Income Taxes
Income tax expense reported in the consolidated income statements is comprised of the following:
December 31,
20242023
Current expense:
Federal$— $— 
State, net of state tax credits62,142 101,232 
Total current expense
62,142 101,232 
Deferred expense (benefit):
Federal— 8,545,086 
State— 2,377,093 
Total deferred expense (benefit)— 10,922,179 
Total income tax expense
$62,142 $11,023,411 
The following are the components of the Company’s deferred tax assets (liabilities) for federal and state income taxes reported in the consolidated balance sheets:
December 31,
20242023
Deferred income tax assets:
Accrued expenses$1,607,324 $424,865 
Deferred revenue3,909,556 4,269,104 
Lease liability5,710,136 6,697,111 
Goodwill - component 255,368 63,328 
Asset basis difference related to property and equipment560,818 — 
Nonqualified stock options322,376 378,208 
Net operating loss carryforwards3,095,071 3,337,155 
Tax credits35,850 35,850 
Intangibles3,921,752 3,932,350 
Restricted stock compensation90,471 65,886 
Total deferred income tax assets19,308,722 19,203,857 
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Lease right-of-use asset(5,392,996)(5,852,353)
Deferred franchise costs(75,284)(108,148)
Goodwill - component 1(807,823)(673,278)
Asset basis difference related to property and equipment— (1,853,103)
Total deferred income tax liabilities(6,276,103)(8,486,882)
Valuation allowance(13,032,619)(10,774,128)
Net deferred tax liabilities
$— $(57,153)

A valuation allowance of $13.0 million and $10.8 million was recorded against the deferred tax asset balance of The Joint Corp., without its VIEs, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of each reporting date, the Company’s management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact management’s view with regard to future realization of deferred tax assets in each reporting jurisdiction. A significant piece of objective evidence evaluated was the cumulative loss incurred in each jurisdiction over the three-year period ended December 31, 2024. Such objective evidence limits the ability to consider other subjective evidence, such as projections for future growth, in evaluating the need for a valuation allowance. As a result, management has determined that it is more likely than not that The Joint Corp. will not realize its deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2024, and has recorded a valuation allowance after consideration of any recorded deferred tax liabilities.

Additionally, deferred tax assets attributable to its VIEs of $1.1 million and $1.1 million were classified as discontinued operations as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. These deferred tax assets related to deferred revenue. See Note 3, Acquisitions and Divestitures for more information on discontinued operations.

The Joint Corp, without the VIEs, has federal gross net operating loss carryforwards of $12.5 million and $13.4 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Federal tax effected of these net operating losses were $2.6 million and $2.8 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. $8.2 million of the federal net operating loss is subject to a 20-year carryforward, with a portion beginning to expire in 2036. $4.3 million of the federal net operating loss has an indefinite carryforward period.

The Joint Corp., without the VIEs, has various state net operating loss carryforwards. The determination of the state net operating loss carryforwards is dependent upon apportionment percentages and state laws that can change from year to year and impact the amount of such carryforwards. If such net operating loss carryforwards are not utilized, they will begin to expire in 2025.

The Joint Corp. has research and development credits of $14,229 that will begin to expire in 2031 and $21,621 California AMT credits that do not expire.
The following is a reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate applied to pre-tax accounting net (loss) income, compared to the income tax expense in the consolidated income statements:
 For the Years Ended December 31,
 20242023
 AmountPercentAmountPercent
Expected federal tax expense$(309,702)21.0 %$53,341 21.0 %
Meals and entertainment30,460 (2.1)%31,055 12.2 %
State tax provision (benefit), net of federal benefit62,142 (4.2)%69,794 27.5 %
Section 162(m) limitation on compensation85,992 (5.8)%— — %
Other permanent differences
26,576 (1.8)%15,664 6.2 %
Change in VA9,521 (0.6)%10,692,253 4,209.5 %
Stock compensation
(119,263)8.1 %(2,030)(0.8)%
Change in tax rate
123,722 (8.4)%171,007 67.3 %
Return to provision(25,025)1.7 %(146,638)(57.7)%
Uncertain tax position - net impact 212,687 (14.4)%138,585 54.6 %
Other adjustments
(34,968)2.4 %380 0.1 %
Expense$62,142 (4.2)%$11,023,411 4,339.9 %

Changes in the Company’s income tax expense relate primarily to state income taxes (net of federal tax and permanent differences), changes in tax rates, stock compensation, the officer’s compensation limit under Section 162(m), change in valuation allowance and uncertain tax positions during the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, effective tax rates were (4.2)% and 4,339.9%, respectively. The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the Company’s effective tax rate was primarily due to the uncertain tax position net impact for the year ended December 31, 2024. The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the Company’s effective tax rate was primarily due to the valuation allowance, change in tax rate and uncertain tax position for the year ended December 31, 2023.
For the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had gross uncertain tax positions attributable to the VIEs, recorded as discontinued operations, of $0.9 million and $1.2 million, respectively.
December 31,
20242023
Beginning balances
$1,175,766 $1,314,351 
Increases related to tax positions taken during a prior year— — 
Decreases related to tax positions taken during a prior year— — 
Increases related to tax positions taken during a current year— — 
Decreases related to settlements with taxing authorities— — 
Decreases related to expiration of the statute of limitations(227,584)(138,585)
Ending balances
$948,182 $1,175,766 
At December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were $22,078 and $19,433, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits that if recognized would affect the annual effective tax rate.
Interest and penalties associated with tax positions are recorded in the period assessed as general and administrative expenses. Accrued interest and penalties was $201,746 and $142,213 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 and recorded as other liabilities.
With exceptions due to the generation and utilization of net operating losses or credits, as of December 31, 2024, the Company is no longer subject to federal and state examinations by taxing authorities for tax years before 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2024Mar 14, 2025Showing above
2023Mar 8, 2024
2022Mar 10, 2023
2021Mar 14, 2022
2020Mar 5, 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.