Note 7 - Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 7 – INCOME TAXES

Deferred taxes are recorded based upon differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and available carryforwards. Temporary differences and carryforwards which gave rise to a significant portion of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (dollars in thousands):

	December 31,
	2014			2013
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating losses	$	62,719		$	56,294
Fixed asset basis difference		6,518			6,559
Contributions carryover		2			2
Deferred compensation		2,659			2,354
Accrued liabilities		41			63
Total deferred tax assets		71,939			65,272
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets		(71,939	)		(65,272	)
Net deferred tax asset	$	-		$	-

The valuation allowance increased $6,667,000 and $5,231,000 in 2014 and 2013, respectively. The change in deferred tax assets resulted from current year net operating losses and changes to future tax deductions resulting from terms of stock compensation plans, fixed assets, and accrued liabilities.

As of December 31, 2014, the Company had net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards of approximately $220.6 million for federal income tax purposes and $127.7 million for California income tax purposes. Such carryforwards expire in varying amounts through the year 2034. Use of the carryforward amounts is subject to an annual limitation as a result of ownership changes.

As of December 31, 2014, the Company possessed unrecognized tax benefits totaling approximately $2.8 million. None of these, if recognized, would affect the Company's effective tax rate because the Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against these assets.

The Company's tax years 2011 through 2014 remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service, and tax years 2010 through 2014 remain subject to examination by California tax authorities. In addition, the Company's NOL carryforward amounts are generally subject to examination and adjustment for a period of three years for federal tax purposes and four years for California purposes, beginning when such carryforwards are utilized to reduce taxes in a future tax year.

A reconciliation of the income tax benefit to the statutory federal income tax rate is as follows (dollars in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2014			2013			2012
Expected federal income tax benefit at 34%	$	(6,418	)	$	(7,698	)	$	(6,614	)
Loss with no tax benefit provided		5,766			7,108			5,535
State income tax		4			6			10
State tax benefit		0			0			(321	)
Non-deductible expenses and other		652			590			1,079
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	4		$	6		$	(311	)

Because it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize its net deferred tax assets, it has recorded a full valuation allowance against these assets. Accordingly, no deferred tax asset has been recorded in the consolidated balance sheet.