7.Income Taxes

The domestic and foreign components of loss before provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

 

 

The following represent components of the income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

 

 

Tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the Company’s deferred tax assets at December 31, 2020 and 2019 are presented below:

 

 

The Company’s accounting for deferred taxes involves the evaluation of a number of factors concerning the realizability of the Company’s net deferred tax assets. The Company primarily considered such factors as the Company’s history of operating losses; the nature of the Company’s deferred tax assets and the timing, likelihood and amount, if any, of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences and carryforwards become deductible. At present, the Company does not believe that it is “more-likely-than-not” that the deferred tax assets will be realized; accordingly, a full valuation allowance was maintained, and no deferred tax assets were shown in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The valuation allowance increased by $3,067,000 and $2,599,000 during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

On March 27, 2020, the U.S. enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). The CARES Act includes provisions relating to refundable payroll tax credits, net operating loss carryback periods, alternative minimum tax credit refunds, modifications to the net interest deduction limitations and technical corrections to the tax depreciation methods for qualified improvement property. On December 21, 2020, the U.S. Congress passed the Consolidation Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “CAA Act”). The tax provisions under the CARES Act and CAA Act, do not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020 given the existence of a full valuation allowance.

On June 29, 2020, California Assembly Bill 85 (“AB 85”) was signed into law, which suspends the use of California net operating losses and limits the use of California research tax credits for tax years beginning in 2020 and before 2023.  The Company does not expect the suspension of net operating losses to have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of $37,739,000. The federal net operating loss carryforwards will carryforward indefinitely but are subject to the 80% taxable income limitation.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had state net operating loss carryforwards of $37,735,000, which will begin to expire in 2038.

Utilization of the Company’s net operating losses and credit carryforwards may be subject to annual limitations in the event of a Section 382 ownership change. Such future limitations could result in the expiration of net operating losses and credit carryforwards before utilization as a result of such an ownership change.

Provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 differed from the amounts computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% to the loss before provision for income taxes as a result of the following:

 

Tax positions are evaluated in a two-step process. The Company first determines whether it is “more-likely-than-not” that a tax position will be sustained upon examination. If a tax position meets the “more-likely-than-not” recognition threshold it is then measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the consolidated financial statements. The tax position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The aggregate changes in the balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits, which excludes interest and penalties, for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 is zero.

The Company has not incurred any material tax interest or penalties as of December 31, 2020. The Company does not anticipate any significant change within 12 months of this reporting date of its uncertain tax positions. The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and various state jurisdictions. There are no ongoing examinations by taxing authorities at this time. The Company’s various tax years 2018 through 2020 remain open for examination by various taxing jurisdictions.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in the provision for income taxes. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company has not accrued any penalties or interest related to uncertain tax positions.