19. Income Taxes

The components of net loss before taxes are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Domestic

 

$

(157,153

)

 

$

(24,778

)

Foreign

 

 

(2,408

)

 

 

(7,534

)

Total net loss before taxes

 

$

(159,561

)

 

$

(32,312

)

 

Income tax (benefit) expense for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 is comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

   U.S. Federal

 

$

 

 

$

60

 

   State

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

   Foreign

 

 

237

 

 

 

193

 

Total Current

 

 

237

 

 

 

254

 

Deferred:

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Foreign

 

 

45

 

 

 

(143

)

Total Deferred

 

 

45

 

 

 

(143

)

Total income tax expense (benefit)

 

$

282

 

 

$

111

 

 

The effective tax rate of the Company’s provision for income taxes differs from the federal statutory rate for the year ended December 31, 2025 as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2025

 

Tax expense at statutory rate

 

$

(33,508

)

 

 

21.00

%

Increase (decrease) in tax resulting from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign tax effects:

 

 

 

 

 

 

   South Africa:

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Change in valuation allowance

 

 

4,057

 

 

 

(2.54

)%

      Other adjustments

 

 

(831

)

 

 

0.52

%

   Hong Kong:

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Fair value adjustment

 

 

(3,644

)

 

 

2.28

%

      Other adjustments

 

 

113

 

 

 

(0.07

)%

   Other foreign jurisdictions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Other adjustments

 

 

1,092

 

 

 

(0.68

)%

Change in valuation allowance

 

 

3,919

 

 

 

(2.46

)%

Nontaxable or nondeductible items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Change in fair value of convertible notes

 

 

25,981

 

 

 

(16.28

)%

   Other adjustments

 

 

3,142

 

 

 

(1.97

)%

Other adjustments

 

 

(39

)

 

 

0.02

%

Effective tax rate

 

$

282

 

 

 

(0.18

)%

 

 

The effective tax rate of the Company’s provision for income taxes differs from the federal statutory rate for the year ended December 31, 2024 as follows:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2024

 

Tax computed at federal statutory rate

 

 

21.00

%

Earnings in jurisdictions taxed at rates different
   from the statutory U.S. federal tax rate

 

 

1.78

%

Return to provision

 

 

(3.88

)%

Change in fair value of convertible notes

 

 

(4.47

)%

Non-deductible stock compensation expense

 

 

(5.58

)%

Permanent differences

 

 

(0.09

)%

Valuation allowance

 

 

(9.10

)%

Income tax expense

 

 

(0.34

)%

 

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of (a) temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, and (b) operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Significant components of deferred tax assets (liabilities) are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Net operating loss carryforwards

 

$

13,385

 

 

$

5,262

 

   Capitalized R&D costs

 

 

584

 

 

 

34

 

   Other assets

 

 

84

 

 

 

 

   Accruals and reserves

 

 

535

 

 

 

142

 

   Property and equipment, net

 

 

234

 

 

 

 

   Right-of-use lease liability

 

 

419

 

 

 

336

 

Total deferred tax assets

 

 

15,241

 

 

 

5,774

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Property and equipment, net

 

 

 

 

 

(316

)

   Right-of-use lease asset

 

 

(379

)

 

 

(325

)

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

 

(379

)

 

 

(641

)

Total net deferred tax assets

 

 

14,862

 

 

 

5,133

 

   Less: valuation allowance

 

 

(14,964

)

 

 

(5,101

)

Net deferred taxes (liabilities) assets

 

$

(102

)

 

$

32

 

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, the Company determines deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities on the basis of the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities by using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company recognize deferred tax assets to the extent that the Company believes that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, carryback potential if permitted under the tax law, and results of recent operations. If the Company determines that it would not be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of the net recorded amount, the Company would make an adjustment to the deferred tax assets through recognizing a valuation allowance, which would increase the provision for income taxes.

The Company records uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740 on the basis of a two-step process in which (1) the Company determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Company recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority.

We recognize interest and penalties related to UTBs on the income tax expense line in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. Accrued interest and penalties are included on the related tax liability line in the consolidated balance sheet.

Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to permit use of the existing DTAs. On the basis of this evaluation, as of December 31, 2025, a full valuation allowance has been recorded against the federal, state, and South Africa deferred tax assets, excluding PET Labs and ASP Rentals which have no valuation allowance recorded. The amount of the DTA considered realizable, however, could be adjusted if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced or increased or if objective negative evidence in the form of cumulative losses becomes present and less weight is given to subjective evidence such as our projections for growth.

We are subject to taxation in the United States and various states and foreign jurisdictions. The statute of limitations remains open for all periods of taxable loss until the losses have been utilized. The Company paid $79,000 for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2025. The Company did not make payments or receive refunds for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2024.

On July 4, 2025, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) was enacted into law. The legislation made several changes to the U.S. tax code, including the return of 100% bonus depreciation, the ability to immediately deduct domestic research and development costs, a more favorable rule for deducting interest expenses, and updates to international tax rules around global intangible low-taxed income and foreign-derived intangible income. The Company has evaluated the impact of the new tax provision and determined it to have an immaterial impact on the consolidated financial results.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Apr 10, 2026Showing above
2024Mar 31, 2025
2023Apr 10, 2024
2022Mar 31, 2023

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.