NOTE 16 – INCOME TAXES

 

No current or deferred income tax benefit or expense was recognized in the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.

 

A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax benefit to actual tax benefit for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 is as follows:

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2025   2024 
Computed tax benefit at statutory rate   21.00%   21.00%
Stock-based compensation   (5.87)%   (9.51)%
Other permanent adjustments   (8.60)%   - 
State taxes   (13.54)%   - 
Change in valuation allowance   6.90%   (4.34)%
Return to provision adjustments   0.11%   (7.15)%
Effective tax rate   0.00%   0.00%

 

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows as of December 31, 2025 and 2024:

 

       
   Year Ended December 31, 
   2025   2024 
Deferred tax assets:          
Intangible assets  $328,293   $225,497 
Allowance for credit losses   15,077    32,230 
Net operating loss carryforwards   10,814,686    10,791,845 
Stock-based compensation   12,014,861    12,176,163 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   112,693    432,604 
Goodwill impairment   7,072,215    7,357,100 
Other   316,793    375,496 
Leases   86,738    - 
Total deferred tax assets  $30,761,356   $31,390,935 
Valuation allowance   (30,608,487)   (31,165,400)
Net deferred income taxes  $152,869   $225,535 
           
Deferred tax liabilities          
Property and equipment  $(27,398)  $(84,402)
Prepaid expenses   (50,808)   (141,133)
Right-of-use assets   (71,271)   - 
Other   (3,392)   - 
Total deferred tax liabilities   (152,869)   (225,535)
Net deferred tax liabilities  $-   $- 

 

We account for deferred taxes under ASC 740, Income Taxes, which requires a reduction of the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets by a valuation allowance if, based on available evidence, it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. Accordingly, the need to establish valuation allowances for deferred tax assets is assessed periodically based on the ASC 740 more-likely-than-not realization threshold criterion. This assessment considers matters such as future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, legislative developments, and results of recent operations. The evaluation of the recoverability of the deferred tax assets requires that we weigh all positive and negative evidence to reach a conclusion that it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The weight given to the evidence is commensurate with the extent to which it can be objectively verified.

 

 

We have provided a valuation allowance for our net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2025 and 2024, due to the uncertainty surrounding the future realization of such assets and the cumulative losses we have generated. Therefore, no benefit has been recognized in the financial statements for the net operating loss carryforwards and other deferred tax assets. During the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, the valuation allowance decreased by $556,913 and increased by $4,712,900, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2025, we had approximately $43,757,603 of consolidated federal net operating loss carryforwards and $41,699,531 of apportioned state net operating loss carryforwards available to offset future taxable income, respectively. If unused, the federal and state net operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire in 2034.

 

Utilization of net operating loss carryforwards and credits may be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to the ownership change limitations provided by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“IRC”), and similar state provisions. We have not performed a detailed analysis to determine whether an ownership change under Section 382 of the IRC has occurred or will occur. We will perform an analysis as soon as is practicable to determine the extent of limitations. It is possible that additional limitations may arise in future years, even after an analysis is completed, due to future changes in the ownership of our Company.

 

We file federal and state income tax returns in jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to federal or state income tax examinations by tax authorities for tax years prior to 2023 and 2022, respectively. We believe our income tax filing positions and deductions are more likely than not to be sustained on audit. Therefore, no liabilities for uncertain tax positions have been recorded.

 

As of the date of this filing, we have not filed our 2025 federal and state income tax returns. We expect to file these documents as soon as practicable.

 

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Mar 30, 2026Showing above
2024Mar 31, 2025
2023Apr 16, 2024
2022Mar 31, 2023
2021Apr 15, 2022
2020Mar 31, 2021

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.