Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Tax

v3.3.1.900
Income Tax
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Tax

9. INCOME TAX

[a] The reconciliation of income tax attributable to operations computed at the statutory tax rate to income tax expense is as follows. OncoGenex Technologies, a Canadian corporation, which is subject to combined Canadian federal and provincial statutory tax rates for December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 of 26.0%, 26.0%, and 25.75%, respectively. Following the reverse takeover by OncoGenex Technologies of Sonus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (which subsequently changed its name to OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) in 2008, OncoGenex Technologies became a wholly owned subsidiary of OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, which is a Delaware incorporated company subject to US Federal Statutory rates of 34% for all three years presented.

For the purposes of estimating the tax rate in effect at the time that deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to reverse, we used the furthest out available future tax rate in the applicable jurisdictions. For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 the future Canadian enacted rates we used were 26%, 26%, and 25%, respectively, while for the US the future enacted rate we used was 34% for all three periods presented.

[b] At December 31, 2015, we have investment tax credits of $2.3 million (2014—$2.4 million) available to reduce future Canadian income taxes otherwise payable. We also have non-capital loss carryforwards of $100.4 million (2014—$96.3 million) available to offset future taxable income in Canada and federal net operating loss carryforwards of $151.9 million (2014—$151.1 million) to offset future taxable income in the United States.

Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, substantial changes in our ownership may limit the amount of net operating loss carryforwards and development tax credit carryforwards that could be utilized annually in the future to offset taxable income. Any such annual limitation may significantly reduce the utilization of the net operating losses and tax credits before they expire. A 382 limitation study has been undertaken but the study is not complete. The final results of this study could indicate that the U.S. losses may be materially limited; however, the amount of such limitation cannot be reasonably quantified at this time, but may be significant. In each period since our inception, we have recorded a valuation allowance for the full amount of our deferred tax asset, as the realization of the deferred tax asset is uncertain.

 

(In thousands)

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

2013

 

Income taxes at statutory rates (at a rate of 34% for all

   periods presented)

 

$

(5,712

)

 

$

(8,922

)

 

$

(10,829

)

Expenses not deducted for tax purposes

 

 

(14

)

 

 

(452

)

 

 

(738

)

Effect of tax rate changes on deferred tax assets and liabilities

 

 

(13

)

 

 

(9

)

 

 

(744

)

Rate differential on foreign earnings

 

 

689

 

 

 

1,445

 

 

 

2,003

 

Reduction (increase) in benefit of operating losses

 

 

(32

)

 

 

441

 

 

 

(10

)

Reduction in the benefit of other tax attributes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

Investment tax credits

 

 

(297

)

 

 

(357

)

 

 

(347

)

Change in valuation allowance

 

 

5,114

 

 

 

7,854

 

 

 

10,538

 

Book to tax return adjustments

 

 

265

 

 

 

 

 

 

127

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

As a result, we have not recognized any federal or state income tax benefit in our statement of operations. The initial public offering of common stock by us in 1995 caused an ownership change pursuant to applicable regulations in effect under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Therefore, our use of losses incurred through the date of ownership change will be limited during the carryforward period and may result in the expiration of net operating loss carryforwards in the United States before utilization.

The investment tax credits and non-capital losses and net operating losses for income tax purposes expire as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

Investment

 

 

Net Operating

 

 

Non-capital

 

 

 

Tax Credits

 

 

Losses

 

 

Losses

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018

 

 

150

 

 

 

10,795

 

 

 

 

2019

 

 

102

 

 

 

32

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

76

 

 

 

2,745

 

 

 

 

2021

 

 

69

 

 

 

400

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

105

 

 

 

11,766

 

 

 

 

2023

 

 

96

 

 

 

10,785

 

 

 

 

2024

 

 

111

 

 

 

16,814

 

 

 

 

2025

 

 

144

 

 

 

2,062

 

 

 

 

2026

 

 

400

 

 

 

27,157

 

 

 

7,335

 

2027

 

 

173

 

 

 

22,225

 

 

 

4,949

 

2028

 

 

390

 

 

 

12,648

 

 

 

8,020

 

2029

 

 

317

 

 

 

4,358

 

 

 

(9

)

2030

 

 

346

 

 

 

5,034

 

 

 

6,288

 

2031

 

 

608

 

 

 

6,200

 

 

 

12,121

 

2032

 

 

505

 

 

 

8,418

 

 

 

17,278

 

2033

 

 

422

 

 

 

2,520

 

 

 

23,240

 

2034

 

 

219

 

 

 

2,609

 

 

 

18,027

 

2035

 

 

328

 

 

 

5,342

 

 

 

3,120

 

 

 

$

4,561

 

 

$

151,910

 

 

$

100,369

 

 

In addition, we have unclaimed tax deductions of approximately $14.3 million related to scientific research and experimental development expenditures available to carry forward indefinitely to reduce Canadian taxable income of future years. We also have research and development tax credits of $2.3 million available to reduce future taxes payable in the United States. The research and development tax credits expire between 2016 and 2035.

[c] Significant components of our deferred tax assets as of December 31 are shown below (in thousands):

 

The potential income tax benefits relating to these deferred tax assets have not been recognized in the accounts as their realization did not meet the requirements of “more likely than not” under the liability method of tax allocation. Accordingly, a valuation allowance has been recorded and no deferred tax assets have been recognized as at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax basis in excess of book value of assets

 

$

6,308

 

 

$

4,871

 

Non-capital loss carryforwards

 

 

77,746

 

 

 

76,403

 

Research and development deductions and credits

 

 

7,484

 

 

 

7,464

 

Stock options

 

 

3,448

 

 

 

3,163

 

Restructuring liability

 

 

474

 

 

 

(25

)

Other

 

 

1,627

 

 

 

110

 

Total deferred tax assets

 

 

97,087

 

 

 

91,986

 

Valuation allowance

 

$

(97,087

)

 

$

(91,986

)

 

[d] Under ASC 740, the benefit of an uncertain tax position that is more likely than not of being sustained upon audit by the relevant taxing authority must be recognized at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be sustained. No portion of the benefit of an uncertain tax position may be recognized if the position has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained.

A reconciliation of the unrecognized tax benefits of uncertain tax positions for the year ended December 31, 2015 is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Year ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

2013

 

Balance at January 1

 

$

2,039

 

 

$

2,007

 

 

$

1,967

 

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

 

 

16

 

 

 

32

 

 

 

32

 

Additions based on tax positions related to prior years

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

8

 

Balance at December 31

 

$

2,055

 

 

$

2,039

 

 

$

2,007

 

 

As of December 31, 2015, unrecognized benefits of approximately $2.1 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, 2015 and December 31, 2014 we had no accrued interest and penalties related to income taxes.

We are subject to taxes in Canada and the U.S. until the applicable statute of limitations expires. Tax audits by their very nature are often complex and can require several years to complete.

 

Tax

 

Years open to

Jurisdiction

 

examination

Canada

 

2008 to 2015

US

 

2012 to 2015