Note 8 - Income Taxes

The components of loss before provision (benefit) for income taxes were as follows (in thousands):

For the year ended December 28,

For the year ended December 31,

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

Domestic

$

(32,851)

$

(26,383)

Foreign

 

(50)

 

22

Total

$

(32,901)

$

(26,361)

The components of the Company’s provision (benefit) for income taxes were as follows (in thousands):

For the year ended December 28,

For the year ended December 31,

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

Current:

 

  ​

 

  ​

Federal

$

(66)

$

66

State and local

 

1,041

 

544

Foreign

 

232

 

143

Total current

 

1,207

 

753

Deferred:

 

  ​

 

  ​

Federal

 

52,318

 

(8,054)

State and local

 

7,159

 

(1,133)

Foreign

 

 

Total deferred

 

59,477

 

(9,187)

Total provision (benefit) for income taxes

$

60,684

$

(8,434)

The Company’s effective tax rate differs from the statutory rates as follows:

For the year ended December 28,

For the year ended December 31,

  ​ ​ ​

2025

2024

Amount

Percent

Amount

Percent

US Federal Statutory Tax Rate

$

(6,909)

21.0%

$

(5,536)

21.0%

Domestic State and Local Income Taxes, Net of Federal Effect(1)

 

7,981

(24.3)%

 

(835)

3.2%

Tax Credits

 

FICA TIP Credit

 

(7,571)

23.0%

 

(5,668)

21.5%

Nontaxable or Nondeductible items

 

FICA TIP Wages

 

1,590

(4.8)%

 

1,190

(4.5)%

Nondeductible Executive Compensation

 

433

(1.3)%

 

813

(3.1)%

Transaction Costs

 

 

931

(3.5)%

Other Nondeductible items

510

(1.6)%

384

(1.5)%

Changes in Valuation Allowance

63,897

(194.2)%

Other Adjustments

753

(2.3)%

287

(1.1)%

Effective income tax rate

 

$

60,684

(184.4)%

$

(8,434)

32.0%

(1) For the year ending December 28, 2025 and December 31, 2024, state and local income taxes in California, Florida, and New York comprise the majority of the domestic state and local income taxes.

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

For the year ended December 28,

For the year ended December 31,

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

Deferred tax assets:

 

  ​

 

  ​

Operating lease liabilities

$

73,405

$

71,448

Stock compensation

 

379

 

361

FICA tip credit carryforward

 

57,224

 

49,407

Net operating loss

 

9,946

 

7,324

Goodwill

 

435

 

589

Inventory

 

36

 

101

Charitable contributions carryforward

 

184

 

37

Foreign tax credit carryforward

 

622

 

622

Deferred revenue

 

620

 

1,627

State and local tax credit carryforward

 

21

 

21

Expenses not deductible until paid

 

2,706

 

2,961

IRC 163(j) disallowed interest carryforward

38,287

34,002

Debt issuance costs

187

Kona Grill related acquisition costs

558

621

Total deferred tax assets

 

184,610

 

169,121

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

  ​

 

  ​

Operating lease right-of-use assets

(60,838)

(60,641)

Depreciation and amortization

 

(23,124)

 

(19,599)

Trademarks and franchise agreements

 

(30,221)

 

(30,215)

Basis in LLC interest

(39)

Other

 

(451)

 

(136)

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

(114,673)

 

(110,591)

Valuation allowance

 

(75,124)

(4,248)

Net deferred tax assets

$

(5,187)

$

54,282

Tax Carryforwards

As of December 28, 2025, the Company has federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards of $30.5 million which have no expiration date. As of December 28, 2025, the Company has federal FICA tip credit carryforwards of $57.2 million which have expiration dates from 2033 through 2046. The Company has various state NOL carryforwards. The determination of the state NOL carryforwards is dependent upon apportionment percentages and state laws that can change from year to year and impact the amount of such carryforwards. As of December 28, 2025, the Company has $3.5 million in state NOL carryforwards after applying applicable apportionment percentages and tax rates. The state NOLs expire at various dates from 2037 to 2045.

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the Company evaluates whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. In the assessment of the valuation allowance, appropriate consideration was given to all positive and negative evidence including current operating results, tax planning strategies and forecasts of future earnings. A significant piece of objective negative evidence evaluated was the cumulative loss incurred over the three-year period ended December 28, 2025. As of December 28, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company had a valuation allowance of $75.1 million and $4.2 million, respectively.

Uncertain tax positions

The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company’s uncertain tax positions (in thousands):

For the year ended December 28,

For the year ended December 31,

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

Balance, beginning of year

$

127

$

Increase related to acquisitions

 

 

127

Balance, end of year

$

127

$

127

Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits as of December 28, 2025 are tax benefits that, if recognized, would result in adjustments to taxes payable. The Company recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties as income tax expense. Related to the unrecognized tax benefits noted above, we accrued interest of $0.2 million as of December 28, 2025 and December 31, 2024.

The Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and the various states and local jurisdictions in which it operates. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply. The Company’s federal tax filings remain subject to examination for federal tax years 2022 through 2025. The Company’s state and local tax filings remain subject to examination for tax years 2021 through 2025. NOL carryforwards are subject to examination regardless of whether the tax year in which they are generated has been closed by statute. The amount subject to disallowance is limited to the NOL utilized. Accordingly, the Company may be subject to examination for prior NOLs generated as such NOLs are utilized.

The Company’s foreign income tax returns prior to fiscal year 2022 are closed and management continually evaluates expiring statutes of limitations, audits, proposed settlements, changes in tax law and new authoritative rulings.

The following table summarizes the Company’s income taxes paid, net of refunds, as of December 28, 2025 and December 31, 2024 (in thousands):

For the year ended December 28,

For the year ended December 31,

  ​ ​ ​

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

Federal

$

131

$

Aggregated state and local jurisdictions

 

171

 

45

Disaggregated state and local jurisdictions

 

Texas

306

187

Minnesota

109

Florida

80

75

New York

116

40

Pennsylvania

66

Massachusetts

49

Illinois

50

Tennessee

(28)

Foreign

 

183

 

128

Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds

 

1,211

 

497

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Mar 19, 2026Showing above
2024Mar 10, 2025
2023Mar 14, 2024
2022Mar 9, 2023
2021Mar 16, 2022
2020Mar 19, 2021
2019Mar 26, 2020
2018Mar 28, 2019
2017Apr 17, 2018
2016Apr 5, 2017
2015Mar 30, 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.