7. INCOME TAXES

12 Months Ended

May 31, 2017

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

7. INCOME TAXES:

    Domestic and foreign components of loss before income tax (expense) benefit are as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended May 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Domestic	$	(5,663	)	$	(6,794	)	$	(6,871	)
Foreign		35			19			258
	$	(5,628	)	$	(6,775	)	$	(6,613	)

    The income tax (expense) benefit consists of the following (in thousands):

	Year Ended May 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Federal income taxes:
Current	$	—		$	—		$	—
Deferred		—			—			—
State income taxes:
Current		(8	)		3			(19	)
Deferred		—			—			—
Foreign income taxes:
Current		(17	)		(13	)		(15	)
Deferred		—			—			—
	$	(25	)	$	(10	)	$	(34	)

     The Company’s effective tax rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate, as follows:

	Year Ended May 31,
	2017			2016			2015
U.S. federal statutory tax rate		34.0	%		34.0	%		34.0	%
State taxes, net of federal tax effect		(0.1	)		—			(0.2	)
Foreign rate differential		0.1			0.2			1.4
Stock-based compensation		(2.8	)		(3.8	)		(2.2	)
Research and development credit		3.1			2.1			1.1
Change in valuation allowance		(33.8	)		(32.5	)		(34.4	)
Other		(0.9	)		(0.2	)		(0.2	)
Effective tax rate		(0.4	)%		(0.2	)%		(0.5	)%

      The components of the net deferred tax assets are as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended May 31,
	2017			2016
Net operating losses	$	18,719		$	16,643
Credit carryforwards		4,715			4,430
Inventory reserves		870			1,064
Reserves and accruals		1,566			1,606
Other		393			885
		26,263			24,628
Less: Valuation allowance		(26,263	)		(24,628	)
Net deferred tax assets	$	—		$	—

    The valuation allowance increased by $1,635,000 during fiscal 2017, increased by $421,000 during fiscal 2016, and increased by $2,223,000 during fiscal 2015. As of May 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company concluded that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized and therefore provided a full valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets. The Company will continue to evaluate the need for a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis.

    At May 31, 2017, the Company had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $51,851,000 and $30,351,000, respectively. The federal and state net operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire in 2024. At May 31, 2017, the Company also had federal and state research and development tax credit carryforwards of $1,982,000 and $5,164,000, respectively. The federal credit carryforward will begin to expire in 2019, and the California credit will carryforward indefinitely. These carryforwards may be subject to certain limitations on annual utilization in case of a change in ownership, as defined by tax law. The Company also has alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards of $91,000 for federal tax purposes and $34,000 for state purposes. The credits may be used to offset regular tax and do not expire.

    The Company has made no provision for U.S. income taxes on undistributed earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries because it is the Company’s intention to permanently reinvest such earnings in its foreign subsidiaries. If such earnings were distributed, the Company would be subject to additional U.S. income tax expense. Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred income tax liability related to these earnings is not practicable.

    Foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $892,000 are available to reduce future foreign taxable income. The foreign net operating losses will begin to expire in 2018.

    The Company maintains liabilities for uncertain tax positions. These liabilities involve considerable judgment and estimation and are continuously monitored by management based on the best information available. The aggregate changes in the balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits are as follows (in thousands):

Beginning balance as of May 31, 2014	$	973
Decreases related to prior year tax positions		—
Decreases related to lapse of statute of limitations		(54	)
Balance at May 31, 2015	$	919
Decreases related to prior year tax positions		(124	)
Decreases related to lapse of statute of limitations		(6	)
Balance at May 31, 2016	$	789
Decreases related to prior year tax positions		—
Decreases related to lapse of statute of limitations		—
Balance at May 31, 2017	$	789

    The ending balance of $789,000 of unrecognized tax benefits as of May 31, 2017, if recognized, would not impact the effective tax rate.

    Although the Company files U.S. federal, various state, and foreign tax returns, the Company’s only major tax jurisdictions are the United States, California, Germany and Japan. Tax years 1997 – 2016 remain subject to examination by the appropriate governmental agencies due to tax loss carryovers from those years.