Entity information:

10. INCOME TAXES

Income before taxes and the benefit from income taxes for the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Income before income taxes

 

$

3,249

 

 

$

4,710

 

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

 

(120

)

 

 

(136

)

State

 

 

178

 

 

 

671

 

Total current provision for income taxes

 

 

58

 

 

 

535

 

Deferred:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

 

(12,263

)

 

 

(6,331

)

State

 

 

(219

)

 

 

(419

)

Total deferred benefit from income taxes

 

 

(12,482

)

 

 

(6,750

)

Total benefit from income taxes

 

$

(12,424

)

 

$

(6,215

)

Effective tax rate

 

 

(382.39

)%

 

 

(131.95

)%

 

The difference between the tax provision at the statutory federal income tax rate and the benefit from income tax as a percentage of income before income taxes (effective tax rate) for the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Statutory federal income tax rate

 

 

35.00

%

 

 

35.00

%

Increase (reduction) in rate resulting from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State tax, net of federal benefit

 

 

16.18

 

 

 

14.66

 

Permanent differences

 

 

(6.80

)

 

 

2.77

 

Change in valuation allowance and other

 

 

(426.77

)

 

 

(184.38

)

Effective tax rate

 

 

(382.39

)%

 

 

(131.95

)%

 

 

Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss carryforward

 

$

53,996

 

 

$

55,759

 

Accrued expenses and other

 

 

2,475

 

 

 

2,166

 

Other (WOTC and AMT credit carryforward)

 

 

1,956

 

 

 

2,371

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

1,463

 

 

 

65

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

326

 

 

 

440

 

Gross deferred tax assets

 

 

60,216

 

 

 

60,801

 

Less: valuation allowance

 

 

(30,691

)

 

 

(42,447

)

Net deferred tax assets

 

 

29,525

 

 

 

18,354

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets

 

 

(10,375

)

 

 

(11,517

)

Land and depreciable assets

 

 

(7,221

)

 

 

(7,314

)

Prepaid expenses

 

 

(877

)

 

 

(953

)

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

 

(18,473

)

 

 

(19,784

)

Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)

 

$

11,052

 

 

$

(1,430

)

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are included in the financial statements at currently enacted income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets or liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through the provision for income taxes.

 

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various states. The years still open to audit under the applicable statutes of limitations are June 30, 2015, through June 30, 2017, for federal and June 30, 2014, through June 30, 2017, for state.  Tax years ending June 30, 2002 through June 30, 2009 generated a net operating loss carry forward and remain subject to examination.  The amount of any tax assessments and penalties may be material and may negatively impact the Company’s operations. Given the uncertainty in the amount and the difficulty in estimating the probability of the assessments arising from future tax examinations, the Company has not made any accruals for such tax contingencies.  No tax returns are currently under examination by any tax authorities.

 

As of September 30, 2017, the Company’s deferred tax assets were primarily the result of U.S. net operating losses carryforwards. As of each reporting date, the Company’s management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact management’s view with regard to future realization of deferred tax assets. As of September 30, 2017, management determined that sufficient positive evidence, which includes consistent profitability over the past three years and continued taxable income projection, exists as of September 30, 2017, to conclude that it is more likely than not that additional deferred tax assets are realizable and, therefore, reduced the valuation allowance by $11.8 million to $30.7 million at September 30, 2017 from $42.4 million at September 30, 2016.

 

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. At September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company does not have a liability for uncertain tax positions. The Company does not anticipate that there will be a material change of unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months.

 

At September 30, 2017, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of approximately $154.3 million that begin expiring in 2022. In addition, the use of this net operating loss in future years may be restricted under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code due to a potential change of ownership.