NOTE 10 – INCOME TAXES

For the year ended August 31, 2025, Pure Cycle recorded income tax expense of $4.4 million, which consisted of current income tax expense of $4.2 million and deferred income tax expense of $0.1 million. The deferred tax expense consists mainly of the timing difference between book and tax depreciation of fixed assets.

For the year ended August 31, 2024, Pure Cycle recorded income tax expense of $4.0 million, which consisted of current income tax expense of almost $4.0 million and deferred income tax expense of less than $0.1 million. The deferred tax expense consists mainly of the timing difference between book and tax depreciation of fixed assets.

During the year ended August 31, 2025, Pure Cycle paid Federal and State income tax installments of $3.6 million and $0.8 million, respectively. During the year ended August 31, 2024, Pure Cycle paid Federal and State income tax installments of $1.6 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

Deferred income taxes reflect the tax effects of net operating loss carryforwards and temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets as of August 31 are as follows:

(In thousands)

    

August 31, 2025

    

August 31, 2024

Deferred tax assets (liabilities):

    

  

    

  

Depreciation and depletion

$

(2,361)

$

(2,237)

Non-qualified stock options

 

522

 

527

Accrued compensation

127

230

Deferred revenue

113

31

Other

 

58

 

54

Net deferred tax liability

$

(1,541)

$

(1,395)

As of August 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had no liability for unrecognized tax benefits.

Income taxes computed using the federal statutory income tax rate differ from the Company’s effective tax rate primarily due to the following for the fiscal years ended August 31:

Year Ended 

(In thousands)

    

August 31, 2025

    

August 31, 2024

Expected expense (benefit) from federal taxes at statutory rate of 21%

$

3,669

$

3,283

State taxes, net of federal benefit

600

559

Permanent and other differences

45

148

Stock Compensation

(12)

(14)

Other

58

43

Total income tax expense

$

4,360

$

4,019

As of August 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had no net operating loss carryforwards available for income tax purposes.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Nov 12, 2025Showing above
2024Nov 13, 2024
2023Nov 15, 2023
2022Nov 14, 2022
2021Nov 10, 2021
2020Nov 10, 2020
2019Nov 12, 2019
2018Nov 13, 2018
2017Nov 15, 2017
2016Oct 28, 2016
2015Nov 9, 2015

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.