Note 9. Income Taxes

The domestic and foreign components of net loss before income tax were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Domestic

 

$

(9,320

)

 

$

(8,277

)

 

$

(1,596

)

Foreign

 

 

13

 

 

 

(125

)

 

 

82

 

Net loss before income tax

 

$

(9,307

)

 

$

(8,402

)

 

$

(1,514

)

The provision (benefit) for income tax consists of the following (in thousands):

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

State

 

 

58

 

 

 

485

 

 

 

656

 

Foreign

 

 

57

 

 

 

158

 

 

 

7

 

Total

 

 

115

 

 

 

643

 

 

 

663

 

Deferred:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

 

43

 

 

 

75

 

 

 

277

 

State

 

 

(45

)

 

 

60

 

 

 

264

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

(2

)

 

 

135

 

 

 

541

 

Total provision for income tax

 

$

113

 

 

$

778

 

 

$

1,204

 

 

A reconciliation of income taxes at the statutory federal income tax rate to income tax expense included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations after the adoption of ASU 2023-09 is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

December 31, 2025

 

Income tax at statutory rate

 

$

(1,954

)

 

 

21.0

%

State and Local Income Tax (1)

 

 

10

 

 

 

-0.1

%

Foreign Tax Effects

 

 

57

 

 

 

-0.6

%

Effect of Cross-Border Tax Laws

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Foreign-derived intangible income

 

 

 

 

 

0.0

%

Tax Credits

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Research and development tax credit

 

 

(664

)

 

 

7.1

%

Change in Valuation Allowance

 

 

1,499

 

 

 

-16.1

%

Nontaxable and Nondeductible Items

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Stock-based compensation

 

 

882

 

 

 

-9.4

%

   Section 162(m) disallowed compensation

 

 

204

 

 

 

-2.2

%

   Others

 

 

120

 

 

 

-1.3

%

Other Adjustments

 

 

(41

)

 

 

0.4

%

Effective Tax Rate

 

$

113

 

 

 

-1.2

%

(1) The states and local jurisdictions that contribute to the majority (greater than 50%) of the tax effect in this category include California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New York state and city, and Texas.

A reconciliation of income taxes at the statutory federal income tax rate to income tax expense included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for years prior to the adoption of ASU 2023-09 is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Income tax (benefit) at statutory rate

 

$

(1,748

)

 

$

(312

)

Change in valuation allowance

 

 

2,284

 

 

 

(76

)

Indefinite-lived asset (goodwill)

 

 

135

 

 

 

541

 

State tax

 

 

(226

)

 

 

354

 

Change in deferred

 

 

(87

)

 

 

616

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

462

 

 

 

197

 

Research and development credits

 

 

(371

)

 

 

(369

)

Foreign rate differential

 

 

191

 

 

 

23

 

Other

 

 

138

 

 

 

230

 

Total

 

$

778

 

 

$

1,204

 

 

Temporary differences that gave rise to significant portions of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating losses

 

$

15,209

 

 

$

13,492

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

6,350

 

 

 

5,713

 

Section 174 capitalized expenditures

 

 

3,561

 

 

 

5,585

 

Research and development credits

 

 

4,795

 

 

 

3,982

 

Accruals and reserves

 

 

669

 

 

 

1,870

 

Deferred revenue and contract costs

 

 

1,537

 

 

 

432

 

Fixed assets and intangibles

 

 

416

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

Gross deferred tax assets

 

 

32,541

 

 

 

31,074

 

Valuation allowance

 

 

(29,980

)

 

 

(28,372

)

Net deferred tax assets

 

 

2,561

 

 

 

2,702

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed assets and intangibles

 

 

 

 

 

(406

)

Goodwill

 

 

(3,920

)

 

 

(3,657

)

Total deferred tax liabilities, net

 

$

(1,359

)

 

$

(1,361

)

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company regularly assesses the likelihood that the deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income. The Company considers projected future taxable income and ongoing tax planning strategies, then records a valuation allowance to reduce the carrying value of the net deferred taxes to an amount that is more likely than not able to be realized. Based upon the Company’s assessment of all available evidence, including the previous three years of U.S.-based taxable income and loss after permanent items, estimates of future profitability, and the Company’s overall prospects of future business, the Company determined that it is more likely than not that the Company will not be able to realize a portion of the deferred tax assets in the future. The Company will continue to assess the potential realization of deferred tax assets on an annual basis, or an interim basis if circumstances warrant. If the Company’s actual results and updated projections vary significantly from the projections used as a basis for this determination, the Company may need to change the valuation allowance against the gross deferred tax assets. Management determined that a valuation allowance of $30.0 million and $28.4 million was required as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

The valuation allowance changed by $1.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2025. which includes an increase to certain changes in temporary differences that give rise to deferred tax liabilities related to indefinite-lived intangible assets.

At December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had available net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $57.3 million and $48.6 million, respectively, for federal income tax purposes, of which $43.7 million were generated before 2018 and will begin to expire in 2031. The remaining net operating losses of $13.6 million can be carried forward indefinitely under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Company continually monitors all positive and negative evidence regarding the realization of its deferred tax assets and may record assets when it becomes more likely than not, than they will be realized, which may impact the expense or benefit from income taxes.

At December 31, 2025 and 2024, the net operating losses for state purposes are $45.7 million and $40.8 million, respectively, and will begin to expire in 2026 if not utilized.

As of December 31, 2025, the Company had available for carryover, research and experimental credits of approximately $3.2 million for federal income tax purposes and $2.1 million for California income tax purposes, which are available to reduce future income taxes. The federal research and experimental tax credits will begin to

expire, if not utilized, in 2027. The California research and experimental tax credits carry forward indefinitely until utilized.

Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as amended, and similar California regulations impose substantial restrictions on the utilization of net operating losses and tax credits in the event of an “ownership change” of a corporation. Accordingly, the Company’s ability to utilize net operating losses and credit carryforwards may be limited as the result of such an “ownership change” as defined in the Code.

Uncertain Tax Positions

The Company applied FASB ASC 740-10-50, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Tax, which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attributes for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized uncertain tax positions is as follows (in thousands):

Balance as of December 31, 2023

 

$

1,241

 

Increases for current year tax positions

 

 

178

 

Increases for prior year tax positions

 

 

40

 

Balance as of December 31, 2024

 

 

1,459

 

Increases for current year tax positions

 

 

216

 

Increases for prior year tax positions

 

 

68

 

Balance as of December 31, 2025

 

$

1,743

 

Of the total unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2025, no amount will impact the Company's effective tax rate because the uncertain amounts have a valuation allowance recorded against them. The Company does not anticipate that there will be a substantial change in unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax positions within the income tax expense line in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. There were no accrued interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.

The Company files federal and state income tax returns in the United States, certain United States territories, and certain foreign jurisdictions. The statues of limitations remain open for 2011 through 2025 for federal and state purposes in the United States. and certain U.S. territories. Years beyond the normal statutes of limitations remain open to audit by tax authorities due to tax attributes generated in earlier years which are being carried forward and may be audited in subsequent years when utilized.

The amounts of cash income taxes paid by the Company were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Federal

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

State and local

 

 

270

 

 

 

737

 

 

 

896

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Africa

 

 

107

 

 

 

103

 

 

 

 

All other foreign

 

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

 

Income taxes, net of amounts refunded

 

$

390

 

 

$

840

 

 

$

912

 

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Mar 30, 2026Showing above
2024Mar 31, 2025
2023Apr 1, 2024
2022Mar 14, 2023
2021Mar 29, 2022
2020Mar 29, 2021
2019Mar 13, 2020
2018Mar 4, 2019
2017Mar 28, 2018

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.