17.Income Taxes

The Company has established a full valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets based on management’s belief that it is not more likely than not that the related deferred tax assets will be realized. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, there was no income tax expense or benefit.

At December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had no recorded tax liabilities for uncertain tax positions. The Company has not yet filed any federal or state income tax returns for its stand-alone operations for years that are open for examination. The Company does not expect any significant changes to the estimate amount of liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions in the next 12 months.

Pursuant to the Spin-off, the Company and Alliqua BioMedical, Inc. entered into a Tax Matters Agreement to provide for the payment of tax liabilities and entitlement of refunds; allocation of the responsibility for, and cooperation in, filing of tax returns; and other matters relating to taxes for the pre- and post-Spin-off periods.

Prior to the consummation of the Spin-Off, NexGel’s operating results were included in Adynxx consolidated U.S. federal and state income tax returns. For the purposes of the Company’s Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements for periods prior to the Separation, income tax expense and deferred tax balances have been recorded as if the Company filed tax returns on a standalone basis separate from Adynxx.  The Separate Return Method applies the accounting guidance for income taxes to the standalone financial statements as if the Company was a separate taxpayer and a standalone enterprise prior to the separation from Adynxx.

The income tax (benefit) provision consists of the following:

Company has established a full valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets based on management’s belief that it is not more likely than not that the related deferred tax assets will be realized. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the expected tax benefit based on the statutory rate reconciled with the actual benefit is as follows:

For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, differences between the expected tax expense based on the federal statutory rate and the actual tax expense is primarily attributable to losses for which no benefit is recognized.

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s deferred tax assets consisted of the effects of temporary differences attributable to the following:

The deferred tax assets associated with net operating losses included in the table above reflect proforma net operating losses as if the Company were a separate taxpayer during the periods presented. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, reported approximately $10.0 million and $8.0 million of federal NOL carryovers, respectively, which begin to expire in 2029 and through 2036. Similarly, the subsidiary’s Pennsylvania state returns reported state NOL carryovers of approximately $10 million and $7.9 million, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. However, these loss carryforwards on a separate company basis may be subject to limitations on the amounts that may be utilized pursuant to Internal Revenue Code section 382 and applicable state law. Section 382 imposes significant limitations on the utilization of net operating losses after certain changes of corporate ownership. The Company will need to determine the amount of loss carryforwards that may be utilized in the future as necessary.

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 the deferred tax assets is dependent upon the future generation of 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 the evidence, both positive and negative, management has recorded a full valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2020 and 2019 because management has determined that it is more likely than not that these deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S. and various states. Based on the history of net operating losses all jurisdictions and tax years are open for examination until the operating losses are utilized or the statute of limitations expires. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company does not have any significant uncertain tax positions.