8. Income Taxes

Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for income taxes was as follows:

The provision (benefit) for domestic and foreign income taxes was as follows:

The reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the effective consolidated tax rate is as follows:

The 21% corporate income tax rate enacted as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) went fully into effect in our fiscal 2019. In fiscal 2018, the Company was subject to a federal blended rate of 30.4% (35% in the eight months prior to enactment and 21% in the four months after). Our higher effective tax rate in fiscal 2020 as compared to fiscal 2019 is partially attributable to state income tax on higher domestic income and a lower tax benefit recorded in connection with stock-based compensation. Also, in fiscal 2019 and 2018, the Company recorded an income tax benefit from the reversal of valuation allowances previously recorded against deferred tax assets, including net operating losses, of certain foreign subsidiaries that had returned to profitability and were more-likely-than-not to realize those deferred tax assets.

In fiscal 2018, the Company recorded a provisional tax charge of $18.4 million for the one-time tax on accumulated foreign earnings (the “Transition Tax”) and a provisional tax benefit of $5.9 million from the remeasurement of our U.S. federal deferred tax assets and liabilities at the rate at which we expected these deferred tax balances to be realized. In accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”), we finalized our computation of the Transition Tax and remeasurement of deferred tax balances in fiscal 2019 and determined that the provisional estimates recorded in the fiscal 2018 do not require adjustment. Although the SAB 118 measurement period has closed, and the Company did not make any adjustments to its provisional estimates recorded in prior periods, further technical guidance on a broad range of topics related to the Tax Act is expected. When applicable, we will recognize the effects of such guidance in the period in which it is issued.

The Tax Act also introduced a tax on Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) which first became effective in fiscal 2019. The Company elected to treat taxes due on future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI as an expense when incurred (the “period cost method”) as opposed to factoring such amounts in the Company’s measurement of its deferred taxes (the “deferred method”).

Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows:

Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Management believes uncertainty exists regarding the realizability of certain deferred tax assets and has, therefore, established a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets that are not more-likely-than-not to be realized. The increase in valuation allowance from fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2020 is largely attributable to the valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets of the Acquired Companies which management believes are not more-likely-than-not to be realized. As such, this increase in valuation allowance did not impact the fiscal 2020 provision for income taxes. Realization of the deferred tax asset is dependent on the Company generating enough taxable income of the appropriate nature in future years. Although realization is not assured, management believes that it is more likely than-not that the net deferred tax assets will be realized. Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are presented net on the consolidated balance sheets by tax jurisdiction.

As of April 30, 2020, the Company had U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards of $2.5 million, which the Company anticipates will be fully utilized by fiscal 2028. The Company has state net operating loss carryforwards of $46.3 million, which, if unutilized, will begin to expire in fiscal 2021. The Company also has foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $106.1 million, which, if unutilized, will begin to expire in fiscal 2021.

We continue to consider approximately $522.5 million of undistributed earnings of our foreign subsidiaries to be indefinitely reinvested, and, accordingly, have provided no taxes on such earnings other than the Transition Tax. While we do not anticipate a need to repatriate funds to the U.S. to satisfy domestic liquidity needs, we review our cash positions regularly and, to the extent we determine that all or a portion of our foreign earnings are not indefinitely reinvested, we provide additional taxes, if applicable, including foreign withholding taxes and U.S. state income taxes.

The Company and its subsidiaries file federal and state income tax returns in the U.S. as well as in foreign jurisdictions. These income tax returns are subject to audit by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and various state and foreign tax authorities. In fiscal 2019, the IRS concluded its audit of our fiscal year 2016 federal tax return. In fiscal 2020, the State of New York and the City of New York concluded their audits of the Company’s income tax returns resulting in an immaterial amount of additional tax. Outside the U.S., income tax returns of the Company’s subsidiaries are under audit in India. The Company’s income tax returns are not otherwise under examination in any material jurisdictions. The statute of limitations varies by jurisdiction in which the Company operates. With few exceptions, however, the Company’s tax returns for years prior to fiscal 2014 are no longer open to examination by tax authorities (including U.S. federal, state and foreign).

Unrecognized tax benefits are the differences between the amount of benefits of tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, on a tax return and the amount of benefits recognized for financial reporting purposes. As of April 30, 2020, the Company had a liability of $6.0 million for unrecognized tax benefits. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

The full amount of unrecognized tax benefits would impact the effective tax rate if recognized. In the next 12 months, it is reasonably possible that the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits could change due to the resolution of certain tax matters either because the tax positions are sustained on audit or the Company agrees to their disallowance. These resolutions could reduce the Company’s liability for unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $1.5 million. The Company does not expect a change in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits to have a material financial statement impact.

The Company classifies interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of the provision for income taxes. The Company had accruals of $0.6 million, $0.4 million, and $0.3 million for interest related to unrecognized tax benefits as of April 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018 respectively. The Company had no accrual for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 for penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits. The Company recognized interest expense of $0.4 million, $0.1 million, and $0.3 million during the years ended April 30, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.