Note 9 - Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

9. INCOME TAXES

A reconciliation of the Company’s statutory tax rate to the effective rate for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 is as follows:

	2014			2013			2012
Federal statutory rate		34.0	%		34.0	%		34.0	%
State taxes, net of federal tax benefit		5.5			5.9			5.9
Recapture of alternative minimum tax	–			–			–
Valuation allowance		(39.5	)		(39.9	)		(39.9	)
Effective tax rate		–	%		–	%		–	%

The components of the Company’s deferred tax asset as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:

	December 31,
In thousands	2014			2013
Net operating loss carry forwards	$	61,536		$	53,423
Compensation expense related to employee stock options		4,235			3,310
Subtotal		65,771			56,733
Valuation allowance		(65,771	)		(56,733	)
Total deferred tax asset	$	-		$	-

The evaluation of the realizability of such deferred tax assets in future periods is made based upon a variety of factors that affect the Company’s ability to generate future taxable income, such as intent and ability to sell assets and historical and projected operating performance. At this time, the Company has established a valuation reserve for all of its deferred tax assets. Such tax assets are available to be recognized and benefit future periods.

Following is a schedule of net operating loss carry forwards and their year of expiration:

Approximate Amount of Unused Operating Loss Carry Forwards (in $000s)		Expiration During Year Ended
$	5,003		2022
	2,292		2023
	15,655		2024
	8,174		2025
	7,367		2026
	10,716		2028
	14,300		2029
	18,045		2030
	21,386		2031
	20,558		2032
	10,319		2033
	21,896		2034
$	155,711

During 2014, 2013 and 2012 the Company performed analyses to determine if there were changes in ownership, as defined by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code that would limit its ability to utilize certain net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. The Company determined that it experienced an ownership change, as defined by Section 382, in connection with certain common stock offerings on July 25, 2011, February 5, 2013 and on June 3, 2013. As a result, the utilization of the Company's federal tax net operating loss carry forwards generated prior to the ownership changes are limited. As of December 31, 2013, the Company has net operating loss carry forwards for U.S. federal and state tax purposes of approximately $156 million, before excluding net operating losses that have been limited as a result of Section 382 limitations. The annual limitation due to Section 382 for net operating loss carry forward utilization is approximately $4.9 million per year for approximately $90 million in net operating loss carry forwards existing at the ownership change occurring on July 25, 2011, approximately $1.4 million per year for approximately $34 million of additional net operating losses occurring from July 2011 to the ownership change that occurred on February 5, 2013 and approximately $1.5 million per year for approximately $34 million of additional net operating losses occurring from February 5, 2013 to the ownership change that occurred on June 3, 2013. The utilization of these net operating loss carry forwards may be further limited if the Company experiences future ownership changes as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.