NOTE 5 - INCOME TAXES
The effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:
| 2017 | 2016 | ||
| Federal statutory income tax rate on net income (loss) | (35.0%) | 35.0% | |
| Change in valuation allowance | (35.5%) | (35.0%) | |
| Tax rate change | 70.5% |
| -- |
| Effective tax rate | -- | -- |
The components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:
| 2017 | 2016 | |||||
| Deferred tax assets: | ||||||
| Federal and state net operating loss carryovers | $ | 1,389,902 | $ | 2,006,173 | ||
| Mineral property | 42,983 | 90,368 | ||||
| Stock compensation | 152,060 | 27,316 | ||||
| Accrued expenses | 31,500 | 35,000 | ||||
| Total deferred tax asset | $ | 1,616,444 | $ | 2,158,857 | ||
| Net deferred tax asset | 1,616,444 | 2,158,857 | ||||
| Less: valuation allowance | (1,616,444) | (2,158,857) | ||||
| Deferred tax asset | $ | -0- | $ | -0- | ||
The Company has approximately a $6,600,000 net operating loss carryover as of December 31, 2017. The net operating loss may offset against taxable income through the year ended December 31, 2037. A portion of the net operating loss carryover begins expiring in 2030 through 2037 and may be subject to U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 382 limitations.
The Company has provided a valuation allowance for the deferred tax asset as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, as the likelihood of the realization of the tax benefits cannot be determined. The valuation allowance decreased by $542,412 and by $593,319 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
The Company and our subsidiaries file annual US Federal income tax returns and annual income tax returns for the states of Arizona and Colorado. Income taxing authorities have conducted no formal examinations of our past Federal or state income tax returns and supporting records.
On December 22, 2017, "H.R.1", known as the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act", was signed into law in the United States. Among other items, H.R.1 reduces the federal corporate tax rate to 21% from the existing maximum rate of 35%, effective January 1, 2018. As a result, the Company revalued its net deferred tax asset at the new lower tax rate. The Company has reduced the value of the deferred tax asset before valuation allowance by $1,077,629.