Note 10 - Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

Notes to Financial Statements

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

10.         Income Taxes         

On an interim basis, the Company estimates what its anticipated annual effective tax rate will be and records a quarterly income tax provision in accordance with the estimated annual rate, adjusted accordingly by the tax effect of certain discrete items that arise during the quarter. As the year progresses, the Company refines its estimated annual effective tax rate based on actual year-to-date results. This process can result in significant changes to the Company's estimated effective tax rate. When such activity occurs, the income tax provision is adjusted during the quarter in which the estimates are refined and adjusted. As such, the Company’s year-to-date tax provision reflects the estimated annual effective tax rate. Therefore, these changes along with the adjustments to the Company’s deferred taxes and related valuation allowance may create fluctuations in the overall effective tax rate from period to period.

Due to overall cumulative losses incurred in recent years, the Company maintained a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2022, differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to operating losses that receive no tax benefit as a result of a valuation allowance recorded against the Company's existing tax assets. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding associated interest and penalties, was $0.2 million as of March 31, 2022, all of which, if subsequently recognized, would have affected the Company's tax rate.

As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were no accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense, and the accrued interest and penalties are included in deferred and other long-term liabilities in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. There were no material interest or penalties included in income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2022, and 2021.

The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S. and in various foreign and state jurisdictions. Due to expired statutes of limitation, the Company’s federal income tax returns for years prior to calendar year 2018 and 2017, respectively are not subject to examination by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (except for the use of tax losses generated prior to 2018 that may be used to offset taxable income in subsequent years). Generally, for the majority of state jurisdictions where the Company does business, periods prior to calendar year 2017 are no longer subject to examination. The Company does not anticipate a significant change to the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the CARES Act was signed into law in March 2020. The CARES Act lifts certain deduction limitations originally imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”). Corporate taxpayers may carryback net operating losses (“NOL’s”) originating during 2018 through 2020 for up to five years, which was not previously allowed under the TCJA. The CARES Act in part also provides for an employee retention credit, which is a refundable tax credit against certain employment taxes equal to 50% of qualified wages an eligible employer pays to employees (“Employee Retention Credit”). In March 2022, we amended certain payroll tax filings in conjunction with the Employee Retention Credit and are awaiting confirmation of the credit from the IRS.