Note 10 - Income Taxes

Income tax expense is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

 

 

$

33

 

State

 

 

330

 

 

 

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

330

 

 

 

33

 

Deferred:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

 

 

 

 

 

State

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

$

330

 

 

$

33

 

The effective tax rate of the Company's provision for income taxes differs from the federal statutory rate as follows:

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Statutory federal income tax rate

 

 

21.0

%

 

 

21.0

%

State taxes, net of federal tax benefit

 

 

8.1

 

 

 

7.7

 

Research and development tax credits

 

 

8.4

 

 

 

4.4

 

Return to provision adjustments

 

 

(4.8

)

 

 

0.3

 

Uncertain tax positions

 

 

(1.7

)

 

 

(0.9

)

Stock-based compensation

 

 

(8.4

)

 

 

(1.7

)

Other

 

 

(0.5

)

 

 

(0.5

)

Change in valuation allowance

 

 

(22.9

)

 

 

(30.4

)

Income taxes provision (benefit)

 

 

-0.8

%

 

 

-0.1

%

Significant components of the Company’s deferred taxes are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal and state-operating loss carryforwards

 

$

131,994

 

 

$

148,119

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

7,078

 

 

 

9,948

 

Capitalized research expense

 

 

35,593

 

 

 

28,578

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

18,484

 

 

 

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

782

 

 

 

594

 

Research and development credits

 

 

18,436

 

 

 

15,816

 

Other

 

 

53

 

 

 

19

 

Total deferred tax assets

 

 

212,420

 

 

 

203,074

 

Valuation allowance

 

 

(211,614

)

 

 

(202,428

)

Deferred tax asset, net of valuation allowance

 

$

806

 

 

$

646

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

$

(777

)

 

$

(593

)

Other

 

 

(29

)

 

 

(53

)

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

 

(806

)

 

 

(646

)

Net deferred tax liability

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

The Company maintains a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty regarding the ability to utilize these deferred tax assets in the future. The valuation allowance increased by $9.2 million and $18.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, primarily due to an increase in the Company’s federal and state-operating loss carryforwards.

Net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards as of December 31, 2024 are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Amount

 

 

Expiration Years

Net operating losses, federal (post December 31, 2017)

 

$

391,182

 

 

Indefinite

Net operating losses, federal (pre January 1, 2018)

 

 

67,208

 

 

2029 - 2037

Net operating loss, state (Indefinite)

 

 

 

 

Indefinite

Net operating loss, state (Definite)

 

 

561,968

 

 

2029 - 2044

Research and development tax credits, federal

 

 

17,820

 

 

2028 - 2044

Research and development tax credits, state

 

 

6,783

 

 

Indefinite

Pursuant to Internal Revenue Code (IRC), Sections 382 and 383, use of the Company’s U.S. federal and state net operating loss and research and development income tax credit carryforwards may be limited in the event of a cumulative change in ownership of more than 50.0% within a three-year period. The Company has performed an ownership change study through December 31, 2024 and has determined a “change in ownership” as defined by IRC Section 382 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, did occur in December 2010, January 2013 and October 2014. The Company has adjusted its net operating loss carryovers to appropriately reflect any attributes which will expire due to the limitation. If further changes in ownership occur, additional net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards could be eliminated or restricted. If eliminated, the related asset would be removed from the deferred tax asset schedule with a corresponding reduction in the valuation allowance.

The following table summarizes activity related to the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits (in thousands):

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Balances as of beginning of year

 

$

4,495

 

 

$

3,873

 

Increases related to prior year tax positions

 

 

 

 

 

47

 

Decreases related to prior year tax positions

 

 

(31

)

 

 

 

Increases related to current year tax positions

 

 

711

 

 

 

575

 

Balances as of end of year

 

$

5,175

 

 

$

4,495

 

The unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would not have an impact on the Company’s effective tax rate assuming the Company continues to maintain a full valuation allowance position. Based on the prior year’s operations and experience, the Company does not expect a significant change to its unrecognized tax benefits over the next twelve months. The unrecognized tax benefits may increase or change during the next year for unexpected or unusual items that arise in the ordinary course of business. In subsequent periods, any interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions will be recognized as a component of income tax expense.

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal, California and other state and foreign jurisdictions and is not currently under examination by federal, state, or local taxing authorities for any open tax years. Due to net operating loss carryforwards, all years effectively remain open for income tax examination by tax authorities in the U.S. and states in which the Company files tax returns.

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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.