The Company files income tax returns in the U.S., various state jurisdictions, and various foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to fiscal 2018.

The components of loss from operations before income taxes are as follows:

The components of the income tax (benefit) provision from operations are as follows:

The income tax (benefit) provision was computed using the federal statutory income tax rate and average state statutory rates, net of related federal benefits. The provision differs from the Company’s effective tax rate primarily due to the following:

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), among other things, includes provisions relating to refundable payroll tax credits, deferment of employer side social security payments, net operating loss carryback periods, alternative minimum tax credit refunds, modifications to the net interest deduction limitations and technical corrections to tax depreciation methods for qualified improvement property. The CARES Act allowed the Company to accelerate the refund of its AMT credit from fiscal 2022 to fiscal 2021. The refund was received in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. 

As a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in 2017, foreign earnings may now generally be repatriated back to the U.S. without incurring U.S. federal income tax. Historically, the Company has asserted its intention to indefinitely invest the cumulative undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries, with the exception of Ireland. The Company declared cash dividends of approximately $1.8 million and $4.4 million in fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively.  

The components of deferred income taxes are as follows:

At January 31, 2022, the Company had federal, state and foreign net operating loss carry forwards of $137.6 million, $94.8 million and $6.4 million, respectively, which can be used to offset future tax liabilities and expire at various dates beginning in fiscal 2022. The Company performs an analysis under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, analysis on a periodic basis and utilization of these net operating loss carry forwards may be limited pursuant to provisions of the respective local jurisdiction. In addition, as of January 31, 2022, the Company had federal and state research and development credit carry forwards of $3.2 million and $1.8 million, respectively, and state investment tax credit carry forwards of $0.2 million. The Company has foreign tax credit carry forwards of $1.9 million, which are available to reduce future federal regular income taxes. These credits expire at various dates beginning in fiscal 2023, with the exception of $0.2 million in credits that have an unlimited carryforward period.

The Company reviews the adequacy of the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis. The Company has evaluated the positive and negative evidence bearing upon its ability to realize its deferred tax assets and have established a valuation allowance of $44.9 million for such assets, which are comprised principally of net operating loss carry forwards, research and development credits, deferred revenue, and stock-based compensation. If the Company generates pre-tax income in the future, some portion or all of the valuation allowance could be reversed and a corresponding increase in net income would be reported in future periods. The valuation allowance increased by $1.5 million for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022 and increased by $5.2 million for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021.  

A reconciliation of gross unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

As of January 31, 2022, the Company had $3.5 million of unrecognized tax benefits, a portion of which are classified as long term and included as a component of other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company recognized interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the income tax (benefit) provision on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. As of January 31, 2022 and 2021, total gross interest accrued was $0.1 million. Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits as of January 31, 2022 and January 31, 2021 are $0.1 million for both periods of tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate.

When accounting for uncertain tax positions, the impact of uncertain tax positions is recognized in the financial statements if they are more likely than not of being sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. The Company has determined that it has uncertain tax positions as of January 31, 2022 and as of January 31, 2021 that to the extent recognized, are recorded through the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The Company does not expect any change to this determination in the next twelve months.