NOTE 11: INCOME TAX

Income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 is summarized as follows.

The following is a reconciliation of the provision for income taxes at the U.S. federal income tax rate to the income taxes reflected in the Statement of Operations:

The tax effects of temporary differences that gave rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

Deferred income taxes are provided for the tax effects of transactions reported in the financial statements and consist of deferred taxes related primarily to differences between the bases of certain assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting. The deferred taxes represent the future tax return consequences of those differences, which will either be deductible or taxable when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) was enacted on December 22, 2017 and reduced the U. S. federal corporate income tax rate to 21.00% effective January 1, 2018. As such the Company recorded a decrease in deferred tax assets and valuation allowance of $1,205,334 during the year ended December 31, 2017.

The staff of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has recognized the complexity of reflecting the impacts of the TCJA, and on December 22, 2017 issued guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 (“SAB 118”) which clarifies accounting for income taxes under ASC 740 if information is not yet available or complete and provides for up to a one year period in which to complete the required analyses and accounting (the measurement period). SAB 118 describes three scenarios (or “buckets”) associated with a company’s status of accounting for income tax reform: (1) a company is complete with its accounting for certain effects of tax reform, (2) a company is able to determine a reasonable estimate for certain effects of tax reform and records that estimate as a provisional amount, or (3) a company is not able to determine a reasonable estimate and therefore continues to apply ASC 740, based on the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately prior to the TCJA being enacted. The Company has completed the required analysis and accounting for substantially all the effects of the TCJA’s enactment and have made a reasonable estimate as to the other effects and have reflected the measurement and accounting of the effects in the 2017 financial statements. In accordance with SAB 118, adjustments, if any, to any provisional amounts will be recorded in 2018. The Company did not identify any effects related to the TCJA for which they were not able to either complete the required analysis or make a reasonable estimate. The Company has completed the assessment of the income tax effect of the Tax Act and there were no adjustments recorded to the provisional amounts.

Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 382”), imposes limitations on a corporation’s ability to utilize its Net Operating Losses ( “NOLs”), if it experiences an “ownership change.” In general terms, an ownership change may result from transactions increasing the ownership percentage of certain stockholders in the stock of the corporation by more than 50% over a three-year period. In the event of an ownership change, utilization of the NOLs would be subject to an annual limitation under Section 382 determined by multiplying the value of the Company’s stock at the time of the ownership change by the applicable long-term tax-exempt rate. The Company has not completed a Section 382 study at this time; however, should a study be completed certain NOLs may be subject to such limitations. Any future annual limitation may result in the expiration of NOLs before utilization.

At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had net operating losses of approximately $22,500,000 and $18,500,000, respectively, for U.S. federal and California income tax purposes available to offset future taxable income, expiring on various dates through 2037. Federal losses generated in 2018 and onward do not expire. The Company has recorded a 100% valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty of its realization. The net change in the valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was an increase of $3,624,650 and $1,027,608, respectively.

In the ordinary course of business, the Company’s income tax returns are subject to examination by various taxing authorities. Such examinations may result in future tax and interest assessment by these taxing authorities. Accordingly, the Company believes that it is more likely than not that it will realize the benefits of tax positions it has taken in its tax returns or for the amount of any tax benefit that exceeds the cumulative probability threshold in accordance with FASB ASC 740. Differences between the estimated and actual amounts determined upon ultimate resolution, individually or in the aggregate, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the company’s financial position. The Company believes its tax positions are all highly certain of being upheld upon examination. As such, the Company has not recorded a liability for unrecognized tax benefits. The Company is no longer subject to the U.S. federal and state income tax examination to the extent they are carried forward and impact a year that is open to examination by the authorities.