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INCOME TAXES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] |
INCOME TAXES | We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. In determining the need for a valuation allowance, management reviews both positive and negative evidence, including current and historical results of operations, future income projections and the overall prospects of our business. Based upon management's assessment of all available evidence, we believe that it is more-likely-than-not that the deferred tax assets will not be realizable, and therefore, a valuation allowance has been established. The valuation allowance for deferred tax assets was approximately $142,947,000 and $99,713,000 as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. On December 22, 2017, H.R.1, commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was signed into law. Among other things, the Act reduced our corporate federal tax rate from 34% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. As a result, we were required to re-measure, through income tax expense, our deferred tax assets and liabilities using the enacted rate at which we expect them to be recovered or settled. The re-measurement of our net deferred tax asset would have resulted in additional income tax expense of $51,767,584 as of December 31, 2017; however, with full valuation allowance in place, the expense was reversed through a corresponding adjustment to the valuation allowance, resulting in no impact on income tax expense. As of December 31, 2018, we have U.S. net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) of approximately $550,619,000 and research and development credit carryforwards (“R&D credits”) of approximately $15,217,000. For income tax purposes, these NOLs and R&D credits will expire in various amounts through 2037. NOLs generated after 2017 do not expire. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 contains provisions which limit the ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards and R&D credit carryforwards in the case of certain events including significant changes in ownership interests. The Exchange Transaction with TG Bio may have resulted in a “change in ownership” as defined by IRC Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Additionally, stock issuance activities may have resulted in a “change in ownership” as defined by IRC Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Accordingly, a substantial portion of the Company’s NOLs above may be subject to annual limitations in reducing any future year’s taxable income, and a substantial portion of the R&D Credit carryforwards may be subject to annual limitations in reducing any future year’s tax. The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 2018 and 2017 are presented below.
(in thousands) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |
Deferred tax assets (liabilities): |  |  |  |  |  |
Net operating loss carryforwards |  | $ | 122,678 |  |  | $ | 83,656 |
Research and development credits |  |  | 15,217 |  |  |  | 10,491 |
Noncash compensation |  |  | 4,394 |  |  |  | 4,934 |
Other |  |  | 658 |  |  |  | 632 |
Deferred tax assets, excluding valuation allowance |  |  | 142,947 |  |  |  | 99,713 |
Less valuation allowance |  |  | (142,947 | ) |  |  | (99,713 | )
Net deferred tax assets |  | $ | -- |  |  | $ | -- |
There was no current or deferred income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. Income tax expense differed from amounts computed by applying the US Federal income tax rate of 21% for the year ending December 31, 2018 and 34% for the years ending December 31, 2017 and 2016 to pretax loss as follows:
|  | For the year ended December 31, |
(in thousands) |  | 2018 |  |  | 2017 |  |  | 2016 |
Loss before income taxes, as reported in the consolidated statements of operations |  | $ | (173,482 | ) |  | $ | (118,476 | ) |  | $ | (78,253 | )
Computed “expected” tax benefit |  | $ | (36,431 | ) |  | $ | (40,282 | ) |  | $ | (26,606 | )
Increase (decrease) in income taxes resulting from: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expected benefit from state and local taxes |  |  | (2,243 | ) |  |  | (1,106 | ) |  |  | (835 | )
Research and development credits |  |  | (4,726 | ) |  |  | (3,697 | ) |  |  | (2,364 | )
Other |  |  | 639 |  |  |  | 1,563 |  |  |  | (8 | )
Stock awards |  |  | (473 | ) |  |  | 8,213 |  |  |  | -- |
Enactment of federal tax reform |  |  | -- |  |  |  | 51,768 |  |  |  | -- |
Change in the balance of the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets |  |  | 43,234 |  |  |  | (16,459 | ) |  |  | 29,813 |
|  | $ | -- |  |  | $ | -- |  |  | $ | -- |
We file income tax returns in the U.S Federal and various state and local jurisdictions. With certain exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal and state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2015. However, NOLs and tax credits generated from those prior years could still be adjusted upon audit. The Company would recognize interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax position in income tax expense in the statement of operations. There was no accrual for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions for 2018. We do not believe that there will be a material change in our unrecognized tax positions over the next twelve months. All of the unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would be offset by the valuation allowance.

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- 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://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2144680 + Details
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