057		$	(954	)	$	2,433

10. INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)

During fiscal 2015, we recorded net tax benefits of $0.9 million resulting from the reinstatement of the research and development tax credit for calendar year 2014, reversal of tax reserves due to the expiration of statute of limitations from U.S. and foreign tax jurisdictions and reversal of tax reserves due to the resolution of tax audits. These benefits are included within the discrete tax benefits in the above table.

During fiscal 2014, we recorded net tax benefits of $1.4 million, related to the re-measurement and reversal of certain income tax reserves as a result of a federal income tax audit of fiscal 2012, the reassessment of state research and development tax credits and the release of income tax reserves due to the expiration of statute of limitations from U.S. and foreign tax jurisdictions. These benefits are included within the discrete tax benefits in the above table.

During fiscal 2013, we recorded net tax benefits of $0.8 million related to the January 2, 2013 enactment of the American Taxpayers Relief Act of 2012 extending the research and development tax credit for the last three quarters of fiscal 2012 and the release of income tax reserves due to the expiration of the statute of limitations from various U.S. and foreign tax jurisdictions. These benefits are included within the discrete tax benefits in the above table.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is (in thousands):



	Fiscal years ended September 30,
	2015			2014			2013
Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of fiscal year	$	2,301		$	3,332		$	2,720
Increases related to:
Prior year income tax positions	110			181			162
Current year income tax positions	144			148			733
Decreases related to:
Prior year income tax positions	(255		)	(1,105		)	—
Settlements	(74		)	(95		)	—
Expiration of statute of limitations	(608		)	(160		)	(283		)
Unrecognized tax benefits at end of fiscal year	$	1,618		$	2,301		$	3,332

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2015 that, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate is $1.6 million. We expect that it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will decrease approximately $0.2 million over the next 12 months due to the expiration of various statutes of limitations.

Of the $1.6 million of unrecognized tax benefits, $1.2 million is included in non-current income taxes payable and $0.4 million is included with non-current deferred tax assets on the consolidated balance sheet at September, 20, 2015.

We recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. During the fiscal years ended 2015 and 2014, there were $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of benefits for interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. We had accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits of $0.3 million at September 30, 2015 and $0.4 million at September 30, 2014. Our long-term income taxes payable on our consolidated balance sheets includes these accrued interest and penalties in addition to the unrecognized tax benefits in the table above.

We operate in multiple tax jurisdictions both in the U.S. and outside of the U.S and face audits from various tax authorities regarding transfer pricing, tax credits, and other matters. Accordingly, we must determine the appropriate allocation of income to each of these jurisdictions. This determination requires us to make several estimates and assumptions. Tax audits associated with the allocation of this income, and other complex issues, may require an extended period of time to resolve and may result in adjustments to our income tax balances in those years that are material to our consolidated balance sheet and results of operations. With a few exceptions, we are no longer subject to income tax examination for tax years prior to fiscal 2013. For state taxing authorities, most notably in California and Texas, we are no longer subject to income tax examination for tax years generally before fiscal 2011, and for Minnesota for tax years prior to fiscal 2013. We do not anticipate significant changes to our unrecognized tax benefits as a result of these examinations.

At September 30, 2015, we had approximately $28.2 million of accumulated undistributed foreign earnings, for which we have not accrued additional U.S. tax. Our policy is to reinvest earnings of our foreign subsidiaries indefinitely to fund current

10. INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)

operations and provide for future international expansion opportunities, and only repatriate earnings to the extent that U.S. taxes have already been recorded. Although we have no current need or intention to repatriate historical earnings in the form of cash in the United States, if we change our assertion from indefinitely reinvesting undistributed foreign earnings, we would have to accrue applicable taxes. The amount of any taxes and the application of any tax credits would be determined based on the income tax laws at the time of such repatriation. Under current tax laws, we estimate the unrecognized deferred tax liability to be up to $0.8 million.