Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Taxes	7. Income Taxes Income Tax Expense Our effective income tax rate was a benefit of 18% and 82% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The change in the tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 is primarily due to a change in pre-tax book loss, as well as a reduction in the excess tax benefit related to stock compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019. The income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was impacted by excess tax benefit deductions related to stock compensation, which increased income tax benefits by approximately $250,000. These factors were partially offset by unfavorable impacts of non-deductible operating expenses and executive compensation expenses. The income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was impacted by excess tax benefit deductions related to stock compensation, the research and development tax credit, and losses in high rate jurisdictions. These factors were partially offset by impacts of non-deductible operating expenses and executive compensation expenses. Deferred Income Taxes We generate deferred tax assets primarily as a result of write-downs of inventory and deferred preservation costs, accruals for product and tissue processing liability claims, investment and asset impairments, and operating losses. We acquired significant deferred tax assets, primarily net operating loss carryforwards, from our acquisitions of JOTEC and its subsidiaries in 2017, On-X in 2016, Hemosphere, Inc. in 2012, and Cardiogenesis Corporation in 2011. We believe utilization of these net operating losses will not have a material impact on income taxes for the 2020 tax year. As of March 31, 2020 we maintained a total of $3.4 million in valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, primarily related to state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards, and a net deferred tax liability of $19.5 million. As of December 31, 2019 we maintained a total of $3.2 million in valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, primarily related to state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards, and a net deferred tax liability of $20.4 million. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) In response to the novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) pandemic, the US government enacted the CARES Act on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provides various forms of relief and assistance to US businesses. The Company recorded a reduction to income taxes payable and deferred tax assets of approximately $1.3 million for the anticipated change to the 2019 Section 163(j) interest expense deduction limitation. The Company will continue to analyze the impacts of the CARES Act as interpretations are published.

Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

7. Income Taxes

Income Tax Expense

Our effective income tax rate was a benefit of 18% and 82% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The change in the tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 is primarily due to a change in pre-tax book loss, as well as a reduction in the excess tax benefit related to stock compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019.

The income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was impacted by excess tax benefit deductions related to stock compensation, which increased income tax benefits by approximately $250,000. These factors were partially offset by unfavorable impacts of non-deductible operating expenses and executive compensation expenses.

The income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was impacted by excess tax benefit deductions related to stock compensation, the research and development tax credit, and losses in high rate jurisdictions. These factors were partially offset by impacts of non-deductible operating expenses and executive compensation expenses.

Deferred Income Taxes

We generate deferred tax assets primarily as a result of write-downs of inventory and deferred preservation costs, accruals for product and tissue processing liability claims, investment and asset impairments, and operating losses. We acquired significant deferred tax assets, primarily net operating loss carryforwards, from our acquisitions of JOTEC and its subsidiaries in 2017, On-X in 2016, Hemosphere, Inc. in 2012, and Cardiogenesis Corporation in 2011. We believe utilization of these net operating losses will not have a material impact on income taxes for the 2020 tax year.

As of March 31, 2020 we maintained a total of $3.4 million in valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, primarily related to state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards, and a net deferred tax liability of $19.5 million. As of December 31, 2019 we maintained a total of $3.2 million in valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, primarily related to state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards, and a net deferred tax liability of $20.4 million.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”)

In response to the novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) pandemic, the US government enacted the CARES Act on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provides various forms of relief and assistance to US businesses. The Company recorded a reduction to income taxes payable and deferred tax assets of approximately $1.3 million for the anticipated change to the 2019 Section 163(j) interest expense deduction limitation. The Company will continue to analyze the impacts of the CARES Act as interpretations are published.