Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

INCOME TAXES

v3.24.0.1
INCOME TAXES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES
11.
INCOME TAXES

No provision or benefit for federal or state income taxes has been recorded, as the Company has incurred a net loss for all of the periods presented, and the Company has provided a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets.

The components of the Company's net loss are as follows:

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2023

 

2022

United States

 

$(36,133,358)

 

$(34,842,427)

United Kingdom

 

(8,455,452)

 

(7,550,356)

Australia

 

(14,506)

 

45,880

Total

 

$(44,603,316)

 

$(42,346,903)

 

Our foreign subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Australia may qualify for refundable research and development tax credits in the form of cash that were earned on certain research and development expenses incurred primarily outside of the U.S. In the years ending December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company received refundable research and development credits from foreign tax authorities of approximately $2,687,000 and $90,000, respectively, that were recorded in other income (expense), net. No future conditions impact the recognition of these tax credits.

 

At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $218,633,000 and $197,846,000 respectively, of which federal carryforwards will expire in varying amounts beginning in 2029. Of the federal net operating loss carryforwards of $218,633,000, approximately $162,282,000 are from periods after 2017 and have no expiration date. Net operating loss carryforwards starting in 2021 are limited to 80% of taxable income. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had State net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $208,042,000 and $188,273,000, respectively. Utilization of net operating losses may be subject to substantial annual limitations due to the “change in ownership” provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, and similar state provisions. The annual limitations may result in the expiration of net operating losses before utilization. The Company has not yet conducted a study to determine if any such changes have occurred that could limit the Company’s ability to use the net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. The Company also had research and development tax credit carryforwards at December 31, 2023 and 2022 of approximately $10,046,000 and $9,376,000, respectively, of which will begin to expire in varying amounts beginning in 2032.

Significant components of the Company’s net deferred tax asset are as follows:

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

U.S. and state net operating loss carryforwards

 

$

59,092,710

 

 

$

53,438,141

 

Foreign net operating loss carryforwards

 

 

11,558,247

 

 

 

7,267,176

 

Tax credit carryforward

 

 

9,825,596

 

 

 

9,132,973

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

5,819,822

 

 

 

8,661,477

 

Capitalized research and development

 

 

6,367,722

 

 

 

3,925,743

 

Accrued expenses

 

 

897,354

 

 

 

503,124

 

Other temporary differences

 

 

1,376,351

 

 

 

1,202,364

 

Subtotal

 

 

94,937,802

 

 

 

84,130,998

 

Valuation allowance

 

 

(94,937,802

)

 

 

(84,130,998

)

Net deferred tax asset

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) requires taxpayers to capitalize and amortize research and development (“R&D”) expenditures under section 174 for tax years beginning after December 31, 2021. This rule became effective for us during 2022 and resulted in capitalized R&D costs of approximately $23,557,000 and $14,523,000 as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. We will amortize these costs for tax purposes over 5 years for R&D performed in the U.S. and over 15 years for R&D performed outside the U.S.

 

The Company has maintained a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets in all periods presented. A valuation allowance is required to be recorded when it is not more likely than not that some portion or all the net deferred tax assets will be realized. Since the Company cannot determine that it is more likely than not that it will generate taxable income, and thereby realize the net deferred tax assets, a full valuation allowance has been provided. The valuation allowance increased by approximately $10,807,000 and $8,633,000 in 2023 and 2022, respectively, due to increased net operating loss carryforwards and capitalization of R&D expenditures as required by changes to the tax laws from the TCJA as described above. The Company has no uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2023 and 2022 that would affect its effective tax rate. Since the Company is in a loss carryforward position, the Company is generally subject to U.S. federal and state income tax examinations by tax authorities for all years for which a loss carryforward is available.

 

Income tax benefits computed using the federal statutory income tax rate differs from the Company’s effective tax rate primarily due to the following:

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Tax provision at statutory rate

 

 

21.00

%

 

 

21.00

%

State income tax, net of federal benefit

 

 

5.94

%

 

 

5.53

%

Permanent differences

 

 

(0.28

)%

 

 

(1.72

)%

Foreign expected tax

 

 

4.46

%

 

 

4.08

%

Tax credits

 

 

2.46

%

 

 

1.87

%

Foreign income tax rate change

 

 

7.42

%

 

 

%

Other

 

 

(11.09

)%

 

 

(5.99

)%

Change in valuation reserve

 

 

(29.91

)%

 

 

(24.77

)%

Total

 

 

%

 

 

%