Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Taxes

v3.20.1
Income Taxes
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Income Taxes  
Income Taxes

Note 8 — Income Taxes

The Company has accumulated net losses since inception and has not recorded an income tax provision or benefit during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

A reconciliation of the statutory U.S. federal rate to the Company’s effective tax rate is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the years ended December 31, 

 

 

    

2019

    

2018

 

Statutory federal income tax rate

 

21

%  

21

%

State taxes, net of federal tax benefit

 

14

%  

 9

%

State tax rate change

 

 1

%  

 0

%

Other

 

 4

%  

 0

%

Credits

 

 5

%  

 5

%

Change in valuation allowance

 

(45)

%  

(35)

%

Income taxes provision (benefit)

 

 0

%  

 0

%

 

The components of the net deferred tax asset as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 are the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 

 

    

2019

    

2018

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Net operating loss carryovers

 

$

19,953

 

$

10,160

Stock compensation and other

 

 

843

 

 

658

Amortization of license

 

 

1,413

 

 

1,006

Accruals and reserves

 

 

15

 

 

221

Tax credits

 

 

2,640

 

 

1,294

Total deferred tax assets

 

 

24,864

 

 

13,339

Less valuation allowance

 

 

(24,864)

 

 

(13,339)

Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

The Company has determined, based upon available evidence, that it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax asset will not be realized and, accordingly, has provided a full valuation allowance against it. A valuation allowance of approximately $24.9 million and $13.3 million was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $60.3 million and $111.9 million, respectively. The federal and state net operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire, if not utilized, by 2035 and 2035, respectively. The Company has $2.6 million of research and development credit carryforwards, which will begin to expire, if not utilized, in 2035. Utilization of the net operating loss and credit carryforwards may be subject to an annual limitation due to the ownership change limitations provided by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Certain tax attributes are subject to an annual limitation as a result of the Company’s June 2017 initial public offering, which constitutes an ownership change under Section 382. Certain tax attributes may be subject to an annual limitation as a result of the SPMA with InvaGen, which could constitute an ownership change under Section 382.

There are no significant matters determined to be unrecognized tax benefits taken or expected to be taken in a tax return, in accordance with ASC 740 “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements, that have been recorded on the Company’s financial statements for the periods ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. The Company does not anticipate a material change to unrecognized tax benefits in the next twelve months.

Additionally, ASC 740 provides guidance on the recognition of interest and penalties related to income taxes. There were no interest or penalties related to income taxes that have been accrued or recognized as of and for the periods ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

The federal and state tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017, and 2018 are currently open for examination under the applicable federal and state income tax statues of limitations.