11. Income Taxes

 

The Company had no income tax expense due to operating losses incurred for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.

 

The Company adopted ASU 2023-09 on a prospective basis beginning with the year ended December 31, 2025. The following table presents the required disclosure pursuant to ASU 2023-09 and reconciles the U.S. federal statutory tax amount and rate to the actual effective amount and rate for the year ended December 31, 2025:

 

Schedule of Reconciliation of U.S Federal Statutory Tax and Effective Amount and Rate 

   2025 
   Amount   Percent 
U.S federal statutory tax rate  $(1,084)   21.0%
Changes in valuation allowances   1,018    (19.7)%
Nontaxable or nondeductible items          
Stock-based compensation   63    (1.2)%
Other   3    (0.1)%
Effective tax rate  $-    -%

 

The following table presents the required disclosure prior to the adoption of ASU 2023-09 and reconciles the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the actual effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2024:

 

   2024 
Income tax computed at federal statutory tax rate   21.0%
State taxes, net of federal benefit   5.5%
Research and development credits   5.8%
Expiration of stock options   (7.7)%
Permanent differences   (2.4)%
Limitations on credits and net operating losses   (1.2)%
Change in valuation allowance   (21.0)%
Effective tax rate   - 

 

The significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 were as follows:

 

   2025   2024 
Deferred tax assets:          
Net operating loss carryforwards  $19,311   $16,116 
Capitalized research and experimental costs   5,708    7,836 
Research and development credit carryforwards   1,945    1,945 
Capitalized start-up expenses   117    135 
Stock-based compensation   108    183 
Other   660    309 
Total deferred tax assets   27,849    26,524 
Valuation allowance   (27,849)   (26,524)
Net deferred tax assets  $-   $- 

 

Subject to the limitations described below, as of December 31, 2025, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $81.7 million available to reduce future taxable income, of which $3.8 million is subject to expiration between 2026 and 2037 and $77.9 million may be carried forward indefinitely. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $33.9 million, which is subject to expiration between 2030 and 2045. The Company also had research and development credits of approximately $1.9 million as of December 31, 2025 to offset future federal and state income taxes, which is subject to expiration at various times through 2044.

 

 

Under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, the net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards are subject to review and possible adjustment by the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities. Net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards may become subject to an annual limitation in the event of certain cumulative changes in the ownership interest of significant shareholders over a three-year period in excess of 50 percent, as defined under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code, respectively, as well as similar state provisions. This could limit the amount of tax attributes that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income or tax liabilities. The amount of the annual limitation is determined based on the value of the Company immediately prior to the ownership change. Subsequent ownership changes may further affect the limitation in future years. The Company has completed several financings since its inception which it believes has resulted in changes in control as defined by Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Management of the Company evaluated the positive and negative evidence bearing upon the realizability of its deferred tax assets and determined that it is more likely than not that the Company will not recognize the benefits of the deferred tax assets. As a result, a full valuation allowance was recorded as of December 31, 2025 and 2024. The valuation allowance increased by $1.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2025, primarily due to the increase in loss carryforwards by the Company.

 

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) was enacted in the U.S. on July 4, 2025. OBBBA introduced significant changes to the U.S. federal corporate tax system, including retroactive relief for certain small business taxpayers, such as reinstatement of immediate expensing for domestic research and development expenditures and modifications to the business interest expense limitation. Under U.S. GAAP, the effects of changes in tax laws are recognized in the period in which the new law is enacted. Accordingly, the provisions impacting the Company have been reflected in the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, and did not have a material impact as the Company has a valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets.

 

The Company is currently not under examination by the Internal Revenue Service or any other jurisdictions for any tax years. The Company files income tax returns in the United States for federal and state income taxes. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by tax authorities in the United States. Since the Company is in a loss carryforward position, the Company is generally subject to U.S. federal and state income tax examinations by tax authorities for all years for which a loss carryforward is utilized. The Company’s returns remain subject to federal and state audits for the years 2022 through 2025. However, carryforward attributes from prior years may still be adjusted upon examination by tax authorities if they are used in an open period.

 

The Company may from time to time be assessed interest or penalties by major tax jurisdictions. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. The Company has not recorded interest or penalties on any unrecognized tax benefits since its inception.

 

The roll-forward of the Company’s gross uncertain tax positions is as follows:

 

   Gross
Uncertain
Tax Position
 
Balance — January 1, 2024  $505 
Additions for current year tax positions   139 
Balance — December 31, 2024   644 
Additions for current year tax positions   - 
Balance — December 31, 2025  $644 

 

 

The Company’s total uncertain tax positions did not have any changes during the year ended December 31, 2025. None of the uncertain tax positions, if realized, would affect the Company’s effective tax rate in future periods due to a valuation allowance provided against the Company’s net deferred tax assets.

 

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 26, 2026Showing above
2024Mar 21, 2025
2023Mar 28, 2024
2022Mar 30, 2023
2021Mar 29, 2022
2020Mar 23, 2021
2019Mar 26, 2020
2018Feb 19, 2019
2017Mar 13, 2018
2016Mar 10, 2017
2015Mar 10, 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.