Note 13 - Income Taxes

The following table shows the provision for (benefit from) income taxes and our effective tax rates:

(in thousands)	Three months ended
	March 31, 2021			March 31, 2020
Loss before income taxes	$	(2,240	)		$	(6,388	)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(35	)			(130	)
Effective tax rate		1.6	%			2.0	%

Our income tax benefit for the interim periods presented is determined using an estimate of our annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items arising in that quarter. Total income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was comprised mainly of foreign and state tax benefit.

Our income effective tax rate was 1.6% and 2.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the difference between our income tax benefit at an effective tax rate of 1.6% and a benefit at the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate of 21% was primarily due to accruals related to uncertain tax positions for certain foreign tax contingencies, a change in tax valuation allowance in our U.S. entity, and discrete item adjustments for U.S. and foreign taxes. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the difference between income tax benefit at an effective tax rate of 2.0% and a benefit at the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate of 21% was primarily due to accruals related to uncertain tax positions for certain foreign tax contingencies, a change in tax valuation allowance in our U.S. and China subsidiaries, and discrete item adjustments for U.S. and foreign taxes.

Because of our net operating loss carryforwards, we are subject to U.S. federal and state income tax examinations from the year 2000 and forward and are subject to foreign tax examinations by tax authorities for years 2015 and forward.

An uncertain tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return is recognized in the consolidated financial statements when it is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than 50%) that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities that have full knowledge of all relevant information. A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Interest and penalties related to income taxes are accounted for as income tax expense. The Company has an estimated $0.8 million of tax benefit that will be realized in the third quarter of 2021 upon the expiration of the statute of limitations of the tax year in which the uncertain tax position was taken.

We recognize deferred tax assets to the extent that it is believed that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. We have evaluated all positive and negative evidence and determined that it will continue to assess a full valuation allowance on our U.S., Chinese, and Slovakian net deferred assets as of March 31, 2021. We have determined that it is not more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of its deferred taxes in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions.