Note 7 - Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Notes to Financial Statements

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

7. Income Taxes 

The provision for income taxes consists of the following components (in thousands):  

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2020
Current expense (benefit):
Federal	$	—	$	—
State		—		—
Foreign		—		—
Current income tax benefit		—		—
Deferred expense (benefit):
Federal		—		—
State		—		—
Foreign		—		—
Deferred income tax expense		—		—
Total	$	—	$	—

The following summarizes activity related to the Company’s valuation allowance (in thousands): 

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2020
Valuation allowance at beginning of period	$	13,867	$	9,418
Income tax benefit		4,956		4,449
Release of valuation allowance		—		—
Valuation allowance at end of period	$	18,823	$	13,867

A reconciliation of the income tax benefit computed using the federal statutory income tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate is as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021						2020
	Amount			Percent			Amount			Percent
Federal tax benefit at statutory rate	$	3,338			21.0	%	$	3,645			21.0	%
State tax benefit net of federal		25			0.2	%		44			0.3	%
Foreign rate differential		7			0.0	%		6			0.0	%
Stock warrant costs		1,413			8.9	%		493			2.8	%
Other permanent differences		(77	)		(0.5	)%		(63	)		(0.4	)%
Permanent provision to return items		344			2.2	%		361			2.1	%
Stock compensation change		(37	)		(0.2	)%		12			0.1	%
Uncertain tax provision		(57	)		(0.4	)%		(48	)		(0.3	)%
Other		—			—	%		(1	)		—	%
Increase in valuation allowance		(4,956	)		(31.2	)%		(4,449	)		(25.6	)%
Total tax (expense) benefit	$	—			—	%	$	—			—	%

The principal components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021			2020
Deferred tax assets:
Start-up costs	$	5,618		$	4,158
Federal net operating loss carryforwards		10,866			7,982
State tax loss carryforwards		64			48
Foreign net operating loss carryforwards		122			126
Tax credit carryforward		991			670
ROU Liability		34			58
Deferred compensation		1,157			880
Total deferred tax assets	$	18,852		$	13,922
Less valuation allowance		(18,823	)		(13,867	)
Net deferred tax assets	$	29		$	55
Deferred tax liabilities:
Fixed assets	$	(6	)	$	(12	)
ROU Asset		(23	)		(43	)
Total deferred tax liabilities	$	(29	)	$	(55	)
Net deferred taxes	$	—		$	—

The Company has incurred net operating losses since inception. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had total US federal operating loss carry forwards of approximately $52 million. Of this, $6.1 million will expire commencing in 2035, with the rest having no set expiration date. The value of these carryforwards depends on the Company’s ability to generate taxable income. Additionally, because federal tax laws limit the time during which the net operating loss carryforwards may be applied against future taxes, if the Company fails to generate taxable income prior to the expiration dates of the carry forwards the Company may not be able to fully utilize the net operating loss carryforwards to reduce future income taxes. Under the new tax laws, net operating loss carry forwards will not expire beginning for losses generated in the 2018 tax year. However, these net operating losses will only be able to offset 80% of future taxable income. However, with the signing of the CARES Act net operating loss carryforwards created in 2018, 2019, and 2020 are able to offset 100% of future taxable income. Finally, the Company has not undertaken a detailed analysis of the application of IRC Section 382 with respect to limitations on the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards and other deferred tax assets. However, the Company believes that this matter is not material to the overall tax position within the financial statements due to the full valuation allowance against the net operating losses and the lack of utilization of the net operating losses during tax years open under statute.

The Company conducts business in various locations and, as a result, files income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction, in multiple state jurisdictions, and internationally as required. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had state operating losses of approximately $1.9 million which expire commencing in 2032. Since the Company is in a loss carryforward position, the Company is generally subject to examination by the US federal, state and local income tax authorities for all tax years in which a loss carryforward is available.

Management has evaluated the positive and negative evidence for the realizability of its deferred tax assets. The Company has cumulative losses and there is no assurance of future taxable income, therefore, valuation allowances have been recorded to fully offset the deferred tax asset at December 31, 2021. Management has determined that it is more likely than not that the Company will not recognize the benefits of its federal and state deferred tax assets, and as a result, a valuation allowance of $18.8 million and $13.9 million has been established at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The change in the valuation allowance for the year ended December 31, 2021 was primarily due to additional operating losses and capitalized research costs.

The Company undertakes research and development (R&D) activities that qualify for certain tax credits for US and Australian income tax purposes. The Company has a full valuation allowance against its US federal R&D tax credits. For the 2021 tax year, the potential US and Australian research and development tax credits are not expected to be significant.

The Company has a liability for unrecognized tax benefits of $0.2 million (excluding accrued interest and penalties) as of December 31, 2021. The Company's policy is to record interest and penalties related to income taxes as part of its income tax provision.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending unrecognized tax benefits excluding interest and penalties is as follows (in thousands): 

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2020
Balance, beginning of year	$	118	$	72
Additions for tax positions related to the current year		—		—
Additions for tax positions related to prior years		57		46
Reductions due to lapse of statutes of limitations		—		—
Decreases related to settlements with tax authorities		—		—
Balance, end of year	$	175	$	118

The Company does not believe that its tax positions will significantly change due to any settlement and/or expiration of statutes of limitations prior to  December 31, 2021 within the next year.