Table:
|  |  | Fiscal year-end |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Balance as of the beginning of the year | $65,882 | $47,566 | $20,442 |
| Increase related to acquisitions | — | — | 25,151 |
| Tax positions related to current year: |  |  |  |
| Additions | 605 | 19,033 | 1,326 |
| Reductions | — | — | — |
| Tax positions related to prior year: |  |  |  |
| Additions | 448 | 117 | 4,951 |
| Reductions | (6,071) | — | (65) |
| Lapses in statutes of limitations | (639) | (700) | (610) |
| Decrease in unrecognized tax benefits based on audit results | — | — | (5,217) |
| Foreign currency revaluation adjustment | (2,114) | (134) | 1,588 |
| Balance as of end of year | $58,111 | $65,882 | $47,566 |
Paragraphs:
A reconciliation of the change in gross unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties,
is as follows (in thousands):
As of September 28, 2019, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits including gross interest and penalties was $63.9 million, of which $43.9 million, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate. We reassessed the computation of the transition tax liability based upon the issuance of new guidance and the availability of additional substantiation in fiscal 2019. The adjustments resulted in a tax benefit of approximately $6.0 million, which was recorded in fiscal 2019. Our total gross unrecognized tax benefit, net of certain deferred tax assets is classified as a long-term taxes payable in the consolidated balance sheets. We include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the provision for income taxes. As of September 28, 2019, the total amount of gross interest and penalties accrued was $5.8 million and it is classified as long-term taxes payable in the consolidated balance sheets. As of September 29, 2018, we had accrued $4.4 million for the gross interest and penalties and it is classified as Other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
Question:
In which year was the Balance as of the beginning of the year the largest?
Answer: Because 65,882>47,566>20,442, the answer is: 2019.