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

9. INCOME TAXES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

2019

    

2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax provision (benefit)

 

 

  

 

 

  

Current

 

 

  

 

 

  

Federal

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

State

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Total current

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred

 

 

  

 

 

  

Federal

 

 

(2,141,153)

 

 

(2,688,003)

State

 

 

(6,146,506)

 

 

(45,138)

Total deferred

 

 

(8,287,659)

 

 

(2,733,141)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in valuation allowance

 

 

8,287,659

 

 

2,733,141

Total

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

 

Deferred tax assets consisted of the following at December 31:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

2019

    

2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets

 

 

  

 

 

  

Federal net operating loss

 

$

28,261,717

 

$

26,562,715

Federal research and development tax credit carryforwards

 

 

6,137,842

 

 

5,439,062

State net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards

 

 

3,590,961

 

 

1,589,926

Capitalized research and development expenses

 

 

8,955,425

 

 

5,959,275

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

2,333,551

 

 

1,565,130

Depreciable assets

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Other

 

 

292,259

 

 

103,189

Total deferred tax assets

 

 

49,571,755

 

 

41,219,297

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

  

 

 

  

Depreciable assets

 

 

(153,928)

 

 

(89,129)

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

 

(153,928)

 

 

(89,129)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

 

 

49,417,827

 

 

41,130,168

Less- valuation allowance

 

 

(49,417,827)

 

 

(41,130,168)

Total deferred tax assets

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

 

A reconciliation of income taxes computed using the U.S. federal statutory rate to that reflected in operations is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 

 

 

    

2019

    

2018

 

Income tax benefit using U.S. federal statutory rate

 

(21.00)

%  

(21.00)

%

State income taxes

 

(34.46)

%  

(0.27)

%

Permanent items

 

0.01

%  

2.56

%

Federal tax credits

 

(5.21)

%  

(3.44)

%

Change in valuation allowance

 

58.81

%  

20.65

%

Other

 

1.85

%  

1.50

%

Total

 

0.00

%  

0.00

%

 

 

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $134,580,000. Federal net operating loss generated as of December 31, 2017 will expire in 2020 through 2037, net operating loss generated during 2018 and later will be carried forward indefinitely until utilized. As of December 31, 2019, the Company also had state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $43,439,000. State net operating loss will expire in 2028 through 2039.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had federal research and development and orphan drug credit carryforwards of approximately $6,138,000 which will expire in 2020 through 2039. As of December 31, 2019, the Company also had state credit carryforwards of approximately $811,000, which will expire in 2020 through 2034. 

The amount of NOLs and tax credit carryforwards which may be utilized annually in future periods will be limited pursuant to Section 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code as a result of substantial changes in the Company’s ownership that have occurred or that may occur in the future. The Company has not quantified the amount of such limitations.

During 2019, the Company changed its state tax rate applied to the deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the expected reversal of the deferred tax assets and liabilities. This state deferred tax benefit is offset by a corresponding increase valuation allowance.

Because of the Company’s continuing losses and uncertainty associated with the utilization of the deferred tax assets in the future, management has provided a full allowance against the net deferred tax asset.

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02, which resulted in the recognition of lease liabilities and right-of-use assets. The Company’s deferred tax balances have been adjusted to reflect the adoption of ASU2016-02.

The Company did not have unrecognized tax benefits or accrued interest and penalties at any time during the years ended December 31, 2019 or 2018 and does not anticipate having unrecognized tax benefits over the next twelve months. The Company is subject to audit by the IRS and state taxing authorities for tax periods commencing January 1, 2016. Additionally, the Company may be subject to examination by the IRS for years beginning prior to January 1, 2016 as a result of its NOLs. However, any adjustment related to these periods would be limited to the amount of the NOL generated in the year(s) under examination.