LM FUNDING AMERICA, INC. Income Taxes Disclosure
Note 10. Income Taxes
Prior to the Company’s initial public offering in October 2015, the earnings of the Company's predecessor, which was a limited liability company taxed as a partnership, were taxable to its members. In connection with the contribution of membership interests to the Company (a C-Corporation formed in 2015), the net income or loss of the Company after the initial public offering is taxable to the Company and reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
The Company performs an evaluation of the realizability of its deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis. The Company considers all positive and negative evidence available in determining the potential of realizing deferred tax assets, including the scheduled reversal of temporary differences, recent and projected future taxable income and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. The estimates and assumptions used by the Company in computing the income taxes reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements could differ from the actual results reflected in the income tax returns filed during the subsequent year. Adjustments are recorded based on filed returns when finalized or the related adjustments are identified.
Under ASC 740-10-30-5, Income Taxes, deferred tax assets should be reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not (i.e., a likelihood of more than 50%) that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company considers all positive and negative evidence available in determining the potential realization of deferred tax assets including, primarily, the recent history of taxable earnings or losses. Based on operating losses reported by the Company in prior years, the Company concluded there was not sufficient positive evidence to overcome this recent operating history. As a result, the Company believed that a valuation allowance was necessary based on the more-likely-than-not threshold noted above. The Company has recorded a valuation allowance of approximately $21.7 million as of December 31, 2025 and $16.2 million as of December 31, 2024.
Significant components of the tax expense (benefit) recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 are as follows:
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|
Years Ended December 31, |
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|
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2025 |
|
|
2024 |
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|
|
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||
Current tax benefit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Federal |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
State |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Total current tax expense |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax expense - Federal |
|
|
(5,242,366 |
) |
|
|
(1,751,407 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax expense - State |
|
|
(207,536 |
) |
|
|
(359,266 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Valuation allowance |
|
|
5,449,902 |
|
|
|
2,110,673 |
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax expense |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
The reconciliation of the income tax computed at the combined federal and state statutory rate of 0.0% for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, to the income tax benefit is as follows:
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|
Years Ended December 31, |
|
|
Years Ended December 31, |
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2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
2024 |
|
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|
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Income tax provision at the US federal statutory rate |
|
$ |
(5,664,790 |
) |
|
|
21.0 |
% |
|
$ |
(1,607,641 |
) |
|
|
21.0 |
% |
|
Nondeductible expenses |
|
|
105,219 |
|
|
|
-0.4 |
% |
|
|
81,692 |
|
|
|
-1.1 |
% |
|
(a) |
|
|
(922,019 |
) |
|
|
3.4 |
% |
|
|
(328,787 |
) |
|
|
4.3 |
% |
|
True-up |
|
|
369,810 |
|
|
|
-1.4 |
% |
|
|
(274,033 |
) |
|
|
3.6 |
% |
|
Change in valuation allowance |
|
|
5,449,902 |
|
|
|
-20.2 |
% |
|
|
2,110,672 |
|
|
|
-27.6 |
% |
|
Change in Rate |
|
|
661,878 |
|
|
|
-2.5 |
% |
|
|
18,097 |
|
|
|
-0.2 |
% |
|
Tax expense/effective rate |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
0.0 |
% |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
0.0 |
% |
|
(a) State taxes in Florida and Oklahoma make up the majority (greater than 50%) of the tax effect in this category
The significant components of the Company’s deferred tax liabilities and assets as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 are as follows:
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As of December 31, |
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As of December 31, |
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|
2025 |
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|
2024 |
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Deferred tax liabilities: |
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|
|
|
|
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Depreciation |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
712,144 |
|
|
Amortization |
|
|
149,513 |
|
|
|
77,150 |
|
|
Unrealized gains/losses on fair value of Bitcoin |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,718,297 |
|
|
Right to use assets |
|
|
178,478 |
|
|
|
239,586 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total deferred tax liabilities |
|
|
327,991 |
|
|
|
2,747,177 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Deferred tax assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Loss carryforwards - Federal |
|
|
12,809,102 |
|
|
|
9,833,932 |
|
|
Loss carryforwards - State |
|
|
2,124,307 |
|
|
|
2,118,857 |
|
|
Stock option expense |
|
|
2,079,792 |
|
|
|
2,004,956 |
|
|
Depreciation |
|
|
940,974 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
Allowance for credit losses |
|
|
12,820 |
|
|
|
13,865 |
|
|
Right to use liability |
|
|
192,186 |
|
|
|
241,847 |
|
|
Unrealized loss on securities |
|
|
4,244,147 |
|
|
|
4,655,574 |
|
|
Unrealized gains/losses on fair value of Bitcoin |
|
|
(376,746 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized gains/losses on derivatives |
|
|
(69,815 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Charitable contributions |
|
|
6,658 |
|
|
|
6,303 |
|
|
Other |
|
|
27,355 |
|
|
|
84,730 |
|
|
Total deferred tax asset |
|
|
21,990,780 |
|
|
|
18,960,064 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Valuation allowance |
|
|
(21,662,789 |
) |
|
|
(16,212,887 |
) |
|
Net deferred tax asset |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
As a result of various equity transactions prior to the incorporation, the former members of the Company's predecessor recognized taxable gains associated with redemption consideration and/or deficit capital accounts totaling approximately $5.25 million. In accordance with ASC 740-20-45-11, the Company accounted for the tax effect of the step up in income tax basis related to these transactions with or among shareholders and recognized a deferred tax asset and corresponding increase in equity of approximately $1.91 million. Federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $512 thousand related to 2015, $3.96 million related to 2016, $2.98 million related to 2017, $1.41 million related to 2018, $1.95 million related to 2019, and $5.1 million related to 2020 will expire in 2035, 2036, 2037, 2038, respectively and net operating loss generated after January 1, 2018 will not expire. The Company's federal and state tax returns for the 2019 generally remain subject to examination by U.S. and various state authorities.
Pursuant to IRC §382 of the Internal Revenue Code, the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards and tax credits may be limited as a result of a cumulative change in stock ownership of more than 50% over a three year period. The Company underwent such a change and consequently, the utilization of a portion of the net operating loss carryforwards is subject to certain limitations.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 31, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Mar 31, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Apr 1, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Mar 31, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Mar 31, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Mar 31, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Apr 14, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Apr 16, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Apr 17, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Mar 31, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Mar 30, 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.