Note 8 - Income tax provision

The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2017 and 2016 consists of the following (in thousands):

	2017		2016
Current:
Federal	$	400	$	(332)
State		24		(13)
		424		(345)

Deferred:
Federal		(293)		(179)
State		3		(128)
		(290)		(307)

	$	134	$	(652)

Income tax at the federal statutory rate is reconciled to the Company’s actual net provision (benefit) for income taxes as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

	2017					2016
			% of Pretax					% of Pretax
	Amount		Income			Amount		Income

Income taxes at federal statutory rate	$	136		34.0	%	$	(1,592)		34.0	%
State tax provision, net of federal tax benefit		16		4.0	%		(53)		1.1	%
Nondeductible differences:
Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment		-		0.0	%		916		-19.6	%
Rel-Tech earn-out		(9)		-2.3	%		52		-1.1	%
Qualified domestic production activities deduction		(66)		-16.5	%		46		-1.0	%
ISO stock options		33		8.3	%		52		-1.1	%
Meals and entertainment		21		5.3	%		29		-0.6	%
Temporary true-ups		26		6.4	%		-		0.0	%
State tax refunds, net of federal expense		(4)		-0.8	%		(38)		0.8	%
R&D credits		(37)		-9.3	%		(46)		1.0	%
Other		18		4.4	%		(18)		0.4	%
	$	134		33.5	%	$	(652)		13.9	%

The Company’s total deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at October 31, 2017 and 2016 are as follows (in thousands):

	2017		2016

Deferred Tax Assets:
Reserves	$	375	$	216
Accrued vacation		122		134
Stock-based compensation awards		184		159
Uniform capitalization		130		148
Other		70		43
Total deferred tax assets		881		700

Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Amortization / intangible assets		(805)		(864)
Depreciation / equipment and furnishings		(195)		(211)
Other		-		(34)
Total deferred tax liabilities		(1,000)		(1,109)

Total net deferred tax assets (liabilities)	$	(119)	$	(409)

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recorded for differences between the financial statement and tax basis of the assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The Company has evaluated the available evidence supporting the realization of its gross deferred tax assets, including the amount and timing of future taxable income, and has determined it is more likely than not that the assets will be realized in future tax years.

The Company had adopted the provisions of ASC 740-10, which clarifies the accounting for uncertain tax positions. ASC 740-10 requires that the Company recognize the impact of a tax position in the financial statements if the position is not more likely than not to be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the position. The Company’s practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income from continuing operations. The Company has no material unrecognized tax benefits as of October 31, 2017.

The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and state jurisdictions. The Company’s tax years for October 31, 2014 and forward are subject to examination by the United States and October 31, 2013 and forward with state tax authorities.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was signed into United States tax law, which among other provisions will lower the corporate tax rate to 21%. Given this date of enactment, our

consolidated

financial statements

as of and

for the year ended October 31, 2017 do not reflect the impact of the Act. The Company is in the process of analyzing the potential aggregate impact of the Act and will reflect any such impact in the quarterly report for the period in which the law was enacted.