NOTE 13. INCOME TAXES

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company is subject to income taxes in certain foreign jurisdictions based on operations. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are created in this process. The Company has netted these deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities by jurisdiction. Deferred income tax assets are reviewed for recoverability and valuation allowances are provided when it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset is not realizable in the future.

Tax positions are recognized in the financial statements when it is more-likely-than-not that the position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had no uncertain tax positions that quality for either recognition or disclosure in the financial statements. The Company conducts its business globally. As a result, the Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions, and are subject to examination for the open tax years of 2008-2010.

The Company's foreign operations that are considered to be permanently reinvested have an effective tax rate of 24%.

The Company recognizes interest expense and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. No amounts were recorded related to interest expense and penalties related to income tax matters by the Company during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively, and for the Predecessor Company for the period from July 1, 2009 to May 28, 2010, and for the year ended June 30, 2009.

Consolidated income (losses) from continuing operations before income taxes consists of the following:

 

 

The following is a reconciliation of the normal expected statutory federal income tax rate to the effective rate reported in the Company's financial statements:

 

The Predecessor's effective tax rates varied from federal statutory rates primarily due to nondeductible items and statutory exclusions, such as a portion of the Predecessor's meals and entertainment expenses, state income taxes, foreign income not subject to federal tax, federal and state research and development credits, and deductions related to domestic production activities.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial reporting carrying amounts and tax bases of existing assets and liabilities and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Significant components of the Company's existing deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

 

The net change in the valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets was $3,000, $67,364 ($65,000 of this change was benefited through the Company's income tax expense; whereas, the remaining change of $2,364 was off-set by the write-off of expiring NOL's during 2010), and $(1,348), during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively. In assessing the realizability of deferred income tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred income assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred income tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Management has provided a valuation allowance against some of the net deferred income tax assets as of December 31, 2011, because the ultimate realization of those benefits and assets does not meet the more likely than not criteria.

The recognition of a valuation allowance for deferred taxes requires management to make estimates and judgments about the Company's future profitability which are inherently uncertain. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The estimates and judgments associated with the Company's valuation of deferred taxes are considered critical due to the amount of deferred taxes recorded by the Company on its consolidated balance sheet and the judgment required in determining the Company's future profitability. If, in the opinion of management, it becomes more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, deferred tax assets would be reduced by a valuation allowance and any such reduction could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company.

The Company's conclusion, based upon applicable accounting guidelines, that the deferred tax assets noted above is more than likely than not to be realized reflects, among other things, its ability to generate taxable income and its projections of future taxable income and include future years that the Company estimates it would have available net operating loss carryforwards. While the Company believes that its estimate of future taxable income is reasonable, it is inherently uncertain. If the Company realizes unforeseen material losses in the future, or its ability to generate future taxable income necessary to realize a portion of the deferred tax assets is materially reduced, additions to the valuation allowance which reduce the deferred tax assets could be recorded. Moreover, because the majority of the Company's deferred tax assets consist of net operating loss carryforwards for federal tax purposes, if change in control events occur which could limit the availability of the net operating loss carryforwards under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 ("Code"), as amended, additions to the valuation allowance which would reduce the deferred tax assets could also be recorded.

A roll forward of our valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009 is as follows:

 

(a) Deduction related to valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets represents increase/(decrease) in valuation allowance recorded to stockholders' equity.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had net operating loss, research and experimentation credit and alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards for U.S. federal income tax purposes of $217,822 ($725 relates to tax windfall, which will not be realized until an income tax payable exists), $1,693 and $261, respectively. The Company believes its U.S. Federal net operating loss ("NOL") will substantially offset its future U.S. Federal income taxes, excluding the amount subject to U.S. Federal Alternative Minimum Tax ("AMT"). AMT is calculated as 20% of AMT income. For purposes of AMT, a maximum of 90% of income is offset by available NOLs. The majority of the Company's pre-tax income is currently earned and expected to be earned in the U.S., or taxed in the U.S. as Subpart F. income and will be offset with the NOL.

Of the $217,097 of net operating losses available to offset taxable income, $215,538 does not expire until 2020 or later, subject to compliance with Section 382 of the Code as indicated by the following schedule:

Net Operating Carryforward Expiration Dates December 31, 2011

 

*Subject to compliance with Section 382 of the Code