As a result of the IPO and the Transactions completed in April 2019, we own a portion of the Common Units of the Operating Company, which is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal and most applicable state and local income tax purposes. As a partnership, the Operating Company is generally not subject to U.S. federal and certain state and local income taxes. Any taxable income or loss generated by the Operating Company is passed through to and included in the taxable income or loss of its members, including Greenlane, on a pro-rata basis, in accordance with the terms of the Operating Agreement. The Operating Company is also subject to taxes in foreign jurisdictions. We are a corporation subject to U.S. federal income taxes, in additional to state and local income taxes, based on our share of the Operating Company’s pass-through taxable income.


(in thousands)	December 31, 2020		December 31, 2019
Expected federal income tax (benefit) expense at statutory rate	$	(9,977)	$	(6,067)
State tax expense, net of federal benefit	(652)		108
Loss attributable to non-controlling interests	5,628		6,264
Valuation allowance	5,290		10,041
Other, net	(95)		589
Income tax expense	$	194	$	10,935


(in thousands)	December 31, 2020		December 31, 2019
Deferred tax assets:
Intangible assets	$	9,197	$	9,144
Basis difference in investment in the Operating Company	742		—
Net operating loss carryforwards	5,129		1,120
Other	43		—
Total deferred tax assets	15,111		10,264
Valuation allowance	(15,111)		(10,041)
Net deferred tax assets	—		223
Deferred tax liability:
Basis difference in investment in the Operating Company	—		(223)
Net deferred tax assets and liabilities	$	—	$	—

We had approximately $12.8 million of Federal net operating loss carryforwards not subject to expiration. Their utilization is limited to 80% of our future taxable income. We also had approximately $10.1 million of State net operating loss carryforwards that begin expiring in 2039 and $7.6 million of Dutch net operating loss carryforwards that begin expiring in 2026. Their utilization is limited to our future taxable income.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), which was enacted on March 27, 2020, made tax law changes to provide financial relief to companies as a result of the business impacts of COVID-19. Key income tax provisions of the CARES Act include changes in net operating loss carryback and carryforward rules, acceleration of alternative minimum tax credit recovery, increase in the net interest expense deduction limit and charitable contribution limit, and immediate write-off of qualified improvement property. The changes are not expected to have a significant impact on us.

During the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, management performed an assessment of the realizability of our deferred tax assets based upon which management determined that it is not more likely than not that the results of operations will generate sufficient taxable income to realize portions of the net operating loss benefits. Consequently, we established a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets, and reflected a carrying balance of $0 as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. In the event that management determines that we would be able to realize our deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, an adjustment to the valuation allowance will be made, which would reduce the provision for income taxes. The provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, relates to taxes in foreign jurisdictions, including Canada and the Netherlands.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, we did not have any unrecognized tax benefits as a result of tax positions taken during a prior period or during the current period. No interest or penalties have been recorded as a result of tax uncertainties.

We entered into the TRA with the Operating Company and each of the members that provides for the payment by the Operating Company to the members of 85% of the amount of tax benefits, if any, that we may actually realize (or in some circumstances are deemed to realize) as a result of (i) increases in tax basis resulting from any future redemptions of Common Units as described in “Note 1—Business Operations and Organization” and (ii) certain other tax benefits attributable to payments made under the TRA.

The annual tax benefits are computed by calculating the income taxes due, including such tax benefits, and the income taxes due without such benefits. The Operating Company expects to benefit from the remaining 15% of any tax benefits that it may actually realize. The TRA payments are not conditioned upon any continued ownership interest in the Operating Company. The rights of each noncontrolling interest holder under the TRA are assignable to transferees of its interest in the Operating Company. The timing and amount of aggregate payments due under the TRA may vary based on a number of factors, including the amount and timing of the taxable income the Operating Company generates each year and the applicable tax rate.

As noted above, we evaluated the realizability of the deferred tax assets resulting from the IPO and the Transactions completed in April 2019 and established a full valuation allowance against those benefits. As a result, we determined that the amount or timing of payments to noncontrolling interest holders under the TRA are no longer probable or reasonably estimable. Based on this assessment, our TRA liability was $0 as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

If utilization of the deferred tax assets subject to the TRA becomes more likely than not in the future, we will record a liability related to the TRA, which would be recognized as expense within our condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.