4. Income Taxes
We must assess the likelihood that we will be able to recover our deferred tax assets. If recovery is not likely, we must increase our provision for taxes by recording a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets that we estimate will not ultimately be recoverable. Should there be a change in our ability to recover the deferred tax assets; the tax provision would increase in the period in which we determined that the recovery was not probable.
We follow authoritative guidance to evaluate whether a valuation allowance should be established against our deferred tax assets based on the consideration of all available evidence using a “more likely than not” standard. In making such judgments, significant weight is given to evidence that can be objectively verified. We are assessing our deferred tax assets under more likely than not scenarios in which they may be realized through future income. Accordingly, our deferred tax assets may be subject to a valuation allowance in an upcoming fiscal period. We will continue to analyze the more likely than not standard each quarter, and if it is determined that a valuation allowance is necessary, it may have a material impact.
During the quarter ended February 28, 2011, we determined that is was not more likely than not that all of our deferred tax assets will be realized in the future due to our continuing pre-tax and taxable losses. As a result of this determination we have placed a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets as of February 28, 2011 and increased our tax provision by approximately $8,107,000.
We follow authoritative guidance to reduce the diversity in practice associated with certain aspects of measurement and recognition in accounting for income taxes. This authoritative guidance prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement requirement for the financial statement recognition of a tax position that has been taken or is expected to be taken on a tax return and also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. Under this guidance we may only recognize tax positions that meet a “more likely than not” threshold.