NOTE 11 – INCOME TAXES

The Company recorded no income tax expense. The principal difference between the statutory tax rate of 34% and the Company’s effective tax rate is due to the Company permanent differences related to stock-based compensation and its change in valuation allowance.

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets are as follows (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2014			2013
Assets:
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards	$	90,921		$	81,944
Research and development tax credit carryforwards		8,646			7,996
Stock-based compensation		8,171			7,927
Deferred revenue		2,690			3,563
Other		2,471			1,677
Total deferred tax asset		112,899			103,107
Valuation allowance		(112,899	)		(103,107	)
Net deferred tax assets	$	—		$	—
Liabilities:
Net deferred tax liability related to intangible assets		(748	)		(748	)
Total deferred tax liability	$	(748	)	$	(748	)

As part of accounting for the acquisition of Ceregene, the Company recorded goodwill and intangible assets. The intangible assets acquired are for the use in a particular research and development project IPR&D and are considered indefinite-lived assets. They will remain indefinite lived until the completion or abandonment of the associated research and development efforts. Since the intangible assets acquired have no tax basis, a deferred tax liability was established due to the difference between the book and tax bases for those assets. The indefinite-lived asset is not treated as a future source of income and, therefore, no valuation allowance is released until the assets are amortized or abandoned,

Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon future earnings, if any, the timing and amount of which are uncertain. Accordingly, the net deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance. The valuation allowance increased by $9.8 million, $14.9 million and $5.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, Sangamo had net operating loss carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $330.9 million and $278.1 million, respectively. If not utilized, the net federal and state operating loss carryforwards will start to expire in 2018 and 2015 respectively. The Company also has federal and state research tax credit carryforwards of $6.7 million and $7.0 million, respectively. The federal research credits will begin to expire in 2018 while the state research credits have no expiration date. Utilization of the Company’s net operating loss carryforwards and research tax credit carryforwards may be subject to substantial annual limitations due to the ownership change limitations provided by the Internal Revenue Code and similar state provisions. The annual limitation could result in the expiration of the net operating loss carryforwards and research tax credit carryforwards before utilization.

The Company files federal and state income tax returns with varying statutes of limitations. The tax years from 2000 forward remain open to examination due to the carryover of net operating losses or tax credits. The Company also files a UK income tax return, and the tax years from 2008 and thereafter remain open to examination.

The Company’s practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had no accrued interest and/or penalties. The unrecognized tax benefits may change during the next year for items that arise in the ordinary course of business. In the event that any unrecognized tax benefits are recognized, the effective tax rate will not be affected.

The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2014		2013		2012
Beginning balance	$	3,182	$	2,735	$	2,750
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		228		294		153
Additions for tax positions of prior years		28		153		59
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		—		—		(227	)
Ending balance	$	3,438	$	3,182	$	2,735