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Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
H) Income TaxesIncome tax expense was $0.5 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Income tax expense was $0.7 and $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Income tax expense in the three and nine month periods of 2017 and 2016 was based on the U.S. statutory rate of 34%, increased by state income taxes, and reduced by permanent adjustments and research tax credits.

 

In the nine month period ended September 30, 2016, we utilized deferred tax assets to reduce our tax liability payable to the government. A portion of the deferred tax assets we used comprised cumulative deductions for stock options in excess of book expense. Under income tax accounting rules at that time, that portion of tax benefits attributable to such deductions must be recorded as an adjustment to equity versus a reduction of income tax expense. The tax benefits from such stock-based awards were $0.7 million in the nine month period ended September 30, 2016. These tax benefits were recorded as an equity adjustment to additional paid-in capital.

 

For the nine month period ended September 30, 2017, we recognized all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as income tax expense or benefit as a discrete event.

 

As of September 30, 2017, we had a total of $5.6 million of deferred tax assets for which we had recorded no valuation allowance. We have assessed the need for a valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets.  Based on our assessment of future sources of income, including reversing deferred tax liabilities, and future earnings, we have determined that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized, and therefore there is no valuation allowance required for the deferred tax assets. We will continue to assess the level of valuation allowance in future periods. Should evidence regarding the realizability of tax assets change at a future point in time, the valuation allowance will be adjusted accordingly.

 

In the second quarter of 2017, the Internal Revenue Service commenced an examination of our tax return for the year ended December 31, 2015.