v3.3.1.900

Note 16 - Income Taxes | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] |
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] | 16. Income Taxes During the years ended December 31, 2014, and 2013, respectively, there was no income tax expense or benefit for federal and state income taxes in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations due to our net loss and a valuation allowance on the resulting deferred tax assets. The actual tax expense differs from the “expected” tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 (computed by applying the U.S. Federal Corporate tax rate of 34% to income before taxes) as follows:
|  | December 31, |  |  | December 31, |
|  | 2014 |  |  | 2013 |
Tax at federal statutory rate |  | $ | (740,000 | ) |  | $ | (967,000 | )
State taxes, net of federal benefit |  |  | (117,000 | ) |  |  | (160,000 | )
Research and development credits |  |  | — |  |  |  | (12,000 | )
Fair market value of warrants & derivatives |  |  | 17,000 |  |  |  | (22,000 | )
Stock-based compensation |  |  | 51,000 |  |  |  | 29,000 |
Other permanent items |  |  | 10,000 |  |  |  | 1,000 |
Valuation allowance |  |  | 779,000 |  |  |  | 1,131,000 |
Income tax provision |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:
|  | December 31, |  |  | December 31, |
|  | 2014 |  |  | 2013 |
Deferred tax assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net operating loss and credit carryforwards |  | $ | 30,227,000 |  |  | $ | 29,431,000 |
Stock-based compensation |  |  | 1,199,000 |  |  |  | 1,193,000 |
Stock-based compensation |  |  | 422,000 |  |  |  | 558,000 |
Basis difference for fixed assets and intangibles |  |  | 158,000 |  |  |  | 174,000 |
Total gross deferred tax assets |  |  | 32,006,000 |  |  |  | 31,356,000 |
Valuation allowance |  |  | (32,006,000 | ) |  |  | (31,356,000 | )
Net deferred tax assets |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. We established a 100% valuation allowance due to the uncertainty of realizing future tax benefits from its net operating loss carryforwards and other deferred tax assets. At December 31, 2014, we had useable net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $75.2 million for federal and $73.1 million for state income tax purposes available to offset future taxable income expiring through 2033 for both federal and California. At December 31, 2014, we had useable R & D credits of approximately $361,000 for federal and $231,000 for California. The federal credits expire through 2032 and the state credits have no expiration. The net change in the valuation allowance during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was an increase of approximately $650,000 and $1.1 million, respectively, primarily due to current year losses. Internal Revenue Code Section 382 places a limitation (the "Section 382 Limitation") on the amount of taxable income, which can be offset by net operating loss carryforwards after a change in control (generally greater than a 50% change in ownership) of a loss corporation. Generally, after a control change, a loss corporation cannot deduct operating loss carryforwards in excess of the Section 382 Limitation. Due to these "change in ownership" provisions, utilization of the net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards may be subject to an annual limitation regarding their utilization against taxable income in future periods. The company has not concluded its analysis of Section 382 through December 31, 2014 but believes that these provisions will not limit the availability of losses to offset future income. On January 1, 2007, the Company adopted ASC Topic 740—Income Taxes (“ASC 740”) FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”). Due to net operating loss and research credit carryforwards, substantially all of the Company’s tax years remain open to U.S. federal and state tax examinations. The Company classifies interest and penalties recognized pursuant to Interpretation 48 as part of income tax expense. No interest or penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits have been accrued for the year ended December 31, 2014. The aggregate changes in the balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits were as follows (in thousands):
|  | 2014 |  |  | 2013 |
Balance, beginning of year |  | $ | 147,000 |  |  | $ | 140,000 |
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Additions for tax positions related to prior years |  |  | — |  |  |  | 7,000 |
Reductions for tax positions related to prior years |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Balance, end of year |  | $ | 147,000 |  |  | $ | 147,000 |
In the event that any unrecognized tax benefits are recognized, the effective tax rate will be affected. Approximately $128,000 and $128,000 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits would impact the effective rate, if recognized.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32639-109319 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Article 4 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration