18. Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of (a) temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, and (b) operating losses and tax credit carryforwards.

The components of the income tax provision (benefit) are as follows:

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For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, income tax expense was $0.1 million and nil, respectively, resulting in an effective income tax rate of 0.13% and 0%. The increase in income tax expense in 2020 is due to additional state tax return filings.

The Company has incurred net operating losses since inception. The Company has not reflected any benefit of such net operating loss carryforwards (“NOL”) in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and has established a valuation allowance of $203.9 million against its net deferred tax assets. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of (a) temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, and (b) operating losses and tax credit carryforwards.

The significant components of the Company’s deferred taxes consist of the following:

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A reconciliation of the statutory tax rates and the effective tax rates is as follows:

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The Company files a consolidated income tax return with subsidiaries for which the Company has an 80% or greater ownership interest. subsidiaries for which the Company does not have an 80% or more ownership are not included in the Company’s consolidated income tax group and file their own separate income tax return. As a result, certain corporate entities included in these financial statements are not able to combine or offset their taxable income or losses with other entities’ tax attributes.

ASC 740 requires a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax assets reported if, based on the weight of all positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Realization of the deferred tax assets is substantially dependent on the Company’s ability to generate sufficient taxable income within certain future periods. Management has considered the Company’s history of cumulative tax and book losses incurred since inception, and the other positive and negative evidence, and has concluded that it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize the benefits of the net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. Accordingly, a full valuation allowance has been established against the net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. The valuation allowance increased by a net $35.7 million during the current year.

The Company has incurred net operating losses (“NOLs”) since inception. At December 31, 2020, the Company had federal NOLs of $525.7 million, which will begin to expire in the year 2026, state NOLs of $648.2 million, which will begin to expire in 2022, and federal income tax credits of $15.4 million and state income tax credits of $1.2 million, which will begin to expire in 2028. Approximately $284.8 million of the federal NOLs and $4.5 million of the state NOLs can be carried forward indefinitely. Under the provisions of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, a corporation that undergoes an “ownership change”, as defined therein, is subject to limiatations on its use of pre-change NOLs and income tax credits carryforwards to offset future tax liabilities. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of Section 382 on its tax attributes. The Company has recorded a full valuation allowance on all of its deferred tax assets as it believes that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized regardless of whether an “ownership change” has occurred.

As of December 31, 2020, th Company had no unrecognized tax benefits and does not anticipate any significant change to the unrecognized tax benefit balance.  The Company would classify interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense, if applicable. There was no interest expense or penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits recorded through December 31, 2020. The NOLs from tax years 2008 through 2019 remain open to examination (and adjustment)  by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities. In addition, federal tax years ending December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 are open for assessment of federal taxes. The expiration of the statute of limitations related to the various state income and franchise tax returns varies by state.

In January 2019, in connection with the Alexion DOSPA, the Company ceased to consolidate Caelum (see Note 4).  As a result of the deconsolidation of Caelum, the Company has eliminated Caelum’s deferred tax assets and the valuation allowance for a net tax expense charge or benefit of zero for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act")

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act") was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act, among other things, includes tax provisions relating to refundable payroll tax credits, deferment of employer's social security payments, net operating loss utilization and carryback periods and modifications to the net interest deduction limitations. The CARES Act did not have a material impact on the Company’s income tax provision for 2020. The Company will continue to evaluate the impact of the CARES Act on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.  

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On December 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (“Consolidated Appropriations Act”) into law. The Consolidated Appropriations Act is intended to enhance and expand certain provisions of the CARES Act, allows for the deductions of expenses related to the Paycheck Protection Program funds received by companies, and provides an update to meals and entertainment expensing for 2021. The Consolidated Appropriations Act did not have a material impact to the Company’s income tax provision for 2020.

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