Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Note 10 – Income Taxes

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, we recorded no income tax benefits for the net operating losses incurred or for the research and development tax credits generated due to the uncertainty of realizing a benefit from those items.

We have evaluated the positive and negative evidence bearing upon our ability to realize our deferred tax assets, which primarily consist of net operating loss carryforwards and research and development tax credits. We considered the history of cumulative net losses, estimated future taxable income and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies and we have concluded that it is more likely than not that we will not realize the benefits of our deferred tax assets. As a result, as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we recorded a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assts.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act contained specific relief and stimulus measures including allowing net operating losses originating in 2018 through 2020 to be carried back five years to offset taxable income in the carryback period. Separately, the enactment of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act in 2017 allowed taxpayers to claim a refund for alternative minimum tax credits over a period of years. The CARES Act enacted during the first quarter of 2020 allows for the entire amount of the credit to be refunded. We have reviewed the impact of the CARES Act enactment on the income tax provision and have determined that, as a result of the net operating loss carryback provision, we can obtain a tax benefit if we were to carry back the forecasted 2020 net operating loss to the five year carryback period.

The carryback of the estimated loss would result in a refundable federal tax credit of approximately $1.4 million and an increase in research credit carryforwards previously utilized. The federal tax credit can be refunded in the future, as we decided to carry back the loss reported on the filed 2020 tax return. Upon filing our 2020 tax return, we reclassified the federal tax credit as a current receivable. Due to the recent loss history, continued investments in the Company, and our future projections of income, we will benefit from the 2020 loss to the extent of the available tax refund and will maintain a full valuation allowance on all other deferred tax assets, including any increase in research credit carryforward resulting from a potential carryback.