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Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Income Taxes
At December 31, 2020, Cardiff Oncology had federal net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) of approximately $128.9 million which, if not used, will continue to expire through 2037, and federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $48.4 million, which do not expire. Cardiff Oncology also has California NOLs of approximately $70.7 million which, if not used, will begin to expire in 2029. Cardiff Oncology has Federal and California capital loss carryforwards of $0.7 million which, if not used, will begin to expire in 2022. Cardiff Oncology also has research and development tax credits available for federal and California purposes of approximately $2.5 million and $1.8 million, respectively. The federal research and development tax credits will begin to expire on January 31, 2025. The California research and development tax credits do not expire.

Pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) Sections 382 and 383, annual use of a company’s NOL and research and development credit carryforwards may be limited if there is a cumulative change in ownership of greater than 50% within a three-year period. The amount of the annual limitation is determined based on the value of the Company immediately prior to the ownership change. Subsequent ownership changes may further affect the limitation in future years. If limited, the related tax asset would be removed from the deferred tax asset schedule with a corresponding reduction in the valuation allowance. The Company has not completed such an analysis pursuant to Sections 382 and 383 and therefore has established a valuation allowance as the realization of such deferred tax assets has not met the more likely than not threshold requirement. Due to the existence of the valuation allowance, further changes in the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits will not impact the Company’s effective tax rate.

The provision for income taxes based on losses from continuing operations consists of the following at December 31 (in thousands):

Years ended December 31,
20202019
Current:
  State$1 $1 
Total current provision
1 1 
Deferred:
  Federal(4,043)(2,634)
  State(92)(148)
Total deferred (benefit) expense (4,135)(2,782)
Valuation allowance4,134 2,781 
Total income tax provision$— $— 
Significant components of the Company’s taxes and the rates as of December 31 are shown below (in thousands, except percentages):
Years ended December 31,
20202019
Tax computed at the federal statutory rate$(4,054)21 %$(3,447)21 %
State tax, net of federal tax benefit(122)1 %(177)1 %
Permanent Items261 (1)%353 (2)%
Stock options true-up81 (1)%875 (5)%
Tax credits(300)2 %(384)2 %
Valuation allowance increase (decrease)4,134 (22)%2,780 (17)%
Provision for income taxes$— — %$— — %
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities from federal and state income taxes as of December 31 are shown below (in thousands):
 Years ended December 31,
 20202019
Deferred tax assets:  
Tax loss carryforwards$42,331 $38,494 
Research and development credits and other tax credits3,904 3,710 
Stock-based compensation684 531 
Other1,116 1,252 
Total deferred tax assets48,035 43,987 
Deferred tax liabilities:
Operating lease right-of-use assets(74)(154)
Other(6)(12)
Total deferred tax liabilities(80)(166)
Net deferred tax assets before valuation allowance47,955 43,821 
Valuation allowance(47,955)(43,821)
Net deferred tax asset$— $— 
Since inception the Company has incurred continuing losses and expects to continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future. The Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets as it is more likely than not they will not be realized.
Cardiff Oncology does not have any unrecognized tax benefits. Cardiff Oncology’s practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense, and none have been incurred to date. The Company does not anticipate a significant change in unrecognized tax benefits over the next 12 months. The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S. and California. Due to net operating losses all tax years since inception remain open to examination.