11. Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for years in which differences are expected to reverse.

Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets for federal income taxes consisted of the following:

In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, management must determine that there will be sufficient taxable income to allow for the realization of deferred tax assets. Based upon the historical and anticipated future losses, management has determined that the deferred tax assets do not meet the more likely than not threshold for realizability. Accordingly, a full valuation allowance has been recorded against the Company’s net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. The valuation allowance increased by $5.7 million and $3.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company does not have unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2021 or 2020. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.

The Company had net operating loss carryforwards (“NOL”) for federal and state income tax purposes at December 31, 2021 and 2020 of approximately:

The net operating loss carryforwards generated prior to 2018 begin expiring in 2033 for federal and 2030 for state income tax purposes. Federal and many state net operating losses generated in 2018 and into the future now have an indefinite life.

The credit carryforwards begin expiring in 2038 for federal tax purposes. The company’s state credits can be carried forward indefinitely.

The NOL and tax credit carryforwards are subject to review and possible adjustment by the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities. NOL and tax credit carryforwards may become subject to an annual limitation in the event of certain cumulative changes in the ownership interest of significant stockholders over a three-year period in excess of 50%, as defined under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code, respectively, as well as similar state provisions. This could limit the amount of tax attributes that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income or tax liabilities. The amount of the annual limitation is determined based on the value of the Company immediately prior to the ownership change. Subsequent ownership changes may further affect the limitation in future years. To date, the Company has not performed an analysis to determine whether or not ownership changes have occurred since inception.

A reconciliation of income tax benefit at the statutory federal income tax rate and income taxes as reflected in the consolidated financial statements is as follows:

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company’s 2018 to 2020 tax years remain open and subject to examination; carryforward amounts from all tax years remain subject to adjustment.