NOTE 6 – INCOME TAXES

 

The income tax provision consisted of the following:

 

   Year Ended March 31, 
   2025   2024 
   (in thousands) 
Current provision:        
Federal  $
   $
 
State   2    2 
    2    2 
Deferred provision:          
Federal   
    
 
State   
    
 
    
    
 
Total income tax provision  $2   $2 

 

A reconciliation of income taxes provided at the federal statutory rate to the actual income tax provision is as follows:

 

   Year Ended March 31, 
   2025   2024 
Federal statutory rate   (21)%   (21)%
State tax rate, net of federal benefit   (6)%   (6)%
Research and development tax credits   (5)%   (7)%
Change in valuation allowance   30%   32%
Other   2%   2%
Effective income tax rate   
   

 

The losses before income tax provision for the years ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 were solely attributable to US operations.

 

Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were (in thousands):

 

   March 31, 
   2025   2024 
Net operating loss carryforwards  $14,343   $10,860 
Capitalized research and development expense   5,391    3,058 
Stock-based compensation expense   1,267    2,818 
Research and development tax credits   2,420    2,568 
Lease liability   230    
 
Reserves, accruals and other   82    
 
Total gross deferred tax assets   23,733    19,304 
Right-of-use asset   (215)   
 
Property and equipment   (481)   (46)
Reserves, accruals and other   
    (49)
Total deferred tax liabilities   (696)   (95)
Less: valuation allowance   (23,037)   (19,209)
Deferred tax assets, net  $
   $
 

  

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Based on the available information and other factors, management believes it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets at March 31, 2025 and 2024, will not be fully realizable. Accordingly, management has recorded a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets at March 31, 2025 and 2024. The net change in the total valuation allowance for the year ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was an increase of approximately $3,828,000 and $4,387,000 respectively.

 

At March 31, 2025, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) of approximately $45,556,000 for federal income tax purposes and $68,499,000 for state income tax purposes. These NOLs are available to reduce future taxable income and will expire at various times from 2037 through 2045, except federal NOLs from fiscal 2018 and later, which will never expire.

 

The Company also had federal research and development tax credit carryforwards of approximately $2,600,000, which will begin expiring at various times from 2038 through 2045, and state research and development credits of approximately $1,074,000, which do not have an expiration date.

 

Internal Revenue Code Sections 382 and 383 place a limitation on the amount of net operating loss and income tax credit carryforwards that can offset taxable income after a change in control (generally a greater than 50% change in ownership) of a loss corporation. Most states have similar rules. Due to these “change in ownership” provisions, utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards may be subject to an annual limitation regarding their utilization against taxable income.

The Company’s unrecognized tax benefits were as follows (in thousands):

 

   Year Ended March 31, 
   2025   2024 
Beginning balance   
    
 
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year  $405    
 
Additions for tax positions of prior years   699    
 
Ending balance  $1,104    
 

 

There are no unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the Company's effective tax rate. The Company's policy is to include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the Company's provision for income taxes. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had no accrual for interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits. The Company does not expect any unrecognized tax benefits to be recognized within the next 12 months.

 

The Company files U.S. federal and various state income tax returns. The Company is not currently under audit by any taxing authorities. The federal and state income tax returns are generally subject to examination for tax years 2022 through 2024. The statute of limitations for U.S. net operating losses and research and development tax credit carryovers begin to toll in the year they are used; therefore, all carryovers are subject to examination.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Jun 20, 2025Showing above
2024Jun 21, 2024
2023Jun 26, 2023
2022Jun 28, 2022
2021Jun 29, 2021
2020Jun 29, 2020
2019Jun 27, 2019
2018Jun 29, 2018
2017Oct 11, 2017
2016Sep 26, 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.