eligible compensation. Under the ESPP, a participant may not accrue rights to purchase more than $25,000 worth of the Company’s common stock for each calendar year in which such right is outstanding.
Employees who elect to participate in the ESPP commence payroll withholdings that accumulate through the end of the respective period. In accordance with the guidance in ASC 718-50 – Compensation – Stock Compensation, the ability to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock for 85% of the lower of the price on the first day of the offering period or the last day of the offering period (i.e. the purchase date) represents an option and, therefore, the ESPP is a compensatory plan under this guidance. Accordingly, share-based compensation expense is determined based on the option’s grant-date fair value as estimated by applying the Black Scholes option-pricing model and is recognized over the withholding period. The Company recognized share-based compensation expense of $316 and $274 during the three months ended August 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $784 and $685 during the six months ended August 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, related to the ESPP.
During the six months ended August 31, 2023 and 2022, employees who elected to participate in the ESPP purchased a total of 280,162 and 343,310 shares of common stock, respectively, resulting in cash proceeds to the Company of $1,992 and $1,788, respectively. ESPP employee payroll contributions accrued as of August 31, 2023 and February 28, 2022 totaled $1,203 and $1,384, respectively, and are included within accrued compensation in the consolidated balance sheet. Cash withheld via employee payroll deductions is presented in financing activities as proceeds from stock purchases under employee stock purchase plan on the consolidated statement of cash flows.
(f) Other
In connection with the acquisition of Innovation Specialists, LLC d/b/a 2nd.MD (2nd.MD) on March 3, 2021, several 2nd.MD individuals entered into agreements with the Company whereby these individuals are eligible to receive an aggregate of 608,332 shares that required continued employment with the Company. These shares are excluded from the above restricted stock units table. Included in the 608,332 shares are 281,531 shares that were also contingent upon the achievement of the contingent consideration milestones. These shares are considered compensatory in the post business combination periods due to the additional service requirement for these individuals. These shares vested 50% on the first anniversary of the acquisition date and 50% on the second anniversary of acquisition date.
In connection with the acquisition of PlushCare, certain PlushCare individuals entered into agreements with the Company whereby these individuals are eligible to receive an aggregate of 806,161 shares that require continued employment with the Company. These shares are excluded from the above restricted stock units table. These shares are considered compensatory in the post business combination periods due to the additional service requirement for these individuals. One third of these shares vested on the first anniversary of the acquisition date, one third vested on the second anniversary of acquisition date, and one third will vest on the third anniversary of the acquisition date. As of August 31, 2023, there were 268,720 unvested shares outstanding with a grant date fair value of $52.52 per share. The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $3,557 during the three months ended August 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $7,114 during the six months ended August 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The unamortized compensation expense of $10,904 will be recognized over a weighted average remaining period of 0.8 years.
(8) Income Taxes
The provision (benefit) for income taxes consists of provisions for federal, state and foreign income taxes for separate U.S. tax filers and for entities in separate tax jurisdictions. As a result of the Company’s history of net operating losses (NOL), the Company has historically provided for a full valuation allowance against its U.S. deferred tax assets that are not more-likely-than-not to be realized. For the three months ended August 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded income tax provision (benefit) of $84 and $249, respectively, which resulted in effective tax rates of (0.2)% and (0.5)%, respectively. For the six months ended August 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded income tax provision (benefit) of $175 and $(3,650), respectively, which resulted in effective tax rates of (0.2)% and 0.9%, respectively.