Income Taxes. Income tax expense during the nine months of fiscal 2024 was $6.4 million, compared to income tax expense of $1.3 million for the corresponding period in 2023. The year-over-year increase in income tax expense for the nine months of fiscal 2024 was primarily due to an $8.2 million non-cash valuation allowance on U.S. deferred tax assets, changes in geographic mix of income and loss that includes jurisdictions with differing tax rates, and discrete items related to unvested stock compensation. Because we have a valuation allowance recorded against our U.S. deferred tax assets, we did not record a tax benefit for our U.S. net losses for the nine months ended July 31, 2024. The valuation allowance recorded during the third quarter of fiscal 2024 reflects a full valuation allowance of the U.S. deferred tax assets and was recorded based on our conclusion that the deferred tax assets were not more likely than not going to be realized.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At July 31, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of $36.1 million, compared to $41.8 million at October 31, 2023. Approximately 26% of the $36.1 million of cash and cash equivalents was denominated in U.S. dollars. The balance was attributable to our foreign operations and is held in the local currencies of our various foreign entities, subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. We do not believe that the indefinite reinvestment of these funds offshore impairs our ability to meet our domestic working capital needs.
Working capital was $182.0 million at July 31, 2024, compared to $193.3 million at October 31, 2023. The decrease in working capital was primarily driven by decreases in accounts receivable, net and cash and cash equivalents, partially offset by increases in inventories, net and decreases in accounts payable and accrued payroll and employee benefits.
Capital expenditures of $2.1 million during the nine months of fiscal year 2024 were primarily for capital improvements in existing facilities and software development costs. We funded these expenditures with cash on hand.
On January 6, 2023, we announced a share repurchase program in an aggregate amount of up to $25.0 million. Repurchases under the program may be made in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions from time to time through November 10, 2024, subject to applicable laws, regulations, and contractual provisions. The program may be amended, suspended, or discontinued at any time and does not commit us to repurchase any shares of our common stock. During the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2024, we repurchased $0.5 million, or 29,413 shares, under that program, and $22.7 million remained available under the program as of that date. In August 2024, we repurchased an additional $0.8 million, or 44,352 shares, under that program, leaving $21.9 million repurchase authority remaining as of August 30, 2024.
During the nine months ended July 31, 2024, we paid cash dividends to our shareholders of $2.1 million. On June 14, 2024, we announced a temporary suspension of our regular quarterly cash dividend as we seek to enhance our financial flexibility and improve our ability to manage market volatility while focusing on strengthening our balance sheet, reinvesting in our core business and research and development related to emerging technologies, and returning value to shareholders via the appropriate channels in both the near and long-term. Future dividends are subject to approval of our Board of Directors and will depend upon many factors, including our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements, regulatory and contractual restrictions, our business strategy and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors from time to time. Subsequent to the June 14, 2024, dividend suspension announcement, we repurchased a total of $1.3 million, or 73,765 shares, through August 30, 2024, in an effort to continue returning value to shareholders.
On December 31, 2018, we and our subsidiary Hurco B.V. entered into the 2018 Credit Agreement with Bank of America, N.A., as the lender, which was subsequently amended on each of March 13, 2020, December 23, 2020, December 17, 2021, January 4, 2023 and December 19, 2023. The 2018 Credit Agreement provides for an unsecured revolving credit and letter of credit facility in a maximum aggregate amount of $40.0 million. The 2018 Credit Agreement provides that the maximum amount of outstanding letters of credit at any one time may not exceed $10.0 million, the maximum amount of outstanding loans made to our subsidiary Hurco B.V. at any one time may not exceed $20.0 million, and the maximum amount of all outstanding loans denominated in alternative currencies at any one time may not exceed $20.0 million. Under the 2018 Credit Agreement, we and Hurco B.V. are borrowers, and certain of our other subsidiaries are guarantors. The scheduled maturity date of the 2018 Credit Agreement is December 31, 2025.