NOTE 13 – INCOME TAXES

The provision (benefit) from income taxes was as follows:

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are as follows:

The change in the Company’s valuation allowance is as follows:

A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes with the amounts computed by applying the Federal income tax rate to income from operations before the provision for income taxes is as follows:

In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, including the net operating loss carryforwards (NOLs), the Company assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to utilize its existing deferred tax assets. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the period when those temporary differences become deductible. Based on its assessment, the Company has provided a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets as their future utilization remains uncertain at this time. The December 31, 2021 change in valuation allowance is mainly related to the acquisition of ARI.

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had approximately $79 million and $51 million, respectively, of Federal NOLs available to offset future taxable income. The acquisition of ARI resulted in the addition of Federal NOLs of $15 million. The Federal NOLs of $15 million generated in 2007 through 2017 will begin to expire in 2027 through 2037. The Federal NOLs of $64 million generated in 2018 through 2021 have no expiration. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had approximately $70 million and $49 million, respectively, of State NOLs available to offset future taxable income expiring from 2028 through 2041. The acquisition of ARI resulted in the addition of Massachusetts NOLs of $15 million. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had approximately $1,047,000 and $1,055,000, respectively of Federal research and development credits available to offset future tax liability expiring from 2034 through 2040. The Company’s Federal income tax returns for the 2019 to 2021 tax years remain open to examination by the IRS. Upon utilization of Federal NOLs in the future, the IRS may examine records from the year the loss occurred, even if outside the three-year statute of limitations. The Company’s State tax returns also remain open to examination.

In accordance with Section 382 of the Internal Revenue code, the usage of the Company’s Federal Carryforwards could be limited in the event of a change in ownership. As of December 31, 2021, the Company completed an analysis and determined that there were multiple ownership changes. Provided sufficient taxable income is generated the annual base limitation plus increased limitation calculated pursuant to IRS Notice 2003-65 will allow the Company to utilize all existing losses within the carryover periods.

The Company applies the FASB’s provisions for uncertain tax positions. The Company utilizes the two-step process to determine the amount of recognized tax benefit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the consolidated financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. The Company recognizes interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense.

As of December 31, 2021, management does not believe the Company has any material uncertain tax positions that would require it to measure and reflect the potential lack of sustainability of a position on audit in its financial statements. The Company will continue to evaluate its uncertain tax positions in future periods to determine if measurement and recognition in its financial statements is necessary. The Company does not believe there will be any material changes in its unrecognized tax positions over the next year. 

On March 27, 2020, H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, “the CARES ACT” was signed into legislation which includes tax provisions relevant to businesses that will impact taxes related to 2018, 2019, and 2020. Some of the significant tax law changes are to increase the limitation on deductible business interest expense for 2019 and 2020, allow for the five-year carryback of net operating losses for 2018-2020, suspend the 80% limitation of taxable income for net operating loss carryforwards for 2018-2020, provide for the acceleration of depreciation expense from 2018 and forward on qualified improvement property, and accelerate the ability to claim refunds of AMT credit carryforwards. The Company is required to recognize the effect on the consolidated financial statements in the period the law was enacted.