Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Taxes

v2.4.0.6
Income Taxes
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Income Taxes [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Note 6.  Income Taxes
 
The deferred tax asset valuation allowance as of March 31, 2012 is attributed to U.S. federal, and state deferred tax assets, which result primarily from future deductible accruals, reserves, net operating loss carryforwards, and tax credit carryforwards. We believe that, based on a number of factors, the available objective evidence creates sufficient uncertainty regarding our ability to realize the deferred tax assets such that a full valuation allowance has been recorded. These factors include our history of losses, and the lack of carryback capacity to realize deferred tax assets.
 
In accordance with Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, the amounts of and benefits from net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards may be impaired or limited in certain circumstances. Events which cause limitations in the amount of net operating losses or credits that we may utilize in any one year include, but are not limited to, a cumulative ownership change of more than 50% as defined, over a three year period.
 
We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. Income tax expense for the year ended March 31, 2012 includes no interest and penalties. As of March 31, 2011, we have no accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.
 
Components of income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes is attributed to the following geographic locations for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
 
Year ended March 31,
 
2012
   
2011
 
             
Domestic
  $ (4,543 )   $ (1,709 )
Foreign
    -       -  
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)
  $ (4,543 )   $ (1,709 )
 
Components of income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 consisted of the following (in thousands):

Year ended March 31,
 
2012
   
2011
 
             
Current:
           
U.S. Federal
  $ -     $ -  
State and Local
    -       -  
Foreign (credit)
    -       -  
Total current tax expense (benefit)
    -       -  
Deferred
               
U.S. Federal
    -       -  
State and Local
    -       -  
Foreign (credit)
    -       -  
Total deferred tax expense
    -       -  
                 
Total income tax expense (benefit)
  $ -     $ -  
 
The income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 differed from the amounts computed by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate as  follows (in thousands):

Year ended March 31,
 
2012
   
2011
 
             
Federal tax expense (benefit) at U.S. Statutory Rate
  $ (486 )   $ (1,592 )
State tax expense (benefit) net of federal tax effect
    (90 )     (93 )
Change in valuation allowance
    26       (385 )
Other items
    550       2,070  
Total income tax expense/(income)
  $ -     $ -  
 
Components of deferred taxes are as follows (in thousands):

Year ended March 31,
 
2012
   
2011
 
             
Deferred revenue
  $ -     $ 52  
Accruals, reserves and other
    1,566       1,530  
Net operating loss carryforwards
    38,140       38,636  
Credit carryforward
    2,233       2,276  
Uniform cap adjustment
    -       12  
Impairment on investment
    548       -  
Other
    848       803  
                 
Gross deferred tax assets
    43,335       43,309  
Valuation allowance
    (43,335 )     (43,309 )
Net deferred tax asset
  $ -     $ -  
 
The Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Taxes", (ASC Topic 740), on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of ASC Topic 740, the Company did not recognize any adjustment to the liability for uncertain tax positions and therefore did not record any adjustment to the beginning balance of accumulated deficit on the consolidated balance sheet. As of the date of adoption, the Company recorded a $1.4 million reduction to deferred tax assets for unrecognized tax benefits, all of which is currently offset by a full valuation allowance and therefore did not record any adjustment to the beginning balance of accumulated deficit on the balance sheet at that time.
 

Tabular Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits
     
       
Ending Balance at March 31, 2010
    1,036  
         
Increase/(Decrease) of unrecognized tax benefits taken in prior years
    -  
Increase/(Decrease) of unrecognized tax benefits related to current year
    -  
Increase/(Decrease) of unrecognized tax benefits related to settlements
    -  
Reductions to unrecognized tax benefits related to lapsing statute of limitations
    (192 )
Ending Balance at March 31, 2011
    844  
         
Increase/(Decrease) of unrecognized tax benefits taken in prior years
    -  
Increase/(Decrease) of unrecognized tax benefits related to current year
    3  
Increase/(Decrease) of unrecognized tax benefits related to settlements
    -  
Reductions to unrecognized tax benefits related to lapsing statute of limitations
    (14 )
Ending Balance at March 31, 2012
    833  
 
There are no positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within 12 months of the reporting date.

Because the statute of limitations does not expire until after the net operating loss and credit carryforwards are actually used, the statues are still open on fiscal years ended March 31, 1995 forward for federal purposes, and for fiscal years ended March 31, 2002 forward for state purposes.  For the years prior to March 31, 2008 for federal purposes and prior to March 31, 2007 for state purposes, any adjustments would be limited to reduction in the net operating loss and credit carryforwards.

Total interest and penalties included in the statement of operations for the year ended March 31, 2012 is zero.  It is the Company's policy to include interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in tax expense.

We have recorded no net deferred tax assets for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  The Company has provided a valuation allowance of $43.3 million at March 31, 2012 .  The valuation allowance fully reserves all net operating loss carryforwards, credits and non-deductible accruals and reserves, for which realization of future benefit is uncertain.  The realization of net operating losses may be limited due to change of ownership rules.  The valuation allowance remained materially consistent during fiscal 2012 and decreased by $0.4 million in fiscal 2011.

At March 31, 2012, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $98.7 million and $47.5 million for federal and state tax purposes, respectively.  The federal net operating loss carryforward will begin to expire in the year ended March 31, 2020 and the state of California will start to expire in the year ended March 31, 2013.

At March 31, 2012, the Company also has research and experimentation credit carryforwards of $1.3 million and $0.8 million for federal and state income tax purposes, respectively.  A portion of the federal credit began to expire in the year ended March 31, 2012 and the state of California will never expire under current law.

The Tax Reform Act of 1986 limits the use of net operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards in certain situations where changes occur in the stock ownership of a corporation during a certain time period.  In the event the Company had incurred a change in ownership, utilization of the carry-forwards could be significantly restricted