Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Taxes	8. Income Taxes Income Tax Expense Our effective income tax rate was a benefit of 30% and 18% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The change in the tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2021 is primarily due to a change in pre-tax book loss, as well as a reduction in the excess tax benefit related to stock compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020. The income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was favorably impacted by excess tax benefit deductions related to stock compensation, the research and development tax credit, and the reduction of a valuation allowance on prior year items. These factors were partially offset by the unfavorable impacts of non-deductible operating expenses, executive compensation expenses, and the recording of a tax reserve on prior year items. The income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was favorably impacted by excess tax benefit deductions related to stock compensation. These factors were partially offset by the unfavorable impacts of non-deductible operating expenses and executive compensation expenses. Deferred Income Taxes We generate deferred tax assets primarily as a result of the difference in fixed asset depreciation lives for book and tax purposes, accruals for which the timing of deductibility is different for book and tax purposes, the timing of tax deductions related to stock compensation, interest expense disallowances, and operating losses. We acquired significant deferred tax assets, primarily net operating loss carryforwards, from our acquisitions of JOTEC and its subsidiaries in 2017, On-X in 2016, Hemosphere, Inc. in 2012, and Cardiogenesis Corporation in 2011. We believe utilization of these net operating losses will not have a material impact on income taxes for the 2021 tax year. As of March 31, 2021 we maintained a total of $9.4 million in valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, including state and federal net operating loss carryforwards and interest expense disallowance carryforwards, and a net deferred tax liability of $27.6 million. As of December 31, 2020 we maintained a total of $7.2 million in valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, including state and federal net operating loss carryforwards, and a net deferred tax liability of $33.3 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we released a valuation allowance and increased a tax reserve in the amount of a net $1.8 million related to immaterial prior period correction of errors in the calculation of the valuation allowance and an uncertain tax position. The valuation allowance adjustment, which comprises the majority of the adjustment primarily arises from the improper reversal in the prior period valuation allowance assessment of future temporary differences created from the accounting of its convertible debt. On correcting the errors, we recorded an income tax benefit of $1.8 million. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) In response to the novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) pandemic, the U.S. government enacted the CARES Act on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provides various forms of relief and assistance to U.S. businesses. We recorded a reduction to income taxes payable and deferred tax assets of approximately $1.3 million for the change to the 2019 Section 163(j) interest expense deduction limitation for the three months ended March 2020.

Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

8. Income Taxes

Income Tax Expense

Our effective income tax rate was a benefit of 30% and 18% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The change in the tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2021 is primarily due to a change in pre-tax book loss, as well as a reduction in the excess tax benefit related to stock compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020.

The income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was favorably impacted by excess tax benefit deductions related to stock compensation, the research and development tax credit, and the reduction of a valuation allowance on prior year items. These factors were partially offset by the unfavorable impacts of non-deductible operating expenses, executive compensation expenses, and the recording of a tax reserve on prior year items.

The income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was favorably impacted by excess tax benefit deductions related to stock compensation. These factors were partially offset by the unfavorable impacts of non-deductible operating expenses and executive compensation expenses.

Deferred Income Taxes

We generate deferred tax assets primarily as a result of the difference in fixed asset depreciation lives for book and tax purposes, accruals for which the timing of deductibility is different for book and tax purposes, the timing of tax deductions related to stock compensation, interest expense disallowances, and operating losses. We acquired significant deferred tax assets, primarily net operating loss carryforwards, from our acquisitions of JOTEC and its subsidiaries in 2017, On-X in 2016, Hemosphere, Inc. in 2012, and Cardiogenesis Corporation in 2011. We believe utilization of these net operating losses will not have a material impact on income taxes for the 2021 tax year.

As of March 31, 2021 we maintained a total of $9.4 million in valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, including state and federal net operating loss carryforwards and interest expense disallowance carryforwards, and a net deferred tax liability of $27.6 million. As of December 31, 2020 we maintained a total of $7.2 million in valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, including state and federal net operating loss carryforwards, and a net deferred tax liability of $33.3 million.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we released a valuation allowance and increased a tax reserve in the amount of a net $1.8 million related to immaterial prior period correction of errors in the calculation of the valuation allowance and an uncertain tax position. The valuation allowance adjustment, which comprises the majority of the adjustment primarily arises from the improper reversal in the prior period valuation allowance assessment of future temporary differences created from the accounting of its convertible debt. On correcting the errors, we recorded an income tax benefit of $1.8 million.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”)

In response to the novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) pandemic, the U.S. government enacted the CARES Act on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provides various forms of relief and assistance to U.S. businesses. We recorded a reduction to income taxes payable and deferred tax assets of approximately $1.3 million for the change to the 2019 Section 163(j) interest expense deduction limitation for the three months ended March 2020.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

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