Income Taxes

The benefit from income taxes from continuing operations consists of the following:



	Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2014			2013			2012
Current federal	$	(44,789	)	$	(4,409	)	$	(34,242	)
Current state	322			(394		)	(143		)
Deferred federal	2,385			1,476			(5,964		)
Deferred state	285			(162		)	2
Total	$	(41,797	)	$	(3,489	)	$	(40,347	)

The benefit from income taxes from continuing operations differs from the amount computed by applying the federal income tax statutory rate as follows:



	Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2014			2013			2012
Income tax computed at statutory rate	$	(2,406	)	$	(12,479	)	$	(61,590	)
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	(172		)	(684		)	(6,055		)
Valuation allowance - IRS Settlement	(26,846		)	—			—
Valuation allowance - other	3,023			11,729			59,601
Changes for uncertain tax positions	(14,276		)	(1,909		)	(32,441		)
IRS interest refund	(1,714		)	—			—
Other, net	594			(146		)	138
Total	$	(41,797	)	$	(3,489	)	$	(40,347	)

The principal differences between our effective tax rate and the U.S. federal statutory rate relates to changes in our valuation allowance and changes for our unrecognized tax benefits.

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The tax effects of significant temporary differences that give rise to the net deferred tax assets are as follows:



(In thousands)	September 30, 2014			September 30, 2013
Deferred tax assets:
Warranty and other reserves	$	11,587		$	11,559
Incentive compensation	18,993			17,368
Property, equipment and other assets	2,750			2,455
Federal and state tax carryforwards	357,146			383,508
Inventory adjustments	95,237			114,416
Uncertain tax positions	1,911			14,415
Other	3,923			3,052
Total deferred tax assets	491,547			546,773
Deferred tax liabilities:
Deferred revenues	(43,496		)	(54,257		)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(43,496		)	(54,257		)
Net deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	448,051			492,516
Valuation allowance	(445,228		)	(487,263		)
Net deferred tax assets	$	2,823		$	5,253

At September 30, 2014, our gross deferred tax assets above included $266.9 million for federal net operating loss carryforwards, $76.7 million for state net operating loss carryforwards,$9.8 million for an alternative minimum tax credit and $3.8 million for general business credit. The net operating loss carryforwards expire at various dates through 2033 and the general business credit expires at various dates through 2034. The alternative minimum tax credit has an unlimited carryforward period.

A reduction of the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets by a valuation allowance is required if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. Accordingly, the need to establish valuation allowances for deferred tax assets is assessed periodically based on the more-likely-than-not realization threshold criterion. In the assessment for a valuation allowance, appropriate consideration is given to all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax assets. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, the Company's experience with loss carryforwards not expiring unused and tax planning alternatives.

Based upon an evaluation of all available evidence, we established a valuation allowance for substantially all of our deferred tax assets during fiscal 2008. As of September 30, 2014, we updated our evaluation of whether the valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets was still required. We considered positive evidence including evidence of recovery in the housing markets where we operate, the prospects of continued profitability and growth, a strong backlog and sufficient balance sheet liquidity to sustain and grow operations. Although the Company’s performance and current positioning is bringing it closer to a conclusion that a valuation allowance is no longer needed, further evidence of sustained profitability is needed to reverse our valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets. Therefore, based upon all available positive and negative evidence, we concluded a valuation allowance is still needed for substantially all of our gross deferred tax assets at September 30, 2014. Therefore, at September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company's deferred tax asset valuation allowance was $445.2 million and $487.3 million, respectively. In future periods, we may reduce all or a portion of our valuation allowance, generating a non-cash tax benefit, if sufficient positive evidence is present indicating that more likely than not a portion or all of our deferred tax assets will be realized. Changes in existing tax laws could also affect actual tax results and the valuation of deferred tax assets over time.

Further, we experienced an “ownership change” as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (Section 382) as of January 12, 2010. Section 382 contains rules that limit the ability of a company that undergoes an “ownership change” to utilize its net operating loss carryforwards (NOLs) and certain built-in losses or deductions recognized during the five-year period after the ownership change to offset future taxable income. Therefore, our ability to utilize our pre-ownership change net operating loss carryforwards and recognize certain built-in losses or deductions is limited by Section 382 to an estimated maximum amount of approximately $11.4 million ($4 million tax-effected) annually. Certain deferred tax assets are not subject to any limitation imposed by Section 382.

Due to the Section 382 limitation and the maximum carryforward period of our NOLs, we are unable to fully recognize certain deferred tax assets. Accordingly, during fiscal 2014 and 2013, we reduced our gross deferred tax assets and corresponding valuation allowance by $9.9 million and $15.2 million, respectively. As future economic conditions unfold, we will be able to confirm that certain deferred tax assets will not provide any future tax benefit. At such time, we will accordingly remove any deferred tax asset and corresponding valuation allowance.

Accordingly, a portion of our $491.5 million of total gross deferred tax assets related to accrued losses on our inventory may be unavailable due to the limitation imposed by Section 382. As of September 30, 2014, we estimate that between $7.9 million and $40.9 million may be unavailable due to our Section 382 limitation. As a result, upon the resumption of sustained profitability and reversal of our valuation allowance, between $407.1 million and $440.1 million of our net deferred tax assets may be available to us for the reduction of future cash taxes. The actual realization of our deferred tax assets is difficult to predict and will be dependent on future events.

If we were to experience future NOLs, we would expect to continue to add to our gross deferred tax assets that will not be limited by Section 382.

Considering the limitation imposed by Section 382, the table below depicts the classifications of our deferred tax assets:



	September 30, 2014
(In thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Subject to annual limitation	$	102,207
Generally not subject to annual limitation	348,435
Certain components likely to be subject to annual limitation	40,905
Total deferred tax assets	491,547
Deferred tax liabilities	(43,496		)
Net deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	448,051
Valuation allowance	(445,228		)
Net deferred tax assets	$	2,823

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits at the beginning and end of fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 is as follows:



	Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2014			2013			2012
Balance at beginning of year	$	17,464		$	19,630		$	46,648
Additions for (reductions in) tax positions related to current year	150			(1,620		)	903
Additions for tax positions related to prior years	1,365			—			—
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(14,201		)	—			(27,181		)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(162		)	(546		)	(740		)
Balance at end of year	$	4,616		$	17,464		$	19,630

Total reductions in gross unrecognized tax benefits of $14.3 million during fiscal year 2014 were due to lapses in statutes of limitation and closing of audits. Due to our valuation allowances, if the Company were to recognize the $4.6 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits remaining at September 30, 2014, substantially all would affect our effective tax rate. Additionally, we had $0.4 million and $2.6 million of accrued interest and penalties at September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Our income tax benefit includes tax related interest.

In the normal course of business, we are subject to audits by federal and state tax authorities regarding various tax liabilities. Our federal income tax returns for fiscal years 2007 through 2010 were agreed to with the IRS Appeals Office and approved by the Joint Committee on Taxation in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014. Our federal income tax returns for fiscal years 2011 and 2012 have been submitted to the Joint Committee on Taxation without change by the IRS. Certain state income tax returns for various fiscal years are under routine examination. The statute of limitations for our major tax jurisdictions remains open for examination for fiscal years 2007 and subsequent years. As of September 30, 2014, it is reasonably possible that up to approximately $4.0 million of the total uncertain tax positions will reverse within the next twelve months, primarily due to the expiration of statutes of limitation in various jurisdictions.

As a result of our fiscal years 2007 through 2010 being agreed to and closed, we were able to carryback and utilize net operating losses and received a $26.8 million refund with an additional $1.7 million in accrued interest. We also received a $0.3 million telephone excise tax refund from fiscal year 2007 that was previously accepted but not released by the IRS pending the resolution of our examination.