The provision for income taxes includes federal, state, local and foreign taxes. The Company’s effective tax rate varies from period to period due to the proportion of foreign and domestic pre-tax income expected to be generated by the Company. The Company provides for income taxes for its domestic operations at a statutory rate of 21% in 2025 and 2024 and for its foreign operations at a statutory rate of 30% in 2025 and 2024. Reconciling items between the federal statutory rate and the effective tax rate also include state income taxes, valuation allowances and certain other permanent differences. Additionally, a deferred tax adjustment was recorded in 2024 related to the fixed asset valuation utilized by the Company’s foreign operation which increased the effective tax rate. Furthermore, as noted below, the Company’s income tax expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 includes an expense of $124,000 to settle with Mexico’s Federal Tax Administration Service, Servicio de Administracion Tributaria’s (the “SAT”) for the 2016 tax audit.

The Company recognizes liabilities or assets for the deferred tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets or liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740). These temporary differences will result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years when the reported amounts of assets or liabilities are recovered or settled. ASC 740 requires that a valuation allowance be established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company evaluates its deferred tax position on a quarterly basis and valuation allowances are provided as necessary. During this evaluation, the Company reviews its forecast of income in conjunction with other positive and negative evidence surrounding the realizability of its deferred tax assets to determine if a valuation allowance is needed.

Based on the Company’s consideration of all positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations, the Company has established a valuation allowance against all U.S. deferred tax assets. Until an appropriate level and characterization of profitability is attained, the Company expects to continue to maintain a valuation allowance on its net deferred tax assets related to future U.S. tax benefits.

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state and foreign jurisdictions. During July 2024, the Company was notified by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) that it is examining the Company’s 2021 federal income tax return. On April 1, 2025, the Company received notification that the examination was complete with no changes to the reported tax amount. To the Company’s knowledge, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is not currently examining the Company’s U.S. income tax returns for 2022 through 2023, for which the statute has yet to expire.

During 2023, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Mexico received a formal tax assessment notice from Mexico’s Federal Tax Administration Service, Servicio de Administracion Tributaria’s (the “SAT”) pertaining to revenue variances and disallowed deductions related to an audit by the SAT of the 2016 tax year. The tax liability for the variances approximated $1,150,000, which includes annual adjustments for inflation, interest and penalties. The Company made a payment in June 2024 of $191,000 to settle the matter. In addition, open tax years related to state and foreign jurisdictions remain subject to examination.

On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) became law, bringing significant changes across several areas, including tax reform, government assistance programs, and immigration and border policy. The OBBB's provisions have various effective dates. The Company is assessing the full impact of the OBBB on its operations, financial position, and cash flows. More information regarding the effects of the OBBB will be provided in subsequent periods as the Company continues to evaluate the legislation's implications.