Table:
|  | April 26, 2019 | April 27, 2018 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Deferred tax assets: |  |  |
| Reserves and accruals | $ 50 | $ 57 |
| Net operating loss and credit carryforwards | 139 | 131 |
| Stock-based compensation | 16 | 22 |
| Deferred revenue | 205 | 156 |
| Other | 16 | 29 |
| Gross deferred tax assets | 426 | 395 |
| Valuation allowance | (123 ) | (109 ) |
| Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance | 303 | 286 |
| Deferred tax liabilities: |  |  |
| Prepaids and accruals | 31 | 21 |
| Acquired intangibles | 32 | 29 |
| Property and equipment | 31 | 25 |
| Other | 10 | 14 |
| Total deferred tax liabilities | 104 | 89 |
| Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance and deferred tax liabilities | $199 | $197 |
Paragraphs:
As a result of the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate change, effective as of January 1, 2018, we remeasured our deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the rates at which they are expected to reverse in the future periods. During fiscal 2018, we recorded $108 million of tax expense related to all tax rate changes. Upon finalization of our provisional estimates during the third quarter of fiscal 2019, we recorded tax expense of $6 million related to deferred tax assets for equity-based compensation awards to our executives.
The TCJA imposes a mandatory, one-time transition tax on accumulated foreign earnings and profits not previously subject to U.S. income tax at a rate of 15.5% on earnings to the extent of foreign cash and other liquid assets, and 8% on the remaining earnings. In fiscal 2018, we recorded a $732 million discrete tax expense for the estimated U.S. federal and state income tax impacts of the transition tax. In the third quarter of fiscal 2019, we finalized our computation of the transition tax and recorded a reduction of $5 million to our provisional estimate.
As of April 26, 2019, we have completed the accounting for the tax impacts of the TCJA, however, we will continue to assess the impact of further guidance from federal and state tax authorities on our business and consolidated financial statements, and recognize any adjustments in the period in which they are determined.
Under the TCJA, the global minimum tax on intangible income (GMT) provisions impose a tax on foreign income in excess of a deemed return on tangible assets of foreign corporations. Under U.S. GAAP, companies are allowed to make an accounting policy election to either (i) account for GMT as a component of tax expense in the period in which a company is subject to the rules, or (ii) account for GMT in a company’s measurement of deferred taxes. We have elected to recognize the GMT as a period cost and thus recorded $22 million of tax expense for federal and state impacts for fiscal 2019.
In October 2016, the FASB issued an ASU which eliminates the deferred tax effects of intra-entity asset transfers other than inventory. As a result, tax expense from the sale of an asset in the seller’s tax jurisdiction is recognized when the transfer occurs, even though the pre-tax effects of that transaction are eliminated in consolidation.
During fiscal 2017, we adopted a new accounting standard that simplifies stock-based compensation income tax accounting and presentation within the financial statements and recorded a tax charge of $18 million following the post-adoption rules which require that all excess tax benefits and deficiencies from stock-based compensation be recognized as a component of income tax expense.
The components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in millions):
The valuation allowance increased by $14 million in fiscal 2019. The increase is mainly attributable to corresponding changes in deferred tax assets, primarily foreign tax credit carryforwards and certain state tax credit carryforwards.
As of April 26, 2019, we have federal net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards of approximately $2 million and $3 million, respectively. In addition, we have gross state net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards of $25 million and $138 million, respectively. The majority of the state credit carryforwards are California research credits which are offset by a valuation allowance as we believe it is more likely than not that these credits will not be utilized. We also have $4 million of foreign net operating losses, and $43 million of foreign tax credit carryforwards generated by our Dutch subsidiary which are fully offset by a valuation allowance. Certain acquired net operating loss and credit carryforwards are subject to an annual limitation under Internal Revenue Code Section 382, but are expected to be realized with the exception of those which have a valuation allowance. The federal, state, and foreign net operating loss carryforwards and credits will expire in various years from fiscal 2020 through 2038. The California research credit and Dutch foreign tax credit carryforwards do not expire.
Question:
Why did the valuation allowance increase in fiscal 2019?
Answer: mainly attributable to corresponding changes in deferred tax assets, primarily foreign tax credit carryforwards and certain state tax credit carryforwards.