Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

11. INCOME TAXES

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11. INCOME TAXES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
11. INCOME TAXES

A reconciliation of income taxes at the U.S. Federal statutory rate to the benefit for income taxes is as follows:

 

    Year Ended December 31,
    2019   2018
Benefit at U.S. federal statutory rate   $ (10,138,657 )   $ (13,806,124 )
State taxes - deferred     (2,010,517 )     (1,443,538 )
Increase in valuation allowance     11,790,031       (1,015,582 )
Research and development credits     (115,086 )     (223,735 )
Decrease in federal net operating loss     —         12,090,203  
Decrease in federal research and development credits     —         4,294,344  
Other     474,229       104,432  
Benefit for income taxes   $ —       $ —    

 

A summary of the Company’s deferred tax assets is as follows:

 

    Year Ended December 31,
    2019   2018
Federal and state net operating loss carryforwards   $ 42,496,374     $ 26,080,351  
Federal and state research credits     630,516       525,248  
Interest expense limitation carryforwards     —         1,159,422  
Transaction costs     1,174,733       1,147,581  
Deferred revenue     603,535       624,610  
Accrued expenses and other     2,433,142       6,011,057  
Total gross deferred tax assets     47,338,300       35,548,269  
Less: valuation allowance for deferred tax assets     (47,338,300 )     (35,548,269 )
Net deferred tax assets   $ —       $ —    

 

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had federal and state (post-apportioned basis) net operating losses (“NOLs”) of $175.1 million and $116.2 million, respectively, as well as federal research and development tax credit carryforwards of approximately $0.6 million. Approximately $115.8 million and $71.8 million of the foregoing federal and state NOLs, respectively, will expire at various dates from 2027 through 2037, if not limited by triggering events prior to such time. Under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, changes in ownership of the Company, in certain circumstances, would limit the amount of federal NOLs that can be utilized annually in the future to offset taxable income. In particular, Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code imposes limitations on an entity’s ability to use NOLs upon certain changes in ownership. If the Company is limited in its ability to use its NOLs in future years in which it has taxable income, then the Company will pay more taxes than if it were otherwise able to fully utilize its NOLs. The Company may experience ownership changes in the future as a result of subsequent shifts in ownership of the Company’s capital stock that the Company cannot predict or control that could result in further limitations being placed on the Company’s ability to utilize its federal NOLs. As of December 31, 2019, the Company performed a preliminary analysis of limitations imposed by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and as a result has written off $57.6 million of federal NOLs, $4.3 million of federal research and development tax credits, and $10.9 million of state NOLs that are limited by historical ownership changes. As a result, there was a $16.9 million reduction to the Company’s deferred tax assets. However, as discussed below, the Company maintains a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets. Therefore, the $16.9 million reduction to the Company’s deferred tax assets is offset by a corresponding $16.9 million reduction to the Company’s valuation allowance for its net deferred tax assets, resulting in no net impact to the Company’s tax provision.

 

A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. When determining the amount of net deferred tax assets that are more likely than not to be realized, the Company assesses all available positive and negative evidence. This evidence includes, but is not limited to, prior earnings history, expected future earnings, carry-back and carry-forward periods and the feasibility of ongoing tax strategies that could potentially enhance the likelihood of the realization of a deferred tax asset. The weight given to the positive and negative evidence is commensurate with the extent the evidence may be objectively verified. As such, it is generally difficult for positive evidence regarding projected future taxable income, exclusive of reversing taxable temporary differences, to outweigh objective negative evidence of recent financial reporting losses. Based on these criteria and the relative weighting of both the positive and negative evidence available, management continues to maintain a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets.

 

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company is required to determine whether a tax position of the Company is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Derecognition of a tax benefit previously recognized could result in the Company recording a tax liability that would reduce net assets. The amount of the liability for which an exposure exists is measured as the largest amount of benefit determined on a cumulative probability basis that the Company believes is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement of the position. Components of the liability are classified as either a current or a long-term liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets based on when the Company expects each of the items to be settled. The Company does not have any unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and does not anticipate a significant change in unrecognized tax benefits during the next 12 months.