Note 10 - Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

Notes to Financial Statements

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

10. Income taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC Topic 740 – Income Taxes. Under this standard, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax benefits or consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

The Company’s tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of the annual effective income tax rate, adjusted for discrete items, if any, that occur in the relevant period. The income tax benefit of $599,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 resulted in an effective income tax rate of 8%. Included in the $599,000 were discrete tax benefits of $470,000 related to stock compensation windfall tax benefits offset by an increase in the valuation allowance.

The Company’s US projected effective income tax rate without discrete items was 5%, which is lower than the US federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the impact of a projected partial valuation allowance on net operating loss carryforwards and non-deductible executive compensation offset by state tax benefits and research tax credits.

Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income, the timing and amount of which are uncertain. In determining the need for a valuation allowance, the Company’s management evaluates both positive and negative evidence when concluding whether it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets are realizable. After reviewing the evidence available, the Company’s management believes there is uncertainty regarding the future realizability of the U.S. net operating loss carryforward and is projecting a partial valuation allowance of $6.7 million by year end. If operating results improve and projections indicate future utilization of the tax attributes, all or a portion of the valuation allowance would be released, resulting in a corresponding non-cash income tax benefit.