Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

13.INCOME TAXES

A reconciliation of the expected tax expense (benefit) to the actual tax expense is as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2023			2022
Federal tax benefit at statutory rate	$	(18,118	)	$	(19,523	)
State taxes, net of federal benefit		(2,491	)		(6,181	)
Change in valuation allowance		19,112			24,828
Stock-based compensation tax deduction over book expense		4,012			131
Permanent differences		79			615
Research and development credits		(2,323	)		(1,920	)
Executive compensation limitation		384			2,405
Other		(655	)		(355	)
Total tax expense	$	—		$	—

Deferred income tax reflects the tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The categories that give rise to significant components of the deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, are as follows (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2023			2022
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards	$	41,212		$	33,187
Accruals and reserves		1,296			1,540
Research and development credits		6,415			4,092
Stock-based compensation		11,348			7,790
Lease liabilities		7,212			7,663
Capitalized research and experimentation		13,502			7,819
Other		—			43
Gross deferred tax assets		80,985			62,134
Valuation allowance		(74,026	)		(54,991	)
Deferred tax liabilities:
Fixed assets and intangibles		(411	)		(216	)
Right-of-use assets		(6,426	)		(6,927	)
Other		(122	)		—
Gross deferred tax liabilities		(6,959	)		(7,143	)
Total net deferred tax assets (liabilities)	$	—		$	—

The tax benefit of net operating losses, temporary differences, and credit carryforwards are recorded as an asset to the extent that management assesses that realization is more likely than not. Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to permit use of existing deferred. A significant piece of objective negative evidence evaluated was the cumulative loss incurred since the Company’s incorporation in 2017. Such objective evidence limits the ability to recorded against the Company's net deferred tax assets. The amount of the net deferred tax assets considered realizable, could be adjusted as estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced or increased or if objective negative evidence in the form of cumulative losses is no longer present and additional weight is given to subjective evidence, such as the Company’s projections for growth. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the net changes in the net valuation allowance were an increase of $19.0 million and an increase of $24.8 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $148.1 million and $119.4 million, respectively, which will carry forward indefinitely for federal tax purposes. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $151.8 million and $122.5 million, respectively, which will begin to expire in 2035 for state tax purposes.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had federal research and development credit carryforwards of approximately $5.1 million and $3.0 million, respectively, which begin to expire in 2039 and state research and development credit carryforwards of approximately $4.3 million and $3.1 million, respectively, which will carry forward indefinitely.

Utilization of the Company’s federal and state net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards may be subject to an annual limitation in the event that there is a change in ownership as provided by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and similar state codes. Such limitation could result in a deferral or expiration of the utilization of the net

operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company concluded that while ownership changes occurred in 2018, 2020 and 2022, no tax attributes are expected to be expiring unutilized as a result of the Section 382 limitation.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $2.4 million and $1.6 million, respectively. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits is not expected to significantly change over the next 12 months. The Company’s effective income tax rate would not be impacted if the unrecognized tax benefits were recognized in 2023 and 2022, as the Company is in a full valuation allowance position. The beginning and ending unrecognized tax benefits amounts are as follows (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2023		2022
Beginning balance	$	1,586	$	839
Change related to prior year positions		26		99
Change related to current year positions		752		648
Ending balance	$	2,364	$	1,586

It is the Company’s policy to include any penalties and interest expense related to income taxes as a component of other expense. Management determined that no accrual for interest and penalties was required as of December 31, 2023.

All tax returns will remain open for examination by the federal and state taxing authorities for three and four years, respectively, from the date of utilization of any net operating loss carryforwards or research and development credits.