Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Tax

v3.24.1
Income Tax
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Tax

10. INCOME TAX

[a] We are a Delaware incorporated company subject to blended U.S. Federal and state statutory rates for December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 of 21%. For the purposes of estimating the tax rate in effect at the time that deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to reverse, management uses the furthest out available future tax rate in the applicable jurisdictions.

 

U.S. and foreign components of income (loss) before income taxes were as follows (in thousands):

 

(In thousands)

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

U.S.

 

$

(28,982

)

 

$

(41,660

)

 

$

(31,411

)

Foreign

 

 

(833

)

 

 

(690

)

 

 

(1,741

)

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

$

(29,815

)

 

$

(42,350

)

 

$

(33,152

)

 

Income tax expense/(recovery) consisted of the following (in thousands):

(In thousands)

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Income tax recovery at statutory rates (at a rate of 21% for all years presented)

 

$

(6,261

)

 

$

(8,894

)

 

$

(6,962

)

Expenses not deducted for tax purposes

 

 

477

 

 

 

299

 

 

 

224

 

Effect of tax rate changes on deferred tax assets and liabilities

 

 

(169

)

 

 

(18

)

 

 

17

 

Rate differential on foreign earnings

 

 

(36

)

 

 

(26

)

 

 

(77

)

Research and development tax credits

 

 

(883

)

 

 

(1,154

)

 

 

(134

)

Change in valuation allowance

 

 

7,686

 

 

 

10,464

 

 

 

7,544

 

Reassessment of previously recognized net operating losses

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

(620

)

Adjustment to prior year research and development tax credits

 

 

(760

)

 

 

(731

)

 

 

 

Other

 

 

(54

)

 

 

51

 

 

 

8

 

Income tax expense/(recovery)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

[b] The tax effects of the temporary differences and carryforwards that give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Deferred tax assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax basis in excess of book value of assets

 

$

899

 

 

$

899

 

Net operating loss carryforwards

 

 

48,867

 

 

 

43,380

 

Research and development deductions and credits

 

 

10,716

 

 

 

8,942

 

Stock options

 

 

1,134

 

 

 

1,042

 

Capitalized R&D expenses

 

 

11,528

 

 

 

11,342

 

Other

 

 

434

 

 

 

334

 

Total deferred tax assets

 

 

73,578

 

 

 

65,939

 

Valuation allowance

 

 

(73,232

)

 

 

(65,546

)

Net deferred tax assets

 

 

346

 

 

 

393

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right-of-use asset

 

 

(91

)

 

 

(91

)

Other

 

 

(255

)

 

 

(302

)

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

 

(346

)

 

 

(393

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net deferred tax liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax assets, or DTAs, will not be realized. Management assesses the need for a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets when considering both positive and negative evidence related to whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. In evaluating the ability to recover the deferred tax assets within the jurisdiction from which they arise, all available positive and negative evidence is considered, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future growth, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations.

Due to the uncertainty surrounding the realization of deductible tax attributes in future tax returns, we have recorded a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets of $73.2 million to reduce the DTAs to zero as of December 31, 2023. The valuation allowance increased by approximately $7.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2023. The amount of the DTA considered realizable, however, could be adjusted if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period increased or if objective negative evidence in the form of cumulative losses is no longer present and additional weight is given to subjective evidence such as our projections for growth.

We have total net operating loss carryforwards for federal tax purposes of approximately $90.2 million ($66.1 million—2022) as of December 31, 2023, some of which will begin to expire in 2029. Approximately $80.2 million of the federal net operating losses will carryforward indefinitely. Federal net operating losses generated after January 1, 2018 were originally available to offset 80% of taxable income for any given future tax year and will be carried forward indefinitely. We have research and development tax credit carryforwards of approximately $4.0 million ($2.3 million—2022) as of December 31, 2023, which will begin to expire in 2037. The operating loss carryforwards and research and development tax credits may be limited due to a change in control in our ownership as defined by the Internal Revenue Code Section 382. Any future changes in our ownership may limit the use of such carryforward benefits.

 

Our effective income tax rate for the periods presented differ from the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to current year net losses and the full valuation allowance on the U.S. deferred tax assets. We file income tax returns in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, or U.K. At December 31, 2023, we have Canadian non-capital loss carryforwards of $107.0 million ($110.0 million—2022) and research tax credits of $2.7 million ($2.7 million—2022), both of which will expire in 2042. In addition, we have unclaimed tax deductions of approximately $15.8 million related to scientific research and experimental development expenditures available to carry forward indefinitely to reduce Canadian taxable income of future years. The U.K. net operating loss carryforwards of $4.0 million (2022—$3.4 million) will carry forward indefinitely. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there are no tax penalties or accrued interest recorded in the financial statements.

 

 

[c] A reconciliation of the unrecognized tax benefits of uncertain tax positions for the year ended December 31, 2023 is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Year ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Gross unrecognzed tax benefits at January 1

 

$

761

 

 

$

761

 

 

$

767

 

Additions (reductions) from tax positions taken in prior years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6

)

Additions (reductions) from tax positions taken in the current year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax settlements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross unrecognzed tax benefits at December 31

 

$

761

 

 

$

761

 

 

$

761

 

 

As of December 31, 2023, unrecognized benefits of approximately $0.8 million, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate, and would reduce our deferred tax assets.

 

 

 

Our accounting policy is to treat interest and penalties relating to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income taxes. As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 we had no accrued interest and penalties related to income taxes.

We are subject to taxes in Canada, the U.K. and the United States until the applicable statute of limitations expires. However, in Canada and the United States, all tax years remain subject to examination due to the carryforward of unutilized NOLs and tax credits. Tax audits by their very nature are often complex and can require several years to complete. To our knowledge, we are not currently under examination by any taxing authorities.

 

Tax

 

Years open to

Jurisdiction

 

examination

Canada

 

2019 to 2023

United Kingdom

 

2017 to 2023

US

 

2020 to 2023