8. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accounts payable and accrued expenses are summarized as follows:

 SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, approximately $2.2 million and $3.0 million, respectively, of employee and employer payroll taxes and associated interest and penalties have been accrued but not remitted to certain taxing authorities by the Company. These accruals are for periods prior to 2019 for cash compensation paid and are reflected as a component of the accrued taxes line above. As a result, the Company is liable for such payroll taxes and any related penalties and interest. Upon the advice of our tax professionals, we are paying the trust fund portion of the outstanding tax accruals which represents the portion of taxes withheld from our employees but not remitted to the taxing authorities. For our locations that have permanently closed, our tax liability after paying the trust fund balance is approximately $380,000 and is recorded within accrued taxes on our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2021. The taxing authorities have indicated that we are still liable for these amounts, however, since the locations are permanently closed and have no assets, they will stop active collection procedures on these amounts.