Contingencies | Note 11: Contingencies Certain conditions may exist as of the date the condensed financial statements are issued, which may result in a loss to the Company, but which will be resolved only when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Company’s management assesses such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. Legal The Company is currently a party to legal actions other than those described below arising from the normal course of business, none of which are expected to have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated results of operations, or our consolidated financial condition. Courvoisier Centre Litigation On August 24, 2022, the landlord of our former headquarters offices, Courvoisier Centre, LLC, filed a complaint against the Company in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court (Miami-Dade County, Florida) alleging breach of the lease. The Company vacated the offices and ceased payments under the lease in July of 2022, after repeatedly complaining to the landlord regarding the impact of its extensive renovations of the campus and building in which the Company's offices were situated, citing substantial impairments to the Company's ability to conduct business as well as concerns regarding the health and well-being of the Company’s employees and guests, and the landlord’s inability and refusal to provide any adequate relief. On or about October 10, 2022, the Company filed its answer to the complaint and the Company's counterclaim. The Company intends to vigorously defend the lawsuit and seek recovery for its costs of relocation. On June 14, 2024, both parties agreed to a settlement for an aggregated amount of $75,000, payable in three installments of $25,000 starting on July 15, 2024. The settlement agreement has yet to be formally executed by all parties to be legally binding. The Company has accrued approximately $3.8 million, representing the remaining lease liability under the contractual terms of the lease, as of May 31, 2024, and August 31, 2023. Upon execution of this settlement, the Company will recognize a potential gain on settlement of $3.1 million anticipated during our fourth fiscal quarter of 2024. Foundry ASVRF Sawgrass, LLC v. ShiftPixy, Inc. On or around October 16, 2023, the company received a variety of legal proceedings documents as filed in the County Court of the 17th Judicial Circuit in and for Broward County, Florida, as case No. COWE-23-003124, arising out of the Company’s abandonment of a lease of premises at Suite 650, 13450 W. Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise, Florida 33323. Most of the Company’s $0.3 million security deposit has been applied to the cost of unpaid improvements and rent past due for the months of June, July, August and September of 2023 (as well as unreplenished security deposit amounts for prior months). Rent and operating costs per month were approximately $0.1 million. The lease term continues until December 31, 2028. The Landlord has sued for eviction, replenishment of the security deposit and damages for future payments under the lease. Although the plaintiff will claim damages equal to the full value of the lease, the Company has defenses in the nature of the plaintiff’s duty to mitigate damages by securing one or more replacement tenants. The parties are anticipated to engage in mediation wherein the parties are expected to settle plaintiff’s claims. The Company has recorded the value of its lease obligation. Given the early stage of the matter, it is too early to assess the anticipated amount to which the plaintiff will be entitled; however, the plaintiff will likely be entitled to damages approximately equal to the amount of the monthly lease payment due times the number of months it would reasonably take the plaintiff to secure one or more replacement tenants, plus costs associated with the preparation of the premises for such new tenant(s), plus costs associated with the brokerage fee associated with securing the new tenant. The Parties are in active negations to settle this claim. The Company has accrued approximately $1.6 million, representing the remaining lease liability under the contractual terms of the lease, as of May 31, 2024, and August 31, 2023. Olen Commercial Realty Corp. v. ShiftPixy, Inc. In late August of 2023, the Company abandoned its leased premises at 1 Venture, Suite 150, Irvine, CA 92618. The monthly rent is approximately $24,500. The lease term continues until June 30, 2027. The landlord has demanded approximately $1.2 million for the balance of payments due under the lease, including miscellaneous expenses as offset by security deposit funds. While the landlord has not filed suit, it is anticipated that the landlord may file suit within the next few months. In the event the landlord does file suit, the Company will assert rights of offset as a consequence of the landlord’s failure to mitigate its damages. Given the early stage of the matter, it is too early to assess the anticipated amount to which the landlord will be entitled; however, the landlord will likely be entitled to damages approximately equal to the amount of the monthly lease payment due times the number of months it would reasonably take the landlord to secure one or more replacement tenants, plus costs associated with the preparation of the premises for such new tenant(s), plus costs associated with the brokerage fee associated with securing the new tenant. It is anticipated that the parties will negotiate and endeavor to settle the claims. The Company has accrued approximately $1.1 million, representing the remaining lease liability under the contractual terms of the lease, as of May 31, 2024, and August 31, 2023, respectively, which is presented in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Certified Tire Litigation & Service Center, Inc. On June 29, 2020, the Company was served with a complaint filed by its former client, Certified Tire, in the Superior Court of the State of California, Orange County, naming the Company, two of its officers, and one of its former subsidiaries as defendants. The Complaint asserts multiple causes of action, all of which stem from the former client’s claim that the Company is obligated to reimburse it for sums it paid in settlement of a separate lawsuit brought by one of its employees pursuant to Private Attorney General Act or PAGA. This underlying lawsuit alleged the Company's former client was responsible for multiple violations of the California Labor Code. The Company and the officers named as defendants deny the former client’s allegations, and the Company is defending the lawsuit vigorously based primarily on the Company's belief that the alleged violations that gave rise to the underlying lawsuit were the responsibility of Certified Tire and not the Company. Substantial discovery has taken place and trial is set in November 2024. The Company’s dispositive motion for summary judgment was denied by the court because of its determination that factual disputes exist. Employee Retention Tax Credit (“ERTCs”) Claims The Company has filed various ERTCs claims with the IRS on behalf of its clients, for an aggregate amount of $7.7 million, that have otherwise failed to obtain the related benefits afforded to them pursuant to the filing of Form 7200—the time for the filing of which has expired. To date, the Company has received ERTCs amounting to $2.0 million. In addition, the Company anticipates filing additional ERTCs claims as clients continue to request that the Company complete the submission thereof to the IRS. Because of the Company’s currently existing payroll tax liability, the Company presently receives ERTCs from the IRS in the form of a credit to the Company’s outstanding payroll tax liability. The Company is not presently able to remit the ERTCs to its clients and plans to offer its clients restricted shares of the Company’s common stock in payment of the ERTCs applicable to such clients. If a client rejects the payment of its respective ERTCs in the form of the restricted shares of the Company’s common stock as proposed by the Company, such client may seek to enforce its rights to recover its ERTCs by filing lawsuits against the Company. Apizza, LLC v. Rethink Human Capital Management, Inc. D/B/A “Shiftpixy,” et al., Orange County Superior Court. On March 8, 2024, a complaint was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, Orange County No. 30-2024-01385218-CU-BT-CJC by its former client Apizza, LLC, against the Company, certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates and current and former officers. In Plaintiff’s complaint, Plaintiff alleges damages “in excess of $2,287,269.15” arising from the Company’s alleged failure to assist Plaintiff in obtaining Employee Retention Tax Credits (“ERTC”). All defendants have been served the complaint except Scott W. Absher. The Company’s carrier was put on notice and responsive pleading denying the allegations, including demurrers for Scott Absher have been filed. At this point, it is too early to assess whether an unfavorable outcome for the Company is probable or remote. Capistrano Catering, Inc. v. ShiftPixy, Inc. – ERTC claim. On June 13, 2022, a Complaint was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, Orange County, Case No. 30-2022-01264583, by its former client, Capistrano Catering, Inc., asserting claims for specific performance, breach of contract, and breach of the covenant of good faith. Plaintiff’s complaint alleges that we violated our client services agreement by not applying for an employee retention tax credit (“ERTC”) on behalf of Capistrano Catering pursuant to Section 3134 of the Internal Revenue Code and seeks damages of “at least $0.5 million plus prejudgment interest thereon at the legal rate.” The Company initially maintained that it has no legal basis to apply for the ERTC on behalf of Plaintiff, and that the claim is therefore without merit. However, the Company has changed its position, based on its understanding of applicable law and is now actively offering to file for the credit on the client’s behalf. The parties have entered into a stipulation providing for the submission to the IRS by the Company of ERTC claims on behalf of Capistrano Catering and remittance to Capistrano Catering of any credit amounts received from the IRS in response thereto by the Company. The IRS has announced a suspension of accepting further ERTC claims until 2024, so the Company is unable to affect the subject submission until permitted by the IRS. The Company intends to remit to Capistrano Catering the full amount of any credits received from the IRS, although the Company may request a reasonable fee for its processing services. The Company has offered to issue to plaintiff shares of the Company’s stock in payment of the ERTC in the event that the Company receives the credit from the IRS and is unable at such time to forward the payment to plaintiff, provided, however, Capistrano Catering has not indicated whether it will accept the offer of shares, and it may insist on receiving cash in such event. The Court has set a status conference for August 8, 2024, to assess the status of the Company’s filing of ERTC claims on behalf of Capistrano Catering. Robert Angueira, as US Chapter 7 Trustee v. Shiftpixy, Inc, Shiftpixy Investments, On December 14, 2023, the Officers and Directors received notice of an Adversarial proceeding in a bankruptcy case, captioned Robert Angueira, as US Chapter 7 Trustee v. Shiftpixy, Inc, Shiftpixy Investments, Inc et al. The case is related to Industrial Human Capital, “IHC”, a company that was an attempted SPAC in 2022, the Company was unable to finish the listing requirements and $117.6 million was returned to the investors on December 1, 2022. Because some creditors were unpaid after the IHC was closed due to insolvency, some IHC creditors filed an involuntary bankruptcy in the Southern District of Florida. The Company was owed a substantial sum of money related to IHC SPAC’s sponsorship and transferred $600,000 to Shiftpixy from IHC in partial repayment of that money. The Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee asserted a claim against that transfer and the Company is working to make arrangements for payment to the Trustee. In relation to the recent filing by the Chapter 7 Trustee, the Trustee asserts, amongst other things, that some Officers and Directors of ShiftPixy acted inappropriately in transferring those funds back to the investors in IHC and subsequent to the filing of the involuntary bankruptcy. These claims forced the Company to put ShiftPixy’s director and officer carrier on notice and the Company is waiting for their decision on the matter(s). The Chapter 7 Trustee claims to be entitled to the $117 million dollars from the investors, shareholders, officers, and directors and Shiftpixy, Inc, for a bankruptcy estate with claims totaling $1.8 million ($282,000 of which are claims by the Company). The Company recorded $0.6 million in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities as of May 31, 2024, and August 31, 2023. The parties are in active negotiations and have had judicial conference with another follow up meeting scheduled on July 25, 2024. The parties are still in the mediation process. Given the early stage of the litigation, it is too early to assess whether an unfavorable outcome for the Company is either probable or remote. In Re John Stephen Holmes Bankruptcy Litigation On November 8, 2022, the Chapter 7 trustee of the bankruptcy estate of John Stephen Holmes filed an action against the Company, asserting that the cancellation by the Company of Mr. Holmes' 491,250 preferred options on October 22, 2021, violated the automatic stay applicable to Mr. Holmes' Chapter 7 proceedings. After the Company filed a motion to dismiss the trustee's complaint, the trustee endeavored to exercise an option for 520,833 preferred shares that had been issued in the early stages of the Company but was later superseded by a modified option that did not provide for convertibility of the preferred shares to common stock and which modified option was in effect at the time that Mr. Holmes filed for bankruptcy. During the nine months ended May 31, 2024, the Company settled this litigation by issuing 181,518 shares of common stock with a fair value of $550,000 pursuant to an executed settlement agreement. Other Matters Amanda Murphy v. Shiftpixy, Inc., Scott Absher and Connie Absher On April 6, 2024, Amanda Murphy (“Murphy”), the Company’s former Chief Operating Officer and a former Director, filed a complaint of employment discrimination before the State of California Civil Rights Department (“CRD”) under the provisions of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”), alleging several violations and discriminations. Given the early stage of the proceedings, it is too early to assess whether an unfavorable outcome is either probable or remote. The Company recorded $0.45 million in payroll related liabilities as of May 31, 2024. The Company has put its insurance carrier on notice for this matter. Washington Dept of Rev v. ShiftPixy Staffing, Inc. On or about April 25, 2023, the State of Washington Dept. of Rev. issued a tax warrant against a subsidiary of the Company claiming that (a) its prior communications were unanswered, and (b) asserting that the Company owes $0.9 million in Business & Occupation (“B&O”) Taxes and interest for periods from June 2018 to December 2021. The state essentially claims that such a subsidiary owes B&O Taxes as a consequence of its having conducted staffing services in Washington. The Company has responded, indicating that the subject services provided were actually in the nature of professional employer organization or PEO services (as defined under applicable law) and not staffing services (as defined under applicable law) and that the subsidiary’s tax obligation, if any, pursuant to the state’s own Excise Tax Advisory ETA 3192.2014 would be a small fraction of the amount claimed by the state. The Company further argued that the assessment is improperly made because that entity did not even exist until January of 2021, and it did not start billing a client in the State of Washington until calendar year 2022. The state reviewed documentation submitted by the Company in support of its position and issued a modified tax adjustment, asserting that the sum of $0.3 million is due for the period June 2018 to December 2020. Additionally, the State of Washington assessed another subsidiary of ShiftPixy for approximately $0.6 million with respect to excise tax, which is calculated based on a grossed-up revenue whereas revenue is presented net in the financial statements. The Company filed a request for an administrative hearing on both matters. The Company is exploring its options as to how to appeal this assessment and have discussed the above matter with several State tax attorneys. The Company was informed that the amount due must be paid prior to any appeal. The Company has recorded approximately $0.8 million and $0.2 million in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of May 31, 2024, and August 31, 2023, respectively. NASDAQ On February 26, 2024, the Company received a letter (the “February 2024 NASDAQ Letter”) from the Staff of the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq, which notifies the Company that it does not comply with Nasdaq’s Listing Rule 5550(b)(2), which requires that the Company maintains a market value of listed securities of $35 million, and that the Company does not otherwise satisfy the requirements of Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) of a stockholders’ equity of at least $2.5 million or Listing Rule 5550(b)(3) of net income from continuing operations of $500,000 in the most recent completed fiscal year or in two of three most recent completed fiscal years. The Nasdaq Letter does not have any immediate effect on the listing of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, and the Company has 180 calendar days from the date of the Nasdaq Letter to regain compliance. The Company intends to issue additional shares of common stock through private placement and or registered offering. On May 13, 2024, the Company provided a detailed response letter to NASDAQ, pursuant to which the Company requested an extension through August 15, 2024, to seek shareholders’ approval of the offering. The Company has not received any responses from NASDAQ to date. On March 28, 2024, the Company received a letter (the “March 2024 NASDAQ Letter”) from the Staff of the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq, which notifies the Company that it failed to comply with NASDAQ shareholder approval requirements set forth in Listing Rule 5635(d), which requires prior shareholder approval for transactions, other than public offerings, involving the issuance of 20% or more of the pre-transaction shares outstanding at less than the minimum price. The deficiency letter relates to the July 2023 financing. Under Nasdaq Rules, the Company has 45 calendar days to submit a plan to regain compliance and if accepted, Nasdaq can grant an extension of up to 180 calendar days to evidence compliance. On May 13, 2024, the Company provided a response to Nasdaq regarding this deficiency. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Notices The Company responded to a notice from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) claiming underpayment of (i) Federal income taxes withholding, (ii) employee OASDI or Medicare withholding, (iii) Employer OASDI or Medicare taxes for the tax periods ending March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020, December 31, 2020, September 30, 2021, and December 31, 2021, totaling $2,728,832, exclusive of then-accrued but unassessed interest and for employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment Tax (“FUTA”) for an aggregate amount of $108,631 for the tax periods ending December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021. The Company maintained, as stated in its response to the IRS, that the taxes in question are subject to various deferrals and credits arising under the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), including the following: (i) Section 2302, which permits eligible employers to defer payment of OASDI employer taxes; and (ii) Section 2301, which allows eligible employers to apply the Employee Retention Tax Credit, or “ERTC,” to taxes owed. Accordingly, the Company believes that the IRS notice is incorrect, and that the Company has in fact overpaid its federal tax liability for the above tax periods after application of the relevant CARES Act deferrals and credits. At the Company’s request, the IRS has scheduled a Collection Due Process, and the assessment was appealed on November 26, 2023. On February 28, 2024, the Company received a Notice of Letter of Determination from the IRS on its administrative claims wherein the IRS denied, entirely, the Company’s appeal for relief. The case has been appealed to US Tax Court as of March 25, 2024. ShiftPixy Corporate Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, filed its Forms 941 for (in addition to other tax periods for which we have been unable to obtain detailed account transcripts from the IRS) the tax periods ending (a) March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, 2022, and (b) March 31, June 30, September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2023. However, ShiftPixy Corporate Services, Inc. did not timely remit all tax reported on those tax forms. Accordingly, the IRS assessed additions to tax and interest for the failure to make required deposits and the failure to timely pay required tax (potentially in addition to other fees and expenses of collection). As of October 2, 2023, the date most proximate to the beginning of the reporting cycle for which the Company has detailed information from the IRS, the IRS reported in a Letter 725-B that ShiftPixy Corporate Service employment tax liabilities for the tax periods ending March 31, 2022, June 30, 2022, September 30, 2022, December 31, 2022, March 31, 2023, and June 30, 2023 were, exclusive of then-accrued but unassessed interest, $3,490,513. As of March 25, 2024, the IRS reported in a Notice that ShiftPixy Corporate Service employment tax liabilities for the tax period ending September 30, 2023, were, exclusive of then-accrued but unassessed interest, $391,736. As of June 10, 2024, the IRS reported in a Notice that ShiftPixy Corporate Service employment tax liabilities for the tax period ending December 31, 2023, were, exclusive of then-accrued but unassessed interest, $136,038. On November 26, 2023, ShiftPixy Corporate Services, Inc. timely filed a Form 12153, Request for a Collection Due Process or Equivalent Hearing, with respect to ShiftPixy Corporate Services’ Liabilities That Are Subject to Enforced Collection. That Form 12153 requested, among other things, an abatement of additions to tax and related interest for the failure to make required deposits and the failure to timely pay required tax that are included within ShiftPixy Corporate Services’ Liabilities That Are Subject to Enforced Collection. On December 12, 2023, the IRS issued to ShiftPixy Corporate Services, Inc. a Letter 3172 (DO), Notice of Federal Tax Lien Filing and Your Right to a Hearing Under IRC 6320, with respect to ShiftPixy Corporate Services’ liabilities that are subject to enforced collection. On January 11, 2024, ShiftPixy Corporate Services, Inc. timely filed a Form 12153 with respect to ShiftPixy Corporate Services’ liabilities that are subject to enforced collection. That Form 12153 requested, among other things, an abatement of additions to tax and related interest for the failure to make required deposits and the failure to timely pay required tax that are included within ShiftPixy Corporate Services’ Liabilities That Are Subject to Enforced Collection. The Forms 12153 were assigned to Appeals for a collection due process hearing. On June 4, 2024, ShiftPixy Corporate Services, Inc. and Appeals had a collection due process hearing that resulted in the Appeals officer refusing to grant the abatements of the additions to tax or the collection alternatives. Appeals has not yet issued an adverse notice of determination memorializing the Appeals officer’s determinations. By letter dated January 11, 2024, the IRS advised the Company and its Affiliates that its federal income tax return for the tax period ending August 31, 2022, was selected for examination. |