Note 7 — Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate from continuing operations is generally the combined federal and state statutory rate reduced by the effect of tax credits primarily due to the tax benefit of FICA tax credits for employee reported tip income. The effective tax rate from continuing operations for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2015 was an expense of 19.4%, while the effective tax rate from continuing operations for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2014 was a benefit of 114.6%. The change in the effective tax rate is primarily due to the valuation allowance in the current quarter and the change in FICA tax credits being generated in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter proportionate to the loss before income taxes.
Income taxes for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2015 and March 31, 2014 were estimated using the discrete method, which was based on actual year-to-date loss before income taxes and estimated tax credits generated primarily related to FICA and Medicare taxes paid on employee tip income. We believe that this method yields a more reliable income tax calculation for the interim periods. The estimated annual effective tax rate method was not reasonable due to its sensitivity to small changes in forecasted annual earnings before income taxes, which would result in significant variations in the customary relationship between income tax expense and earnings before income taxes for interim periods.
We evaluate our deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis to determine whether a valuation allowance is required. We assess whether a valuation allowance should be established based on our determination of whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible and prior to the expiration of our credit carryforwards which begin to expire in 2031. We consider the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. According to ASC Topic No. 740, Income Taxes, cumulative losses in recent years represent significant negative evidence in considering whether deferred tax assets are realizable.
Therefore, during the first quarter of 2015, we recorded a valuation allowance of $10.4 million against primarily all our deferred tax assets, of which approximately $2.1 million was for continuing operations and approximately $8.3 million was for discontinued operations. If we are able to generate sufficient taxable income in the future and it becomes more likely than not that we will be able to fully utilize the net deferred tax assets on which a valuation allowance was recorded, our effective tax rate may decrease if the valuation allowance is reversed.
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