XML 24 R13.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.7.0.1
Income taxes
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income taxes

7. Income taxes

The Company is subject to federal and state income taxes in the United States. Our tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of our annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items arising in that quarter. In each quarter, we update our estimate of the annual effective tax rate, and if our estimated annual tax rate changes, we make a cumulative adjustment in that quarter. 

The Company’s effective income tax rate differed from the statutory federal income tax rate of 34% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, the effective income tax rate was 0%, and the difference is mainly the result of the full valuation allowance applied against the Company’s deferred tax assets and state income taxes. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, the effective income tax rate was 33%, and this difference is primarily due to state income taxes and nondeductible expenses.

The Company assesses its income tax positions and records tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon its evaluation of the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting date. For those tax positions where it is more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, the Company has recorded the largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where it is not more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the Company’s financial statements.

The balance of unrecognized tax benefits as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was $1,668. In our tax return filed for the year ended December 31, 2015, a loss of $4,375, resulting from the disposal of all assets and liabilities related to our Chinese and British Virgin Islands based subsidiaries (collectively, the “Advertising Business”) in 2015, was included. This uncertain tax position of $1,668 is reflected as a reduction in deferred tax assets. Based on management’s assessment, no tax benefit has been recognized for the loss mentioned above. This unrecognized tax benefit, if recognized, would favorably affect the Company’s annual effective tax rate before application of any valuation allowance. The Company has not accrued any interest or penalties as of June 30, 2017 with respect to its uncertain tax positions.

The Company does not anticipate a significant increase or reduction in unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months.