Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Taxes

v3.3.1.900
Income Taxes
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes

12. INCOME TAXES

 

The breakout of the loss from continuing operations before income taxes between domestic and foreign operations is below:

 

    2015     2014  
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes                
United States   $ 12,702,520     $ 5,442,499  
Foreign     1,618,905       759,875  
    $ 14,321,425     $ 6,202,374  

 

The Income Tax (benefit) provision consists of the following:

 

Foreign                
Current   $ 93,037     $ 55,486  
Deferred     103,461       (267,960 )
U.S. Federal                
Current     -       318  
Deferred     (4,502,404 )     (1,266,980 )
State & Local                
Current     -       -  
Deferred     (529,695 )     (149,056 )
Change in Valuation Allowance     5,023,169       1,151,691  
    $ 187,568     $ (476,501 )

 

The (benefit) provision for income tax using statutory U.S. federal tax rate is reconciled to the company’s effective tax rate as follows:

 

    2015     2014  
Computed “expected” income tax benefit   $ (4,869,285 )   $ (2,093,584 )
State income taxes, net of federal benefit     (572,857 )     (205,177 )
Foreign rate differential     143,646       45,883  
Australia loss     (1,821,463 )     -  
Prior year true-ups other deferred tax balances     323,485       106,236  
Travel, entertainment, and other     82,956       91,045  
Capital loss expiration     333,837       -  
Convertible Debt Issuances and conversions     482,018       -  
Foreign Tax Expense     93,037       -  
Fixed asset DTL true-up     27,384       305,796  
Noncontrolling interest     881,264       -  
Other     60,376       121,609  
Change in valuation allowance     5,023,169       1,151,691  
Total   $ 187,568     $ (476,501 )

 

The Company has significant permanent book tax differences related to derivative liabilities with a convertible debt feature.

 

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and the amounts used for tax purposes. Major components of deferred tax assets at December 31, 2015 and 2014 were:

 

    2015     2014  
Net operating loss carryovers   $ 11,846,236     $ 6,773,713  
Capital loss carryforwards     154,700       488,500  
Section 1231 loss carryovers     15,080       -  
Charitable contribution carryforwards     16,815       -  
Derivative liability     468,011       372,931  
Unremitted foreign earnings     190,552       -  
Restaurant startup costs     137,893       -  
Accrued Expenses     36,182       -  
Australian equity investment     -       (26,417 )
Deferred occupancy liabilities     290,500       388,114  
Total deferred Tax Assets     13,155,969       7,996,841  
                 
Property and equipment     (978,585 )     (469,986 )
Convertible debt     (811,177 )     (372,931 )
Investments     (90,200 )     (84,384 )
Intangibles     (1,068,534 )     (957,229 )
Goodwill     785,987       (47,492 )
Total deferred tax liabilities     (2,162,509 )     (1,932,022 )
                 
Net deferred tax assets     10,993,460       6,064,819  
Valuation Allowance     (12,347,231 )     (6,751,703 )
    $ (1,353,771 )   $ (686,884 )

 

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the company has U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryovers of approximately $29,635,000 and $15,660,000 respectively, which will expire at various dates beginning in 2031 through 2036, if not utilized. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014 the company has foreign net operating loss carryovers of $2,284,000 ($701,000 for Hungary, $1,175,000 for South Africa, respectively, and $408,000 for Australia) and $1,790,000 ($588,000 for Hungary, $281,000 and $921,000 for South Africa) respectively. Depending on the jurisdiction, some of these net operating loss carryovers will begin to expire within 5 years, while other net operating losses can be carried forward indefinitely as long as the company is trading. The company has a capital loss carryforward of $407,000 which expires between 2016 and 2017 if not utilized. In accordance with Section 382 of the internal revenue code, deductibility of the company’s U.S. net operating loss carryovers may be subject to an annual limitation in the event of a change of control as defined under the Section 382 regulations. Quarterly ownership changes for the past 3 years were analyzed and it was determined that there was no change of control as of December 31, 2015.

  

In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, Management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will 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 deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. After consideration of all of the information available, Management believes that significant uncertainty exists with respect to future realization of the deferred tax assets and has therefore established a full valuation allowance. For the year ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 the change in valuation allowance was approximately $5,023,169 and $1,151,691, respectively.

 

The company evaluated the provisions of ASC 740 related to the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in their financial statements. ASC 740 prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, present, and disclose uncertain positions that the company has taken or expects to take in its return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than- not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. Differences between two positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the benefit recognized and measured pursuant to the interpretation are referred to as “unrecognized benefits”. A liability is recognized for an unrecognized tax benefit because it represents an enterprise’s potential future obligation to the taxing-authority for a tax position that was not recognized as a result of applying the provisions of ASC 740.

 

The company’s uncertain tax positions for December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:

 

    Unrecognized     Interest and        
    Tax Benefit     Penalties     Total  
Balance at December 31, 2014   $ 419,301     $ -     $ 419,301  
Increases related to prior year tax positions     -       -       -  
Decreases related to prior year tax positions     (419,301 )     -       (419,301 )
Increases related to current year tax positions     -       -       -  
Settlements during the period     -       -       -  
Lapse of statute of limitations     -       -       -  
Balance at December 31, 2015   $ -     $ -     $ -  

 

Interest related to uncertain tax positions are required to be calculated, if applicable, and would be classified as “interest expense” in the two statements of operations. Penalties would be recognized as a component of “general and administrative expenses”. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014 no interest or penalties were required to be reported.

 

No provision was made for U.S. or foreign taxes on approximately $1,100,000 of undistributed earnings of the Company as such earnings are considered to be permanently reinvested. Such earnings have been, and will continue to be, reinvested, but could become subject to additional tax if they were remitted as dividends, loaned to the Company, or if the Company should sell its interests in the foreign entities. It is not practicable to determine the amount of additional tax, if any, that might be payable on the undistributed earnings or on any book- tax basis differences. Earnings from the U.K. subsidiary are no longer considered to be permanently reinvested. Therefore, for deferred tax purposes only, $501,000 has been deemed to be repatriated to the parent company as a dividend. This deemed dividend is fully offset by the company’s net operating losses, so there is no deferred tax expense on the deemed repatriation. The resulting reduction in net operating losses has been considered in deferred tax expense.