NOTE 12: INCOME TAXES

Pre-tax loss reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended March 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 follows (in thousands):

The income tax provision differs from the amount computed by applying the federal statutory rate of 35% to loss before income taxes as follows (in thousands):

Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

A reconciliation of the gross unrecognized tax benefits follows (in thousands):

During fiscal 2014, we recorded a net decrease in our unrecognized tax benefits. Including interest and penalties, the total unrecognized tax benefit at March 31, 2014 was $33.4 million, all of which, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective tax rate. At March 31, 2014 accrued interest and penalties totaled $1.0 million. Our practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax provision in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties, were recorded in other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

We file our tax returns as prescribed by the laws of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Our U.S. tax returns have been audited for years through 2002 by the Internal Revenue Service. In other major jurisdictions, we are generally open to examination for the most recent three to five fiscal years. Although timing of the resolution and closure on audits is highly uncertain, we do not believe it is likely that the unrecognized tax benefits would materially change in the next 12 months.

As of March 31, 2014, we had federal net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards of approximately $274.5 million and $142.1 million, respectively. Our federal net operating loss carryforwards include $33.6 million attributable to excess tax deductions from stock option exercises, and are not included in the deferred tax assets shown above. The benefit of these loss carryforwards will be credited to equity when realized. The net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards expire in varying amounts beginning in fiscal 2015 if not previously utilized, the utilization of which is limited under the tax law ownership change provision. These carryforwards include $15.6 million of acquired net operating losses and $10.8 million of credits.

Certain changes in stock ownership could result in a limitation on the amount of net operating loss and tax credit carryovers that can be utilized each year. Should the company undergo such a change in stock ownership, it could severely limit the usage of these carryover tax attributes against future income, resulting in additional tax charges.

Due to our history of net losses and the difficulty in predicting future results, we believe that we cannot rely on projections of future taxable income to realize the deferred tax assets. Accordingly, we have established a full valuation allowance against our U.S. net deferred tax assets. Significant management judgment is required in determining our deferred tax assets and liabilities and valuation allowances for purposes of assessing our ability to realize any future benefit from our net deferred tax assets. We intend to maintain this valuation allowance until sufficient positive evidence exists to support the reversal of the valuation allowance. Our income tax expense recorded in the future will be reduced to the extent that sufficient positive evidence materializes to support a reversal of, or decrease in, our valuation allowance.