9. Income Taxes

 

The Company did not provide for income taxes during the periods presented because it had book and federal taxable losses in those years and the tax benefit that would have resulted from the pre-tax losses was fully offset by a change in the valuation allowance.

 

The reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the Company’s effective tax rate for periods presented was as follows:

 

  

Year ended December 31,

 
  

2025

  

2024

  

2023

 

U.S. federal statutory tax rate

 $(19,104)  21%  21%  21%

Nontaxable or nondeductible items

                

Stock compensation

  3,580   (4.0)  (5.7)  0.2 

Section 162(m) limitation

        (0.2)   

Change in fair value of warrant liabilities

        93.3    

SEC settlement payment

        (34.5)   

Change in valuation allowance

  15,207   (16.7)  (79.4)  (24.0)

Tax Credits

                

Research and development credits

  (1,021)  1.1   15.4   5.1 

Tax attribute expiration

  922   (1.0)  (4.1)   

Uncertain tax positions

  409   (0.4)  (6.1)  (2.0)

State tax, net of federal benefit

            

Other

  7      0.3   (0.3)

Effective income tax rate

 $   %  %  %

 

Deferred tax assets and valuation allowance

 

Deferred tax assets reflect the tax effects of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards and temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The Company’s deferred taxes assets at  December 31, 2025 and 2024 were valued at the corporate tax rate of 21%. The Company offsets its deferred tax assets by a valuation allowance because it is uncertain about the timing and amount of any future profits. Significant components of its deferred tax assets are as follows (in thousands):

 

  

December 31,

 
  

2025

  

2024

 

Deferred tax assets:

        

Net operating loss carryforwards

 $78,632  $43,148 

Legal reserves

  6,563  $ 

Share-based compensation

  5,319   4,814 

Research and development credit carryforwards

  13,480   13,789 

Capitalized research and development expenses

  6,919   33,598 

Other

  985   1,340 

Total deferred tax assets

  111,898   96,689 

Valuation allowance

  (111,896)  (96,689)

Net deferred tax assets

  2    

Deferred tax liabilities:

        

Intangibles

  (2)   

Total deferred tax liabilities

  (2)   

Net deferred tax asset (liability)

 $  $ 

 

The valuation allowance increased by $15.1 million and $19.4 million in 2025 and 2024, respectively, due primarily to continuing operations.

 

The Company’s net operating loss carryforwards of $374.4 million are federal, of which $74.1 million expires between 2029 and 2037 and $300.3 million carries forward indefinitely. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had federal research and development tax credits of approximately $22.4 million, which expire in the years 2026 through 2045.

 

Unrecognized tax benefits

 

As of December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, the Company has unrecognized tax benefits related to tax credits of $9.0 million, $9.2 million and $8.4 million, respectively. None of the unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2025, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate due to the valuation allowance and no interest or penalties have been recognized. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):

 

  

Year ended December 31,

 
  

2025

  

2024

  

2023

 

Beginning balance

 $9,242  $8,413  $6,496 

Expired research and development tax credits

  (614)  (665)  (50)

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

  392   1,494   1,967 

Ending balance

 $9,020  $9,242  $8,413 

 

As of December 31, 2025, there were no unrecognized tax benefits that we expect would change significantly over the next 12 months.

 

The Company files U.S. and Texas income tax returns. In the United States, the statute of limitations with respect to the federal income tax returns for tax years after 2021 are open to audit; however, since the Company has net operating losses, the taxing authority has the ability to review tax returns prior to the 2022 tax year and make adjustments to these net operating loss carryforwards. We are not under audit in any taxing jurisdiction at this time.

  

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Mar 12, 2026Showing above
2024Mar 3, 2025
2023Feb 28, 2024
2022Feb 28, 2023
2021Mar 1, 2022
2020Mar 23, 2021
2019Mar 26, 2020
2018Mar 29, 2019
2017Feb 6, 2018
2016Mar 7, 2017
2015Mar 3, 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.