NOTE 7—TAXES
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
| 2017 | 2016 | |||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | $ | (2,037,615 | ) | $ | (2,641,625 | ) | ||
| Income tax expense (benefit) computed at statutory rates | $ | (713,165 | ) | $ | (924,569 | ) | ||
| Permanent differences, nondeductible expenses | 5,371 | 514 | ||||||
| Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance | (7,283,514 | ) | 874,987 | |||||
| Other adjustment | 44,279 | 49,068 | ||||||
| Federal tax rate change | 7,947,029 | — | ||||||
| Tax provision | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
| Total provision | ||||||||
| Foreign | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
| Total provision (benefit) | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
At December 31, 2017 the Company has a federal tax loss carry forward of $53,001,669 and a foreign tax credit carry forward of $505,745, both of which have been fully reserved.
The tax effects of the temporary differences between financial statement income and taxable income are recognized as a deferred tax asset and liabilities. Significant components of the deferred tax asset and liability as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 are set out below.
| 2017 | 2016 | |||||||
| Non-Current Deferred tax assets: | ||||||||
| Net operating loss carry forward | $ | 11,130,350 | $ | 16,872,064 | ||||
| Foreign tax credit carry forward | 505,745 | 505,745 | ||||||
| Deferred state tax | 13,966 | 23,277 | ||||||
| Stock compensation | 1,891,857 | 3,090,907 | ||||||
| Book in excess of tax depreciation, depletion and capitalization methods on oil and gas properties | (919,070 | ) | (454,590 | ) | ||||
| Other | (196,560 | ) | (327,600 | ) | ||||
| Colombia future tax obligations | — | — | ||||||
| Total Non-Current Deferred tax assets | 12,426,288 | 19,709,803 | ||||||
| Valuation Allowance | (12,426,288 | ) | (19,709,803 | ) | ||||
| Net deferred tax asset | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
Foreign Income Taxes
The Company owns direct ownership in several properties in Colombia operated by Hupecol. Colombia’s current income tax rate is 25%. During 2017 and 2016, we recorded no foreign tax expense.
Effect of New Federal Tax Reform Legislation
On December 22, 2017, new federal tax reform legislation was enacted in the United States (the “2017 Tax Act”), resulting in significant changes from previous tax law. The 2017 Tax Act reduces the federal corporate income tax rate to 21% from 35% effective January 1, 2018. The rate change, along with certain immaterial changes in tax basis resulting from the 2017 Tax Act, resulted in a reduction of the Company’s deferred tax assets of $7,947,029 and a corresponding reduction in the valuation allowance.