15. Income Taxes

The domestic and foreign components of pre-tax loss for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

The Company had no current or deferred federal and state income tax expense or benefit for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 because the Company generated net operating losses, and currently management does not believe it is more likely than not that the net operating losses will be realized. The Company’s non-U.S. tax obligation is primarily for business activities conducted through Germany and Singapore for which taxes were included in other expenses, net for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and determined to be immaterial, and accordingly, such amounts were excluded from the following tables.
 
Income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 differed from the amounts computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% to pretax loss as a result of the following:

The tax effects of temporary differences and related deferred tax assets and liabilities as of  December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were as follows:

The Company’s accounting for deferred taxes involves the evaluation of a number of factors concerning the realizability of the Company’s net deferred tax assets. The Company primarily considered such factors as the Company’s history of operating losses, the nature of the Company’s deferred tax assets, and the timing, likelihood and amount, if any, of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences and carryforwards become deductible. The Company does not believe that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized; accordingly, a full valuation allowance was established and no deferred tax assets were shown in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The valuation allowance increased by $4,269 and $740 in the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
 
For tax years beginning after December 31, 2018, the Global Intangible Low-taxed Income ("GILTI") took effect. Due to the aggregated losses of the foreign subsidiaries, there was no GILTI inclusion for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
 
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) made a significant change to Section 174 that went into effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021. The change eliminated the ability to currently deduct research and development costs. Instead, these costs must be capitalized and amortized. As a result, the Company capitalized research and development costs of $4.7 million and $3.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
 
On March 27, 2020 the U.S. enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act). On December 21, 2020, The U.S. Congress passed the Consolidation Appropriations Act, 2021 (the CAA Act). The Company evaluated the provisions of the CARES Act and CCA Act and determined that it did not result in a significant impact on its tax provision.
 
As of December 31, 2023 the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of $196,851. The federal net operating loss carryforwards of $120,792 generated before January 1, 2018 will begin to expire in 2027, and $76,059 will carryforward indefinitely but are subject to the 80% taxable income limitation. The Company also had federal research and development tax credit carryforwards of $2,365 that will expire beginning in 2031, if not utilized.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had state net operating loss carryforwards of $128,455, which will begin to expire in 2024. The Company also had state research and development tax credit carryforwards of $752, which have no expiration.
 
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $12,829. The foreign net operating loss carryforwards do not expire.
 
Utilization of the Company’s net operating losses and credit carryforwards may be subject to annual limitations in the event of a Section 382 ownership change. Such future limitations could result in the expiration of net operating losses and credit carryforwards before utilization as a result of such an ownership change.
 
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, were as follows:

If the Company is able to recognize these uncertain tax positions, the unrecognized tax benefits would not impact the effective tax rate if the Company applies a full valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets, as provided in the Company’s current policy.
 
The Company had not incurred any material tax interest or penalties as of December 31, 2023. The Company does not anticipate any significant change within 12 months of this reporting date of its uncertain tax positions. The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and various state jurisdictions, Germany, and Singapore. There are no ongoing examinations by taxing authorities at this time. The Company’s tax years 2007 through 2023 will remain open for examination by the federal and state authorities for three and four years, respectively, from the date of utilization of any net operating loss credits. The Company’s 2018 to 2023 tax years will remain open for examination by the German tax authority for four years from the end of the year in which the applicable return was filed. The Company’s 2019 to 2023 tax years will remain open for examination by the Singapore tax authority for four years from the date of the applicable assessment.