The Company does not have significant income tax expense or benefit for the year ended December 31, 2016 or 2015. Tax net operating loss carryforwards have resulted in a net deferred tax asset with a 100% valuation allowance applied against such asset at December 31, 2016 and 2015. Such tax net operating loss carryforwards (“NOL”) approximated $33.0 million at December 31, 2016. Some or all of such NOL may be limited by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and will begin to expire in the year 2032.

The provision for income taxes differs from the amounts which would be provided by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 34% to the net loss before provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:

The components of income tax expense (benefit) attributable to continuing operations are as follows: 

The income tax effect of temporary differences between financial and tax reporting and net operating loss carryforwards gives rise to a deferred tax asset at December 31, 2016 and 2015 as follows:

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become realizable. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based upon the history of the Company and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are realizable, management believes it is not more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of these deductible differences and therefore a full valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets has been established.

As a result of the merger with Bazi Intl. on October 15, 2012, the Company may have access to utilize a portion of the net operating loss carryforwards of Bazi Intl., which, in total, were approximately $25 million at the time of the merger. The Company is uncertain as to the portion of the Bazi net operating loss carryforwards that may be limited by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Tax Reform Act of 1986 contains provisions that limit the utilization of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards if there has been a change of ownership as described in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Such an analysis has not been performed by the Company to determine the impact of these provisions on the Company’s net operating losses, though management believes the impact would be minimal, if any. A limitation under these provisions would reduce the amount of losses available to offset future taxable income of the Company.

ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on income tax returns. ASC Topic 740 also provides guidance on de-recognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, and accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions.

Based on management’s assessment of ASC Topic 740, management concluded that the Company does not have any uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2016. There have been no income tax related interest or penalties assessed or recorded and if interest and penalties were to be assessed, the Company would charge interest and penalties to income tax expense. It is not anticipated that unrecognized tax benefits would significantly increase or decrease within 12 months of the reporting date.