The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  Valuation allowances are recorded, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. 

As a result of the implementation of certain provisions of ASC 740, Income Taxes, which clarifies the accounting and disclosure for uncertainty in tax positions, the Company has analyzed filing positions in each of the federal and state jurisdictions where required to file income tax returns, as well as all open tax years in these jurisdictions.  We have identified U.S. Federal and California as our major tax jurisdictions.  Generally, we remain subject to Internal Revenue Service examination of our 2014 through 2016 U.S. federal income tax returns, and remain subject to California Franchise Tax Board examination of our 2013 through 2016 California Franchise Tax Returns.  We have certain tax attribute carryforwards which will remain subject to review and adjustment by the relevant tax authorities until the statute of limitations closes with respect to the year in which such attributes are utilized. 

We believe that our income tax filing positions and deductions will be sustained on audit and do not anticipate any adjustments that will result in a material change to our financial position.  Therefore, no reserves for uncertain income tax positions have been recorded pursuant to ASC 740.  Our policy for recording interest and penalties associated with income-based tax audits is to record such items as a component of income taxes. 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Act) was enacted on December 22, 2017. The Act reduces the US Federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. The Company’s Federal net deferred tax assets currently are in a full valuation allowance position and will continue to be in a full valuation allowance position, therefore the rate reduction does not affect the net deferred Federal tax asset balance. Additionally, for the Company’s state net deferred tax asset balance, the state deferred rate has been determined at the full amount without a reduction for the Federal benefit (no benefit recognized in a full valuation allowance), and therefore the state deferred rate and net deferred tax asset balances would not change with the reduction in the Federal tax rate. 

Deferred taxes have been recorded on a net basis in the accompanying balance sheet. The Act reduces the U.S. statutory tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recorded a $6.2 million tax expense representing the detriment of remeasuring its U.S. deferred tax assets at the lower 21% statutory tax rate, as well as a corresponding full valuation allowance for the same amount resulting in no impact to our Statement of Operations. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had gross Federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $51.4 million or $10.8 million tax effected and State gross net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $33.5 million or $2.0 million tax effected, both tax effected. Both the Federal and State net operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire in 2022 and 2018 respectively. Our ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards may be limited in the event that a change in ownership, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, occurs in the future. 

The Company has placed a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets in excess of deferred tax liabilities due to the uncertainty surrounding the realization of such excess tax assets. Management periodically evaluates the recoverability of the deferred tax assets and the level of the valuation allowance. At such time as it is determined that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets are realizable, the valuation allowance will be reduced accordingly.