CISO Global, Inc. Income Taxes Disclosure
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 Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 30, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Mar 31, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Apr 16, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Mar 31, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Apr 15, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Mar 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.