Note 8 - Federal, State and Local Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2021

Notes to Financial Statements

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 8 - Federal, State and Local Income Taxes:

In accordance with the requirements of the Income Tax Topic of the FASB's ASC, the Company's provision for income taxes includes the following:

	Three Months Ended October 31,						Six Months Ended October 31,
($ in thousands)	2021			2020			2021			2020
Current tax expense:
Federal	$	1,556		$	1,351		$	3,022		$	2,664
State and local		325			344			594			697
Current tax expense		1,881			1,695			3,616			3,361
Deferred tax expense (benefit):
Federal		77			(59	)		118			30
State and local		(134	)		(15	)		(343	)		(4	)
Deferred tax expense (benefit):		(57	)		(74	)		(225	)		26
Income tax provision	$	1,824		$	1,621		$	3,391		$	3,387

On December 22, 2017 H.R. 1, originally known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act"), was enacted.  The Tax Act lowered the U.S. federal income tax rate ("Federal Tax Rate") from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018.  Accordingly, the Company computes Federal income tax expense using the Federal Tax Rate of 21% in fiscal year 2019 and each year thereafter.

The overall effective income tax rates, as a percentage of pre-tax ordinary income for the six months ended October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2020 were 19.05% and 24.94%, respectively.  The decrease in the effective tax rate during six months ended October 31, 2021 as compared to October 31, 2020, is primarily a result of the non-taxable revenue derived from forgiveness of the PPP loan by the SBA (see note 16) and a decrease in the state and local income taxes from 4.22% to 1.11% as a result of changes in state and local income tax allocations, such as the effect of the reduction in the New York State and New York City tax allocation factors, on deferred taxes in fiscal 2022.  The Company's annualized overall effective tax rate fluctuates due to a number of factors, in addition to changes in tax law, including but not limited to an increase or decrease in the ratio of items that do not have tax consequences to pre-income tax, the Company's geographic profit mix between tax jurisdictions, taxation method adopted by each locality, new interpretations of existing tax laws and rulings and settlements with tax authorities.  

Deferred income taxes, a liability, are provided for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company's assets and liabilities.  The tax effect of temporary differences giving rise to the Company's long-term deferred tax liability are as follows:

	October 31,			April 30,
($ in thousands)	2021			2021
Federal tax liability (benefit):
Deferred gain on deconsolidation of EAM	$	10,670		$	10,669
Deferred non-cash post-employment compensation		(372	)		(372	)
Depreciation and amortization		89			108
Unrealized gain on equity securities		1,008			941
Right of Use Asset		(201	)		(196	)
Deferred charges		(187	)		(186	)
Other		(119	)		(218	)
Total federal tax liability		10,888			10,746
State and local tax liabilities (benefits):
Deferred gain on deconsolidation of EAM		1,783			1,807
Deferred non-cash post-employment compensation		(62	)		(63	)
Depreciation and amortization		15			18
Unrealized gain on equity securities		168			159
Other		318			238
Total state and local tax liabilities		2,222			2,159
Deferred tax liability, long-term	$	13,110		$	12,905

At the end of each interim reporting period, the Company estimates the effective income tax rate to apply for the full fiscal year. The Company uses the effective income tax rate determined to provide for income taxes on a year-to-date basis and reflects the tax effect of any tax law changes and certain other discrete events in the period in which they occur.

The provision for income taxes differs from the amount of income tax determined by applying the applicable U.S. statutory income tax rate to pretax income as a result of the following:

	Six Months Ended October 31,
	2021			2020
U.S. statutory federal tax rate		21.00	%		21.00	%
Increase (decrease) in tax rate from:
State and local income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit		1.11	%		4.22	%
Non-taxable SBA loan forgiveness		(2.75	)%		-
Effect of dividends received deductions		(0.33	)%		(0.28	)%
Other, net		0.02	%		-
Effective income tax rate		19.05	%		24.94	%

The Company believes that, as of October 31, 2021, there were no material uncertain tax positions that would require disclosure under GAAP. 

The Company is included in the consolidated federal income tax return of the Parent.   It also files combined income tax returns with the Parent on a unitary basis in certain states.  The Company has a tax sharing agreement which requires it to make tax payments to the Parent equal to the Company's liability/(benefit) as if it filed a separate return.   

The Company’s federal income tax returns (included in the Parent’s consolidated returns) and state and city tax returns for fiscal years ended 2018 through 2020, are subject to examination by the tax authorities, generally for three years after they are filed with the tax authorities. The Company is presently engaged in a New York City tax audit for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2017 through 2019 and does not expect it to have a material effect on the financial statements.