Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

COVID-19 Pandemic

v3.21.2
COVID-19 Pandemic
6 Months Ended
Jul. 11, 2021
Unusual or Infrequent Items, or Both [Abstract]  
COVID-19 Pandemic COVID-19 Pandemic
Overview
Due to the coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic, we continue to navigate unprecedented challenges and uncertainties for our business and industry. These include jurisdictional restrictions on restaurants limiting indoor dining room capacity. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a material adverse effect on our business, including a significant decrease in Guest traffic and sales since March 2020. As of July 11, 2021, nearly all of our Company-owned and franchised locations were operating without restriction. While we continue to take appropriate actions to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, the future impact on business operations and financial performance remains unknown at this point.
Rent
In response to the impact of COVID-19 on our operations, beginning April 1, 2020 the Company stopped making full lease payments under its existing lease agreements. During the suspension of payments, the Company continued to recognize expenses and liabilities for lease obligations and corresponding right-of-use assets on the balance sheet in accordance with ASC Topic 842.
As of July 11, 2021, the Company has substantially completed negotiating rent concessions with its landlords, and are making full lease payments to substantially all of our landlords. The types of rent concessions the Company negotiated include early termination, early renewal, rent deferral, and rent abatement.
Income Tax
The March 19, 2020 passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act") created an opportunity for the Company to carry back 2019 and 2020 net operating losses ("NOL's"). The 2019 federal NOL's were carried back to previous tax periods and resulted in refunds received and recorded during 2020. The Company has filed the 2020 federal and state NOL cash tax refund claims totaling approximately $16 million during 2021. While we expect to receive a portion of the refunds in 2021, due to government delays in processing these claims we do not expect to receive the majority until 2022.
As of July 11, 2021, the Company had approximately $5.2 million of federal net operating loss carryforwards from the 2020 and 2021 tax years. The Company has approximately $12.2 million of net operating loss carryforwards for state income tax purposes that arose from the 2019, 2020, and 2021 tax years. The federal net operating loss carryforwards will be retained for an indefinite period. Of the state net operating loss carryforwards, approximately $0.2 million may expire, if unused, in 2024. The remaining state net operating losses approximating $12.0 million may expire, if unused, through 2039 or in some cases will be retained for an indefinite period. The utilization of net operating loss carryforwards may be limited to 80% of taxable income in any given year. The total $79.1 million valuation allowance includes the $5.2 million federal NOL and the $12.2 million state NOL's recorded as of July 11, 2021.