Altimmune, Inc. Income Taxes Disclosure
12. Income Taxes
The components of net loss before income tax benefit are as follows (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||
2025 | 2024 | |||||
U.S. operations | $ | (85,248) | $ | (88,401) | ||
Non-U.S. operations |
| (3,526) |
| (6,658) | ||
Net loss before income tax benefit | $ | (88,774) | $ | (95,059) | ||
The components of the income tax provision (benefit) consisted of the following for the years ended December 31, 2025 or 2024 (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||
| 2025 | | 2024 | |||
U.S. state and local |
| |
| | ||
Current | $ | (681) | $ | — | ||
$ | (681) | $ | — | |||
Reconciliation between the effect of applying the federal statutory rate and the effective income tax rate used to calculate the Company’s income tax benefit is as follows (in thousands, except tax rate):
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||
Federal statutory rate |
| $ | (18,646) | 21.00 | % | $ | (19,962) | 21.00 | % | |||
Domestic Federal | ||||||||||||
Nontaxable or nondeductible items | ||||||||||||
Non-taxable - Section 162(m) compensation | 1,367 | (1.50) | 1,087 | (1.10) | ||||||||
Non-taxable - Other | 1,418 | (1.60) | 928 | (1.00) | ||||||||
Change in valuation allowance | 14,804 | (16.70) | 16,546 | (17.40) | ||||||||
Other | 314 | (0.40) | 3 | — | ||||||||
— | — | — | — | |||||||||
Foreign |
|
| ||||||||||
United Kingdom | ||||||||||||
Credit |
| — |
| — |
|
| 1,258 | (1.30) | ||||
Other |
| 362 |
| (0.40) |
|
| (220) | 0.20 | ||||
Australia | ||||||||||||
Credit | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
Other | 381 | (0.40) | 360 | (0.40) | ||||||||
Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits |
| (681) |
| 0.80 |
|
| — | |||||
Effective tax rate |
| $ | (681) | 0.80 | % | $ | — | (0.00) | % | |||
*During the year ended December 31, 2025, state and local income taxes in Maryland make up the majority (greater than 50%) of the domestic state income taxes, net of federal effect category. During the year ended December 31, 2024, state and local income taxes in Maryland make up the majority (greater than 50%) of the domestic state income taxes, net of federal effect category.
During the year December 31, 2025, the Company received a refund from the State of for $1.4 million. No federal, or income taxes were paid in 2025.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income and for tax carryforwards. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):
December 31, | ||||||
| 2025 | | 2024 | |||
Deferred tax assets: |
| |
| | ||
Net operating losses | $ | 115,761 | $ | 64,779 | ||
Capitalized research and development costs | 6,936 | 37,043 | ||||
Stock compensation |
| 3,442 |
| 3,529 | ||
Accrued expenses |
| 823 |
| 726 | ||
Amortization |
| 148 |
| 199 | ||
Lease liability |
| 386 |
| 463 | ||
Depreciation |
| 41 |
| 67 | ||
Other | 73 | 68 | ||||
Total deferred tax assets |
| 127,610 |
| 106,874 | ||
Valuation allowance |
| (127,141) |
| (106,423) | ||
Deferred tax assets, net |
| 469 |
| 451 | ||
Deferred tax liabilities: |
| |
| | ||
Right of use asset |
| (392) |
| (451) | ||
Other |
| (77) |
| — | ||
Total deferred tax liabilities |
| (469) |
| (451) | ||
Total deferred tax assets (liabilities), net | $ | — | $ | — | ||
The Company assesses the need for a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets and considers both positive and negative evidence related to the likelihood of realization of the deferred tax assets to determine, based on the weight of available evidence, whether it is more-likely-than-not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. This determination requires significant judgment, including assumptions about future taxable income that are based on historical and projected information. The increase in the valuation allowance during the year ended December 31, 2025 primarily relates to increases for current year losses in both the U.S. and foreign locations. The Company has recorded a valuation allowance against its net U.S. and net non-U.S. deferred tax assets which it believes are not more likely than not realizable. Deferred tax liabilities will be applied in the future to offset against net operating losses (“NOLs”) that have an indefinite life.
The Company has U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $366.6 million and $365.0 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2025, of which a portion of the federal and state amount of $7.1 million and $365.0 million, respectively, has a 20-year carry forward period that will expire at various dates beginning in 2027. Under current law, the remaining federal amount of $359.5 million has an indefinite life and amounts utilized in the future may not exceed 80% of taxable income. The Company also has foreign net operating loss carryforward of approximately $59.9 million which carryforward indefinitely.
Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (“IRC 382”), as amended, substantial changes in the Company’s ownership may limit the amount of NOLs that can be utilized annually in the future to offset its U.S. federal and state taxable income. Specifically, this limitation may arise in the event of a cumulative change in ownership of the Company of more than 50% within any three-year period. The amount of the annual limitation is determined based on the value of the Company immediately before the ownership change. The Company has reduced the NOL and related valuation allowance in historical periods for NOLs that cannot be utilized in the future because of IRC 382.
The Company has reviewed for any ownership changes as defined under IRC Section 382 from January 1, 2021 through November 3, 2023 and determined that the ownership change was less than 50% during that period. The Company’s existing NOLs are subject to limitations arising from previous ownership changes impacting the timing and amount, and the impact of such changes is reflected in the NOL amounts disclosed above. In addition, future changes in the Company’s stock ownership, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, could result in an ownership change.
On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”), which includes a broad range of tax reform provisions, was signed into law in the United States, which includes a new Internal Revenue Code ("IRC") Section 174A. Under Section 174A, commencing with tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, domestic research or experimental expenditures may be deducted in the current period rather than capitalized and amortized over multiple years, as previously required under IRC Section 174. The OBBBA does not have a material impact on our effective tax rate, financial condition, or results of operations in 2025.
Significant judgment is required in evaluating tax positions and determining the provision for income taxes. The Company establishes liabilities for tax-related uncertainties based on estimates of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes may be due. These liabilities are established when the Company believes that its tax return positions are more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by taxing authorities. The Company adjusts these liabilities in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the outcome of a tax audit. The provision for income taxes includes the impact of changes to these liabilities.
The Company had $0.7 million in unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2024. Any changes in the next twelve months are not anticipated to have a significant impact on the results of operations, financial position or cash flows of the Company. The Company had no remaining uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2025.
The following is a tabular reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits excluding related interest and penalties (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||
2025 | 2024 | |||||
Beginning balance | $ | 711 | $ | 711 | ||
Decreases for prior year tax positions |
| (711) |
| — | ||
Ending balance | $ | — | $ | 711 | ||
The Company files income tax returns in the United States, various U.S. states, U.K. and Australia. The Company is still open to examination by the applicable taxing authorities from 2021 forward, although tax attributes that were generated prior to 2021 may still be adjusted upon examination by federal, state, foreign or local tax authorities if they either have been or will be used in a future period.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 6, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 27, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Mar 27, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Feb 28, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Mar 15, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Feb 25, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Mar 27, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Apr 1, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Apr 2, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Mar 14, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Mar 11, 2016 | |
About Income Taxes Disclosures
The income tax disclosure reveals how much a company actually pays in taxes versus what the statutory rate would predict. Analysts focus on the effective tax rate (ETR) reconciliation, which breaks down every item driving the gap between the 21% federal rate and the company's reported ETR — including R&D credits, foreign rate differentials, and state taxes. Deferred tax assets (DTAs) and their valuation allowances signal management's confidence in future profitability: a rising allowance suggests the company doubts it can use accumulated tax benefits. Uncertain tax benefit (UTB) reserves quantify exposure to IRS challenges on aggressive positions.
Key signals to watch: sudden ETR drops without clear operational reasons, large increases in valuation allowances, growing UTB balances, and significant unremitted foreign earnings. Post-TCJA, pay attention to GILTI and BEAT provisions that affect multinational tax structures. Compare the cash taxes paid (from the cash flow statement) against the income tax provision to gauge earnings quality.