6. Income Taxes

 

The Company has operations in the United States and Canada. The components of income (loss) before the provision for income taxes are as follows (in thousands):

 

Schedule of Income by Geographical Location

   2025   2024 
   Year Ended December 31, 
   2025   2024 
United States  $(2,835)  $(10,046)
Foreign   35    (81)
Total loss before income taxes  $(2,800)  $(10,127)

 

 

The components of the income tax provision for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 were as follows (in thousands):

   2025   2024 
   As of December 31, 
   2025   2024 
Current federal  $-   $- 
Current state   1    2 
Current foreign   -    - 
Total current tax provision (benefit)  $1   $2 
Deferred federal   -    - 
Deferred state   -    - 
Deferred foreign   -    - 
Total deferred tax provision (benefit)  $-   $- 
Total income tax provision  $1   $2 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company adopted ASU 2023-09 on a prospective basis. The following table is a reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21.0% to the effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2025, in accordance with ASU 2023-09:

   December 31, 2025 
  

Amount

(in thousands)

   Percent 
Tax provision at statutory rate  $(588)   21.0%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit (1)   1    0.0%
Foreign tax effects   (7)   0.3%
Effects of cross-border transactions   (12)   0.4%
Nontaxable or nondeductible items   (275)   9.8%
Stock-based compensation expense   85    (3.0)%
Change in valuation allowance   731    (26.1)%
Other, net   66    (2.4)%
         (1.2)%
         (1.5)%
         (1.0)%
Effective income tax rate  $1    0.0%

 

(1)During the year ended December 31, 2025, state minimum taxes in California and Massachusetts comprised greater than 50% of the tax effect in this category.

 

The following table is a reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 21.0% to the effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2024, prior to the adoption of ASU 2023-09:

 

   December 31, 2024 
Tax provision at statutory rate   21.0%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit   1.2%
Stock-based compensation expense   (1.0)%
Permanent differences - other   (1.2)%
Change in fair value of convertible notes   (1.5)%
SEPA commitment fee   (1.0)%
Change in valuation allowance   (17.9)%
Other, net   0.4%
Effective income tax rate   0.0%

 

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

Schedule of Deferred Income Taxes

   2025   2024 
   As of December 31, 
   2025   2024 
Deferred tax assets          
Net operating loss carryforwards  $9,198   $9,092 
Capitalized research costs   582    584 
Stock-based compensation expense   290    33 
Reserves   170    - 
Accrued expenses   34    - 
Fixed assets   19    21 
Other   

49

    4 
Total gross deferred tax assets   10,342    9,734 
Less: valuation allowance   (10,342)   (9,551)
Net deferred tax assets  $-   $183 
Deferred tax liabilities          
Other  $-   $(183)
Total deferred tax liabilities  $-   $(183)
Net deferred taxes  $-   $- 

 

The Company has generated both federal and state net operating losses (NOL) of approximately $39.5 million and $16.7 million, respectively. The federal NOLs include $12.2 million which expire at various dates beginning in 2030 and $27.3 million which carry forward indefinitely. The state NOLs expire at various dates beginning in 2030.

 

Ownership changes, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code Section 382, could limit the amount of NOLs that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income. Generally, an ownership change occurs when the ownership percentage of 5% or greater stockholders increases by more than 50% over a three-year period. The Company’s ability to utilize its federal and state tax attributes may be limited by ownership changes that have occurred in the past or may occur in the future. The Company has not yet conducted a formal study of whether, or to what extent, past changes in control of the Company impacts its ability to utilize NOL carryforwards because such NOL carryforwards cannot be utilized until the Company achieves profitability.

 

Management has evaluated the positive and negative evidence bearing upon the realizability of the Company’s net deferred tax assets, which are comprised primarily of net operating loss carryforwards and research costs capitalized for tax purposes. Management has considered the Company’s history of cumulative operating losses and estimated future tax losses and has determined that it is more likely than not that the Company will not recognize the benefits of the net deferred tax assets. As a result, the Company has recorded a full valuation allowance at December 31, 2025 and 2024. The valuation allowance increased by $0.8 million in 2025 primarily due to the current year net operating loss and capitalized research costs.

 

As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had no uncertain tax positions. The Company recognizes both interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. The Company has not recorded any interest or penalties for unrecognized tax benefits since its inception.

 

The Company files federal, various state, and Canada tax returns. In the U.S., all tax years since inception remain open to examination by major tax jurisdictions to which the Company is subject, as carryforward attributes generated in years past may still be adjusted upon examination by the respective tax authorities if they have or will be used in a future period. In Canada, the Company is generally no longer subject to income tax examinations for the years before 2022. The Company is currently not under examination by any tax authority.

 

On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBB”) was enacted in the U.S. The OBBB includes significant provisions, such as the permanent extension of certain expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) and restoration of favorable tax treatment for certain business provisions including the expensing of domestic research and development expenditures. The OBBB did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or footnotes.

 

The Company did not make any income tax payments (net of refunds received) that are required to be disclosed under ASU 2023-09.

 

 

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Mar 30, 2026Showing above
2024Apr 15, 2025
2023Apr 9, 2024
2022Mar 31, 2023
2021Apr 1, 2022

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.