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Income Taxes
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Income Taxes  
Income Taxes

(10) Income Taxes

The federal and state provision (benefit) for income taxes was $0 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

A reconciliation of income tax provision (benefit) computed at the statutory federal income tax rate to income taxes as reflected in the financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:

Year Ended

 

December 31, 

 

    

2024

    

2023

 

Federal income tax benefit at statutory rate

 

21.0

%  

21.0

%

State and local tax, net of federal benefit

 

4.0

%  

3.1

%

State and local tax, change in rates

0.0

%

(3.5)

%

Permanent differences

 

(1.9)

%  

(0.4)

%

Research and development credit

4.3

%  

4.5

%

Stock-based compensation

0.0

%  

0.4

%

Change in fair value of warrants

1.5

%

(4.4)

%

Change in valuation allowance

 

(28.9)

%  

(20.7)

%

Effective income tax rate

 

0.0

%  

0.0

%

Deferred taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the basis of assets and liabilities for financial statement and income tax purposes. The significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets are comprised of the following:

As of December 31, 

    

2024

    

2023

Net operating loss carryforwards

$

13,634,896

$

9,607,158

Stock compensation

4,390,635

4,245,472

Capitalized R&D

 

1,137,406

 

1,334,494

Section 174

12,802,738

10,793,442

R&D credit carryforwards

 

5,198,123

 

4,132,475

Other

76,757

14,553

Total deferred tax assets

 

37,240,555

 

30,127,594

Less valuation allowance

 

(37,240,555)

 

(30,127,594)

Net deferred taxes

$

$

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had U.S. federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards of $54.1 million which may be available to offset future income tax liabilities. Federal NOL carryforwards generated in 2017 and prior of $2.8 million will expire beginning in 2032. The remaining federal NOL carryforwards generated in 2018 and later do not expire. As of December 31, 2024, the Company also had U.S. state NOL carryforwards of $56.6 million which may be available to offset future income tax liabilities and will expire beginning in 2028.

The Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 because the Company has determined that is it more likely than not that these assets will not be fully realized due to historic net operating losses incurred. The Company recorded a net change in valuation allowance of $7.1 million and $11.7 million in the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had federal research and development tax credit carryforwards of $5.2 million available to reduce future tax liabilities, which expire beginning in 2028.

Under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, the NOL and tax credit carryforwards are subject to review and possible adjustment by the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities. NOL and tax credit carryforwards may become subject to an annual limitation in the event of certain cumulative changes in the ownership interest of significant stockholders over a three-year period in excess of 50%, as defined under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code as well as similar state provisions. This could limit the amount of tax attributes that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income or tax liabilities. 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. The Company has completed financings since its inception which may have resulted in a change in control as defined by Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code, or could result in a change in control in the future.

The Company files tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by federal and state jurisdictions, where applicable. The Company’s tax years from 2021 to the present remain open for review. All open years may be examined to the extent that tax credits or NOL carryforwards are used in future periods. To the extent the Company utilizes any tax attributes from a tax period that may otherwise be closed due to statute expiration, the tax authorities may adjust the tax attributes upon their examination of the future period in which the attribute was utilized. The Company will recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had no accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions and no amounts have been recognized in the Company’s statements of operations.

Effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2021, taxpayers are required to capitalize any expenses incurred that are considered incidental to research and experimentation (R&E) activities under IRC Section 174. While taxpayers historically had the option of deducting these expenses under IRC Section 174, the December 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act mandates capitalization and amortization of R&E expenses for tax years beginning after December 31, 2021. Expenses incurred in connection with R&E activities in the US must be amortized over a 5-year period if incurred, and R&E expenses incurred outside the US must be amortized over a 15-year period. R&E activities are broader in scope than qualified research activities considered under IRC Section 41 (relating to the research tax credit). For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company performed an analysis based on available guidance and determined that it will continue to be in a loss position even after the required capitalization and amortization of its R&E expenses. The Company will continue to monitor this issue for future developments, but it does not expect R&E capitalization and amortization to require it to pay cash taxes now or in the near future.