Table:
|  |  | Fiscal Year |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| (In thousands) | December 29, 2019 | December 30, 2018 | December 31, 2017 |
| Balance, beginning of year | $103,884 | $105,959 | $82,253 |
| Additions for tax positions related to the current year | 2,517 | 2,404 | 2,478 |
| Additions for tax positions from prior years | 1,624 | 451 | 22,151 |
| Reductions for tax positions from prior years/statute of limitations expirations | (416) | (2,468) | (1,460) |
| Foreign exchange (gain) loss | (668) | (2,462) | 537 |
| Balance at the end of the period | $106,941 | $103,884 | $105,959 |
Paragraphs:
Unrecognized Tax Benefits
Current accounting guidance contains a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits during fiscal 2019, 2018, and 2017 is as follows:
Included in the unrecognized tax benefits at fiscal 2019 and 2018 is $38.2 million and $36.7 million, respectively, that if recognized, would result in a reduction of our effective tax rate. The amounts differ from the long-term liability recorded of $20.1 million and $16.8 million as of fiscal 2019 and 2018, respectively, due to accrued interest and penalties, as well as unrecognized tax benefits of French and Italian entities that are recorded against deferred tax asset balances without valuation allowance.
We believe that events that could occur in the next 12 months and cause a change in unrecognized tax benefits include, but are not limited to, the following: • commencement, continuation or completion of examinations of our tax returns by the U.S. or foreign taxing authorities; and • expiration of statutes of limitation on our tax returns.
The calculation of unrecognized tax benefits involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex global tax regulations. Uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact of legislative, regulatory and judicial developments, transfer pricing and the application of withholding taxes. We regularly assess our tax positions in light of legislative, bilateral tax treaty, regulatory and judicial developments in the countries in which we do business. We determined that an estimate of the range of reasonably possible change in the amounts of unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months cannot be made.
Question:
Which year was the balance in the beginning of the year the highest?
Answer: Because $105,959 > $103,884 > $82,253, the answer is: 2018.