Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The components of the Company’s provision for income taxes and income taxes computed using the U.S. federal statutory corporate tax rate were as follows (in thousands):

	2023		2022
Statutory federal income tax rate	$	(2,213)	$	(1,592)
State taxes, net of federal tax benefit	(350)		(131)
Change in valuation allowance	1,888		1,543
Loss on debt extinguishment	475		—
Federal return to provision	87		—
Other permanent items	113		180
Provision for income taxes	$	—	$	—

The components of the net deferred tax assets are as follows (in thousands):

	2023		2022
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards	$	8,612	$	8,055
Capitalized research expense	1,782		823
Share based compensation	1,011		602
Research and development credits	596		636
Lease liability	43		30
Gross deferred tax assets	12,044		10,146
Less valuation allowance	(12,005)		(10,116)
Total deferred tax assets	39		30
Deferred tax liabilities:
Right of use assets	(39)		(30)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(39)		(30)
Deferred income taxes, net	$	—	$	—

As of December 31, 2023, the Company has U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $32.0 million and $31.9 million, respectively, which may be used to offset future taxable income, if any. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $28.1 million and $28.0 million, respectively, which may be used to offset future taxable income, if any. The Company’s U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards begin to expire in 2033 and the U.S. federal net operating losses generated between 2018 and 2022 can be carried forward indefinitely. Federal loss carryforwards of $7.0 million expire between the years 2033 and 2037, and the remainder have no expiration date.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company has U.S. federal and state credit carryforwards of $0.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively, which may be used to offset future taxable income, if any. The Company’s U.S. federal and state credit carryforwards begin to expire in 2033. The Company’s ability to utilize these net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards may be limited if the Company experiences an ownership change pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 382 and 383. An ownership change occurs when the ownership percentages of 5% or greater stockholders change by more than 50% over a three-year period. The Company has not completed an analysis under Section 382 of the Code.

A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is recorded when it is more likely than not that some or all of the benefit from the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company provides a valuation allowance to offset deferred tax assets for net operating losses incurred during the year and for other deferred tax assets where, in the Company’s opinion, it is more likely than not that the financial statement benefit of these losses will not be realized.

The Company’s policy is to classify interest and penalties, if any, as components of the income tax provision in the statement of operations. The Company has not recorded any unrecognized tax benefit, interest or penalty in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

The Company is subject to income tax in the U.S. Federal and Connecticut jurisdictions.