NOTE 9 - INCOME TAXES

A valuation allowance covering the deferred tax assets of the Company for November 30, 2021 and November 30, 2020 has been provided as the Company does not believe it is more likely than not that all of the future income tax benefits will be realized. The valuation allowance changed by approximately $20,000 and ($147,000) during the years ended November 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The change for year ended November 30, 2021 was primarily due to changes in state statutory rates. The change for year ended November 30, 2020 was primarily due to the release of an RSA buyout.

The Company evaluates the recoverability of our deferred tax assets as of the end of each quarter, weighing all positive and negative evidence, and are required to establish and maintain a valuation allowance for these assets if we determine that it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The weight given to the evidence is commensurate with the extent to which the evidence can be objectively verified. If negative evidence exists, positive evidence is necessary to support a conclusion that a valuation allowance is not needed.

The Company adopted the accounting standard for uncertain tax positions, ASC 740-10, on December 1, 2007. As required by the standard, the Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. Increases or decreases to the unrecognized tax benefits could result from management’s belief that a position

can or cannot be sustained upon examination based on subsequent information or potential lapse of the applicable statute of limitation for certain tax positions.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. For the years ended November 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company had no material provisions for interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions.

There was approximately $3,533,000 and $1,877,000 of U.S. income taxes paid for fiscal years ended November 30, 2021 and November 30, 2020, respectively.

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state jurisdictions. The table below summarizes the open tax years and ongoing tax examinations in major jurisdictions as of November 30, 2021: