v3.4.0.3
Note 6 - Income Taxes
12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements  
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]
6.
Income Taxes
 
Income tax expense on a consolidated basis consists of the following amounts (in thousands):
 
 
 
Years Ended January 31,
 
 
 
201
6
 
 
201
5
 
Federal:
               
Current
  $     $  
Deferred
           
State:
               
Current
    4       42  
Deferred
           
Foreign:
               
Current
           
    $ 4     $ 42  
 
 
The effective income tax rate on loss from continuing operations differs from the United States statutory income tax rates for the reasons set forth in the table below (in thousands, except percentages).
 
 
 
Years Ended January 31,
 
 
 
201
6
 
 
201
5
 
 
 
Amount
 
 
Percent
Pretax
Income
 
 
Amount
 
 
Percent
Pretax
Income
 
(Loss)/Income from operations before income taxes
  $ (1,346
)
    100
%
  $ 6,082       100
%
                                 
Computed “expected” income tax benefit on loss from operations before income taxes
  $ (538
)
    34
%
  $ 2,068       34
%
State tax, net of federal benefit
    (73
)
    6
%
    387       6
%
Tax credits
          0
%
          0
%
Change in valuation allowance
    626       (39
)%
    (569
)
    (9
)%
Permanent differences
    1       2
%
    118
)
    2
%
Return to provision adjustments
          0
%
          0
%
Change in state tax rate
          0
%
    (1,978
)
    (32
)%
Other, net
    (12 )     (1
)%
    16       0
%
Income tax expense
  $ 4       0
%
  $ 42       1
%
 
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities at January 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows (in thousands):
 
 
 
January 31,
 
 
 
201
6
 
 
201
5
 
Deferred tax assets:
               
Property and equipment, principally due to differing depreciation methods
    153       161  
Accruals and reserves
    145       206  
Net research and manufacturer investment credit carryforwards
    2,325       2,325  
Net operating losses
    13,832       13,151  
AMT credit carryforwards
    136       136  
Stock based compensation
    140       127  
Other
           
Total gross deferred tax assets
    16,731       16,106  
Less: valuation allowance
    (16,731
)
    (16,106
)
Net deferred tax assets
  $     $  
 
We have federal and state research and experimentation credit carryforwards of $1.7 million and $2.1 million, respectively, which expire through 2032. We have a net operating loss carryforward of $35.8 million for federal and $28.7 million for state, which expire in increments through 2033.
  
In assessing the probability that deferred tax assets will benefit future periods, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income. There was a full valuation allowance for deferred tax assets as of January 31, 2016, an increase of $0.6 million during the fiscal year, based on management’s overall assessment of risks and uncertainties related to our future ability to realize, and hence utilize, the deferred tax assets.
 
A reconciliation of the beginning balance of our unrecognized tax benefits and the ending amount of unrecognized tax benefit is as follows (in thousands):
 
 
 
 
Unrecognized
Tax Benefits
 
Balance at February 1, 2015
  $ 777  
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year
     
Reductions due to lapses of statute of limitations
    10  
Tax positions of prior years
     
Balance at January 31, 2016
  $ 767  
 
The unrecognized tax benefits recorded above, if reversed, would not impact our effective tax rate since we maintain a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax asset. We recognize interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits in the income tax expense line item of the consolidated statement of operations.
 
We and our subsidiary, CWT, file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and in certain state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to U.S. federal examinations or state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2010 in those jurisdictions where returns have been filed.