Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Taxes

v3.22.4
Income Taxes
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
Income Taxes  
Income Taxes

14. Income Taxes

The Company has accumulated net losses since inception and has not recorded an income tax provision or benefit for the United States (U.S.) federal and state income taxes during the years ended September 30, 2022 and 2021. The components of the income tax benefits, net are as follows:

For the Year Ended

September 30, 

    

2022

    

2021

Federal

 

  

 

  

Current

$

$

Deferred

 

(6,780,606)

 

(7,919,279)

State and Local

 

 

Current

 

 

Deferred

 

(2,746,540)

 

(3,015,187)

Change in valuation allowance

 

9,527,146

 

10,934,466

Income tax provision (benefit)

$

$

A reconciliation of income taxes at the statutory federal income tax rate to net income taxes included in the consolidated statements of operations is as follows:

For the Year Ended September 30, 

 

    

2022

    

2021

 

U.S. federal income tax expense at the statutory rate

(21.0)

%  

(21.0)

%

State income taxes, net of federal taxes

(7.7)

(7.9)

Stock-based compensation

 

1.0

 

1.2

Return to provision adjustment

 

(0.5)

 

(14.2)

Other permanent items

 

 

(1.1)

Change in valuation allowance

 

28.2

 

43.0

Income tax provision (benefit)

 

%  

%

The components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities are:

    

September 30, 

2022

    

2021

Deferred tax assets

Net operating loss carryforwards

$

22,461,508

$

13,254,067

Stock-based compensation

 

4,072,264

 

3,779,555

Amortization

 

2,277,085

 

2,643,500

Service Warrant

180,276

147,168

Investment

263,073

141,098

Other

50,979

Lease liability

1,715,159

66,982

Total deferred tax assets

 

31,020,344

 

20,032,370

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

  

Depreciation

 

(158,317)

 

(127,449)

ROU assets

(1,635,483)

Prepaid expenses

 

 

(205,523)

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

(1,793,800)

 

(332,972)

Valuation allowance

 

(29,226,544)

 

(19,699,398)

Net deferred tax assets, net of allowances

$

$

As of each reporting date, the Company considers existing evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact its view with regard to future realization of deferred tax assets. The Company believes that it is more likely than not that the benefit for deferred tax assets

will not be realized. In recognition of this uncertainty, a full valuation allowance was applied to the deferred tax assets. The Company did not record a tax provision for the years ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021 due to the Company’s estimate that the effective tax rate for each year is 0%.

Future realization depends on the Company’s future earnings, if any, the timing and amount of which are uncertain as of September 30, 2022. In the future, should management conclude that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets are partially or fully realizable, the valuation allowance would be reduced to the extent of such expected realization and the amount would be recognized as a deferred income tax benefit in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

As of September 30, 2022, the Company had available federal and state total net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $77.1 million. Federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $77.1 million carryforward indefinitely. State operating loss carryforwards of approximately $77.1 million begin to expire in 2024.

Pursuant to Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Company’s federal and state net operating loss carryforwards may be limited in the event a cumulative change in ownership of more than 50% occurs within a three-year period. The Company has not completed a Section 382 analysis regarding the limitation of net operating loss carryforwards. There is a risk that changes in ownership have occurred since the Company’s formation. If a change in ownership were to have occurred, the NOL carryforwards could be limited or restricted. If limited, the related asset would be removed from the deferred tax asset schedule with a corresponding reduction in the valuation allowance. Due to the existence of the valuation allowance, limitations created by future ownership changes, if any, related to the Company’s operations will not impact the Company’s effective tax rate.

There are open statutes of limitations whereby our US Federal and state tax returns from inception of the Company are subject to audit by the respective taxing authorities in these jurisdictions for taxing authorities in federal and state jurisdictions to audit our tax returns from inception of the Company. There have been no material income tax-related interest or penalties assessed or recorded.

No liability for uncertain tax positions or related interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions is reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”), which was signed into law in August 2022, includes several provisions that are specifically applicable to corporations. Among other changes, it created a new corporate alternative minimum tax based on adjusted financial statement income and imposes a 1% excise tax on corporate stock repurchases. The effective date of these provisions is January 1, 2023. The Company does not expect the enactment of the IRA will have an impact on its consolidated financial statements.