Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Taxes

v3.22.0.1
Income Taxes
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Income Taxes  
Income Taxes

7.

Income Taxes

The domestic and foreign components of loss before provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:

(in thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Domestic

$

(11,818)

$

(12,702)

Foreign

 

 

Total

$

(11,818)

$

(12,702)

The following represent components of the income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:

Year Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 

December 31, 

(in thousands)

    

2021

    

2020

Current:

 

  

 

  

Federal

$

$

State

 

2

 

3

Foreign

 

 

Total current provision for income taxes

$

2

$

3

Deferred:

 

 

Federal

 

 

State

 

 

Foreign

 

 

Total deferred provision for income taxes

 

 

Total

$

2

$

3

7.

Income Taxes, continued

Tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the Company’s deferred tax assets at December 31, 2021 and 2020 are presented below:

    

Year Ended

    

Year Ended

December 31, 

December 31, 

2021

2020

Deferred tax assets:

Net operating loss

$

13,846

$

10,560

Accruals and reserves

 

142

 

104

Amortization of intangible assets

 

1,283

 

1,635

Other

 

355

 

209

Gross deferred tax assets

 

15,626

 

12,508

Valuation allowance

 

(15,564)

 

(12,449)

Total deferred tax assets

 

62

 

59

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

Prepaid expenses

 

(62)

 

(59)

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

(62)

 

(59)

Net deferred tax assets

$

$

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 $3,115,000 and $3,067,000 during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, 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 given the existence of a full valuation allowance.

The CARES Act established the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP Loan”). Under the terms of the CARES Act, PPP loan recipients can apply for and be granted forgiveness for all or a portion of the loan granted under the PPP Loan. On May 3, 2020, the Company received the PPP loan from Wells Fargo Bank. During the third quarter of 2021, the full amount of the PPP Loan was forgiven. The CARES Act specifically requires taxpayers to exclude canceled indebtedness from gross income, and, accordingly, the debt forgiveness amount was treated as nontaxable.

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, 2021, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of $49,696,000. The federal net operating loss carryforwards will carryforward indefinitely but are subject to the 80% taxable income limitation.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company had state net operating loss carryforwards of $48,847,000, which will begin to expire in 2038.

7.

Income Taxes, continued

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, 2021 and 2020 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:

Year Ended December 31, 

 

    

2021

    

2020

 

Effective tax rate reconciliation:

 

  

 

  

Income tax provision at statutory rate

 

21.0

%  

21.0

%

State taxes, net of federal benefit

 

 

Other permanent differences

 

(0.8)

 

(3.6)

Change in valuation allowance

 

(20.2)

 

(17.4)

Provision for income taxes

 

%  

%

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, 2021 and 2020 is zero.

The Company has not incurred any material tax interest or penalties as of December 31, 2021. 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 2021 remain open for examination by the federal and state authorities for three and four years, respectively, from the date of utilization of any net operating loss carryforwards.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in the provision for income taxes. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company has not accrued any penalties or interest related to uncertain tax positions.