Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of analysis of deferred tax asset and liability

An analysis of DLH's deferred tax asset and liability is as follows:

	Year Ended
	September 30,
(amounts in thousands)	2017			2016
Deferred income tax asset (liability):
Net operating loss carry forwards and tax credits	$	10,786		$	12,387
AMT credit carryforward	316			231
Stock based compensation	236			172
Fixed and intangible assets	(3,243		)	(2,580		)
Accrued expenses	1,303			918
Other items, net	241			287
Net deferred tax asset	$	9,639		$	11,415

Summary of significant components of the expense (benefit) for income taxes from continuing operations

The significant components of the expense (benefit) for income taxes from continuing operations are summarized as follows:

	Year Ended
	September 30,
(amounts in thousands)	2017		2016
Current expense (benefit)	$	338	$	170
Deferred expense (benefit)	1,776		(1,108		)
Total expense (benefit)	2,114		(938		)

Schedule of significant differences between the Federal statutory rate and the entity's effective tax rate for continuing operations

The following table indicates the significant differences between the federal statutory rate and DLH's effective tax rate for continuing operations:

	Year Ended
	September 30,
(amounts in thousands)	2017		2016
Federal statutory rate	$	1,837	$	831
State taxes, net	260		71
Other permanent items	17		(86		)
Change in valuation allowance	—		(1,754		)
	$	2,114	$	(938	)