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Net Operating Losses (NOLs) for Individuals, Estates, and Trusts, Publication 536 (2009)

What's New

Introduction

What this publication covers.
Keeping records.
What is not covered in this publication?
Section references.
Useful Items - You may want to see:
Publication
Form (and Instructions)

NOL Steps

Step 1.
Step 2.
Step 3.
Step 4.
Step 5.
Note.

How To Figure an NOL

Schedule A (Form 1045).
Nonbusiness deductions (line 6).
Nonbusiness income (line 7).
Adjustment for section 1202 exclusion (line 17).
Adjustments for capital losses (lines 19–22).
Nonbusiness capital losses.
Business capital losses.
Domestic production activities deduction (line 23).
NOLs from other years (line 24).

Illustrated Schedule A (Form 1045)

Example —
Form 1040, page 1
Form 1040, page 2
Form 1045, page 2

When To Use an NOL

NOL year.

Exceptions to 2-Year Carryback Rule

Eligible loss.
Qualified small business.
Farming loss.
Farming business.
Waiving the 5-year carryback.
Qualified disaster loss.
Qualified disaster expenses.
Note.
Excluded losses.
Waiving the 5-year carryback.
Qualified GO Zone loss.
Waiving the 5-year carryback.
Qualified recovery assistance loss.
Waiving the 5-year carryback.
Qualified disaster recovery assistance loss.
Waiving the 5-year carryback.
Special Rules for 2008 or 2009 NOLs.
Changing your carryback period.
Eligible small business (ESB) loss.
Carryback under Rev. Proc. 2009-52.
Specified liability loss.
Waiving the 10-year carryback.

Waiving the Carryback Period

How To Carry an NOL Back or Forward

Example —
Example —

How To Claim an NOL Deduction

NOL more than taxable income.

Deducting a Carryback

Form 1045.
Exception.
Form 1040X.
Refiguring your tax.

Deducting a Carryforward

Change in Marital Status

Refund limit.
Figuring your share of a joint tax liability.
Figuring your contribution toward tax paid.

Change in Filing Status

Separate to joint return.
Joint to separate returns.
Joint return in NOL year.
Example —
Example —
Joint return in previous carryback or carryforward year.
Example —

Illustrated Form 1045

Example —
Form 1045, page 1

How To Figure an NOL Carryover

Modified taxable income.
Schedule B (Form 1045).
Special Rules for Certain 5-Year NOL Carrybacks.
Carryback under Rev. Proc. 2009-52.
Carryback under Rev. Proc. 2009-52 and other 5-year carryback provisions.

Illustrated Schedule B (Form 1045)

Example —
Form 1045, page 3
Form 1045, page 4

NOL Carryover From 2009 to 2010

Worksheet Instructions

More than one NOL.
Example —
Line 2.
Line 6.
Line 7.
Estates and trusts.
Modified adjusted gross income.
Line 11.
Line 20.
Line 23.
Line 26.
Worksheet for NOL Carryover
Worksheet for NOL Carryover (Continued)

Net Operating Losses (NOLs) for Individuals, Estates, and Trusts, Publication 536 (2009)

What's New

Carryback of 2008 or 2009 net operating losses (NOLs). You can elect to carry back either a 2008 or 2009 NOL, but not both, for a period of 3, 4, or 5 years. If you make this election by filing a statement with your income tax return for the tax year of the NOL, you must also attach a copy of the statement to any Form 1045 or Form 1040X on which you deduct the NOL. If you previously elected to waive the entire NOL carryback period for an NOL arising in a tax year ending before November 6, 2009, you can revoke that election if you elect to carry the NOL back 3, 4, or 5 tax years. For more information, see Special Rules for 2008 or 2009 NOLs . See also Rev. Proc. 2009-52, 2009-49 I.R.B. 744.

Carryback of 2008 NOLs for eligible small businesses (ESBs). If you made an election to carry back a 2008 NOL that was attributable to an ESB for a period of 3, 4, or 5 years under Rev. Proc. 2009-26, 2009-19 I.R.B. 935, you can now elect to carry back, under the rules described above, any remaining 2008 or 2009 NOL that was not subject to the election under Rev. Proc. 2009-26.For more information, see Special Rules for 2008 or 2009 NOLs , on page 8.

Alternative Tax Net Operating Loss. The 90 percent limit on the alternative tax net operating loss deduction does not apply to the portion of the ATNOLD attributable to any 2008 or 2009 NOL you elect to carry back more than 2 years.

Qualified Gulf Opportunity (GO) Zone loss. Beginning in 2009, the portion of any NOL attributable to a qualified GO Zone loss is now limited to the amount of any qualified GO Zone casualty loss and any special GO Zone depreciation or amortization allowable for any specified GO Zone extension property placed in service during the tax year.

Introduction

If your deductions for the year are more than your income for the year, you may have a net operating loss (NOL). An NOL year is the year in which an NOL occurs. You can use an NOL by deducting it from your income in another year or years.

What this publication covers.

This publication discusses NOLs for individuals, estates, and trusts. It covers:

To have an NOL, your loss must generally be caused by deductions from your:

A loss from operating a business is the most common reason for an NOL.

Partnerships and S corporations generally cannot use an NOL. However, partners or shareholders can use their separate shares of the partnership's or S corporation's business income and business deductions to figure their individual NOLs.

Keeping records.
You should keep records for any tax year that generates an NOL for 3 years after you have used the carryback/carryforward or 3 years after the carryforward expires. You should attach all required documents to the Form 1045 or Form 1040X. For details, see the instructions for Form 1045 or Form 1040X.
What is not covered in this publication?

The following topics are not covered in this publication.

Section references.

Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.

Useful Items - You may want to see:
Publication

Form (and Instructions)

See How To Get Tax Help near the end of this publication for information about getting these publications and forms.

NOL Steps

Follow Steps 1 through 5 to figure and use your NOL.

Step 1.
Complete your tax return for the year. You may have an NOL if a negative figure appears on the line below:

Individuals — Form 1040, line 41, or Form 1040NR, line 38.

Estates and trusts — Form 1041, line 22.

If the amount on that line is not negative, stop here — you do not have an NOL.
Step 2.
Determine whether you have an NOL and its amount. See How To Figure an NOL , later. If you do not have an NOL, stop here.
Step 3.
Decide whether to carry the NOL back to a past year or to waive the carryback period and instead carry the NOL forward to a future year. See When To Use an NOL , later.
Step 4.
Deduct the NOL in the carryback or carryforward year. See How To Claim an NOL Deduction , later. If your NOL deduction is equal to or less than your taxable income without the deduction, stop here — you have used up your NOL.
Step 5.
Determine the amount of your unused NOL. See How To Figure an NOL Carryover , later. Carry over the unused NOL to the next carryback or carryforward year and begin again at Step 4.
Note.

If your NOL deduction includes more than one NOL amount, apply Step 5 separately to each NOL amount, starting with the amount from the earliest year.

How To Figure an NOL

If your deductions for the year are more than your income for the year, you may have an NOL.

There are rules that limit what you can deduct when figuring an NOL. In general, the following items are not allowed when figuring an NOL.

Schedule A (Form 1045).
Use Schedule A (Form 1045) to figure an NOL. The following discussion explains Schedule A and includes an illustrated example. First, complete Schedule A, line 1, using amounts from your return. If line 1 is a negative amount, you may have an NOL. Next, complete the rest of Schedule A to figure your NOL.
Nonbusiness deductions (line 6).

Enter on line 6 deductions that are not connected to your trade or business or your employment. Examples of deductions not related to your trade or business are:

Do not include on line 6 the deduction for personal exemptions for you, your spouse, or your dependents. Do not enter business deductions on line 6. These are deductions that are connected to your trade or business. They include the following.

Nonbusiness income (line 7).

Enter on line 7 only income that is not related to your trade or business or your employment. For example, enter your annuity income, dividends, and interest on investments. Also, include your share of nonbusiness income from partnerships and S corporations. Do not include on line 7 the income you receive from your trade or business or your employment. This includes salaries and wages, self-employment income, and your share of business income from partnerships and S corporations. Also, do not include rental income or ordinary gain from the sale or other disposition of business real estate or depreciable business property.

Adjustment for section 1202 exclusion (line 17).

Enter on line 17 any gain you excluded under Internal Revenue Code section 1202 on the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock.

Adjustments for capital losses (lines 19–22).

The amount deductible for capital losses is limited based on whether the losses are business capital losses or nonbusiness capital losses.

Nonbusiness capital losses.

You can deduct your nonbusiness capital losses (line 2) only up to the amount of your nonbusiness capital gains without regard to any section 1202 exclusion (line 3). If your nonbusiness capital losses are more than your nonbusiness capital gains without regard to any section 1202 exclusion, you cannot deduct the excess.

Business capital losses.

You can deduct your business capital losses (line 11) only up to the total of:

Domestic production activities deduction (line 23).

You cannot take the domestic production activities deduction when figuring your NOL. Enter on line 23 any domestic production activities deduction claimed on your return.

NOLs from other years (line 24).

You cannot deduct any NOL carryovers or carrybacks from other years. Enter the total amount of your NOL deduction for losses from other years.

Illustrated Schedule A (Form 1045)

The following example illustrates how to figure an NOL. It includes filled-in pages 1 and 2 of Form 1040 and Schedule A (Form 1045).

Example —

Glenn Johnson is in the retail record business. He is single and has the following income and deductions on his Form 1040 for 2009.

INCOME
Wages from part-time job$1,225
Interest on savings425
Net long-term capital gain on sale of real estate used in business2,000
Glenn's total income$3,650
DEDUCTIONS
Net loss from business (gross income of $67,000 minus expenses of $72,000)$5,000
Net short-term capital loss
on sale of stock
1,000
Standard deduction5,700
Personal exemption3,650
Glenn's total deductions$15,350

Glenn's deductions exceed his income by $11,700 ($15,350 − $3,650). However, to figure whether he has an NOL, certain deductions are not allowed. He uses Schedule A (Form 1045) to figure his NOL. See the illustrated Schedule A (Form 1045), later.

The following items are not allowed on Schedule A (Form 1045).

Nonbusiness net short-term capital loss$1,000
Nonbusiness deductions
(standard deduction, $5,700) minus
nonbusiness income (interest, $425)
5,275
Deduction for personal exemption3,650
Total adjustments to net loss$9,925

Therefore, Glenn's NOL for 2009 is figured as follows:

Glenn's total 2009 income$3,650
Less:
Glenn's original 2009 total deductions$15,350
Reduced by the disallowed items− 9,925− 5,425
Glenn's NOL for 2009$1,775
Form 1040, page 1

Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return 2009

Form 1040, page 2

Form 1040 (2009) Page 2

Form 1045, page 2

Form 1045 (2009) Page 2

For 2009, Glenn can carry back his NOL 2 years under the general 2-year carryback rule, or he can choose a 3, 4, or 5-year carryback period for his entire NOL under the special rules for 2008 or 2009 NOLs.

When To Use an NOL

Generally, if you have an NOL for a tax year ending in 2009, you must carry back the entire amount of the NOL to the 2 tax years before the NOL year (the carryback period), and then carry forward any remaining NOL for up to 20 years after the NOL year (the carryforward period). You can, however, choose not to carry back an NOL and only carry it forward. See Waiving the Carryback Period , later. You cannot deduct any part of the NOL remaining after the 20-year carryforward period.

NOL year.

This is the year in which the NOL occurred.

Exceptions to 2-Year Carryback Rule

Eligible losses, farming losses, qualified disaster losses, qualified GO Zone losses, qualified recovery assistance losses, qualified disaster recovery assistance losses, 2008 or 2009 NOLs, eligible small business losses, and specified liability losses, defined next, qualify for longer carryback periods.

Eligible loss.

The carryback period for eligible losses is 3 years. Only the eligible loss portion of the NOL can be carried back 3 years. An eligible loss is any part of an NOL that:

Qualified small business.

A qualified small business is a sole proprietorship or a partnership that has average annual gross receipts (reduced by returns and allowances) of $5 million or less during the 3-year period ending with the tax year of the NOL. If the business did not exist for this entire 3-year period, use the period the business was in existence. An eligible loss does not include a farming loss, a qualified disaster loss, a qualified GO Zone loss, a qualified recovery assistance loss, or a qualified disaster recovery assistance loss. An eligible loss also does not include an eligible 2008 or 2009 loss for which you choose a 3, 4, or 5-year carryback period under section 172(b)(1)(H) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Farming loss.

The carryback period for a farming loss is 5 years. Only the farming loss portion of the NOL can be carried back 5 years. A farming loss is the smaller of:

  1. The amount that would be the NOL for the tax year if only income and deductions attributable to farming businesses were taken into account, or
  2. The NOL for the tax year.

Farming business.

A farming business is a trade or business involving cultivation of land, raising or harvesting of any agricultural or horticultural commodity, operating a nursery or sod farm, raising or harvesting of trees bearing fruit, nuts, or other crops, or ornamental trees. The raising, shearing, feeding, caring for, training, and management of animals is also considered a farming business. A farming business does not include contract harvesting of an agricultural or horticultural commodity grown or raised by someone else. It also does not include a business in which you merely buy or sell plants or animals grown or raised by someone else.

Waiving the 5-year carryback.

You can choose to figure the carryback period for a farming loss without regard to the special 5-year carryback rule. To make this choice for 2009, attach to your 2009 income tax return filed by the due date (including extensions) a statement that you are choosing to treat any 2009 farming losses without regard to the special 5-year carryback rule. If you filed your return on time, you can make this choice on an amended return filed within 6 months after the due date of the return (excluding extensions). Attach a statement to your amended return, and write “Filed pursuant to section 301.9100-2” at the top of the statement. Once made, this choice is irrevocable.

Qualified disaster loss.

The carryback period for a qualified disaster loss is 5 years. Only the qualified disaster loss portion of the NOL can be carried back 5 years. A qualified disaster loss is the smaller of:

  1. The sum of:
    1. Any losses attributable to a federally declared disaster and occurring in the disaster area, plus
    2. Any allowable qualified disaster expenses (even if you did not choose to treat those expenses as deductions in the current year), or
  2. The NOL for the tax year.

Qualified disaster expenses.

A qualified disaster expense is any capital expense paid or incurred in connection with a trade or business or with business-related property which is:

Business-related property is property held for use in a trade or business, property held for the production of income, or inventory property.

Note.

Internal Revenue Code section 198A allows taxpayers to treat certain capital expenses (qualified disaster expenses) as deductions in the year the expenses were paid or incurred.

Excluded losses.

A qualified disaster loss does not include any losses from property used in connection with any private or commercial golf course, country club, massage parlor, hot tub facility, suntan facility, or any store for which the principal business is the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption off premises. A qualified disaster loss also does not include any losses from any gambling or animal racing property. Gambling or animal racing property is any equipment, furniture, software, or other property used directly in connection with gambling, the racing of animals, or the on-site viewing of such racing, and the portion of any real property (determined by square footage) that is dedicated to gambling, the racing of animals, or the on-site viewing of such racing, unless this portion is less than 100 square feet.

Waiving the 5-year carryback.

You can choose to figure the carryback period for a qualified disaster loss without regard to the special 5-year carryback rule. To make this choice for 2009, attach to your 2009 income tax return filed by the due date (including extensions) a statement that you are choosing to treat any 2009 qualified disaster losses without regard to the special 5-year carryback rule. If you filed your return on time, you can make this choice on an amended return filed within 6 months after the due date of the return (excluding extensions). Attach a statement to your amended return, and write “Filed pursuant to section 301.9100-2” at the top of the statement. Once made, this choice is irrevocable.

Qualified GO Zone loss.

The carryback period for a qualified GO Zone loss is 5 years. Only the qualified GO Zone loss portion of the NOL can be carried back 5 years. A qualified GO Zone loss is the smaller of:

  1. The excess of the NOL for the year over the specified liability loss for the year to which a 10-year carryback applies, or
  2. The total of any qualified GO Zone casualty loss and any depreciation allowable for any specified GO Zone extension nonresidential real property and residential rental property placed in service in 2009 (even if you elected not to claim the special GO Zone depreciation allowance for such property).
For a list of counties and parishes included in the GO Zone, see Notice 2007-36, 2007-17 I.R.B. 1000, available at http://www.irs.gov/irb/2007-17_IRB/ar12.html.
Waiving the 5-year carryback.

You can choose to figure the carryback period for a qualified GO Zone loss without regard to the special 5-year carryback rule. To make this choice for 2009, attach to your 2009 income tax return filed by the due date (including extensions) a statement that you are choosing to treat any 2009 qualified GO Zone losses without regard to the special 5-year carryback rule. If you filed your original return on time, you can make this choice on an amended return filed within 6 months after the due date of the return (excluding extensions). Attach a statement to your amended return, and write “Filed pursuant to section 301.9100-2” at the top of the statement. Once made, this choice is irrevocable.

Qualified recovery assistance loss.
The carryback period for a qualified recovery assistance loss is 5 years. Only the qualified recovery assistance loss portion of the NOL can be carried back 5 years. For the definition of qualified recovery assistance loss, see page 2 of Publication 4492-A, Information for Taxpayers Affected by the May 4, 2007, Kansas Storms and Tornadoes.
Waiving the 5-year carryback.

You can choose to figure the carryback period for a qualified recovery assistance loss without regard to the special 5-year carryback rule. To make this choice for 2009, attach to your 2009 income tax return filed by the due date (including extensions) a statement that you are choosing to treat any 2009 qualified recovery assistance losses without regard to the special 5-year carryback rule. If you filed your return on time, you can make this choice on an amended return filed within 6 months after the due date of the return (excluding extensions). Attach a statement to your amended return, and write “Filed pursuant to section 301.9100-2” at the top of the statement. Once made, this choice is irrevocable.

Qualified disaster recovery assistance loss.
The carryback period for a qualified disaster recovery assistance loss is 5 years. Only the qualified disaster recovery assistance loss portion of the NOL can be carried back 5 years. For the definition of qualified disaster recovery assistance loss, see page 5 of Publication 4492-B, Information for Affected Taxpayers in the Midwestern Disaster Areas.
Waiving the 5-year carryback.

You can choose to figure the carryback period for a qualified disaster recovery assistance loss without regard to the special 5-year carryback rule. To make this choice for 2009, attach to your 2009 income tax return filed by the due date (including extensions) a statement that you are choosing to treat any 2009 qualified disaster recovery assistance losses without regard to the special 5-year carryback rule. If you filed your return on time, you can make this choice on an amended return filed within 6 months after the due date of the return (excluding extensions). Attach a statement to your amended return, and write “Filed pursuant to section 301.9100-2” at the top of the statement. Once made, this choice is irrevocable.

Special Rules for 2008 or 2009 NOLs.
A 2008 or 2009 NOL is a NOL arising in a taxable year ending after December 31, 2007, and beginning before January 1, 2010. To the extent you have a 2008 or 2009 NOL, you can elect to apply a 3, 4, or 5-year carryback period instead of the general 2-year carryback period. Once made, this election is irrevocable. Any such NOLs not used in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th preceding tax year (depending on which carryback period you elect) are carried to the next more recent preceding tax year (either the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th preceding tax year, whichever applies) and then applied consecutively forward through the 1st preceding tax year. Generally, this election is available for only 1 tax year (either 2008 or 2009). If you made an election under Rev. Proc. 2009-26 for a 2008 NOL attributable to an ESB (see later on this page), you can make this election for a NOL that was not covered by your previous election made under Rev. Proc. 2009-26. A NOL carried back to the 5th preceding tax year under these special rules can offset no more than 50 percent of your taxable income for the 5th preceding tax year (computed without regard to the NOL carryback for the loss year or any tax year thereafter). This limitation does not apply to the 3rd or 4th preceding tax year nor does it apply to the portion of the loss carried back under another provision of the law, such as a specified liability loss, farming loss, or qualified disaster loss. Any loss not used in the carryback years can be carried forward up to 20 years. You make this election by filing an election statement with (1) your Form 1045 or amended Form 1045, (2) your income tax return or amended tax return for the loss year, or (3) your amended income tax return for the earliest carryback year. The election statement must state:
  1. You are electing to apply section 172(b)(1)(H) under Rev. Proc. 2009-52,
  2. You are not a Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) recipient nor were you, in 2008 or 2009, an affiliate of a TARP recipient, and
  3. The carryback period (3, 4, or 5 years) you are electing for your 2008 or 2009 NOL.
An election to apply a 3, 4, or 5-year carryback period must be filed by the due date (including extensions) for filing your 2009 return. If you filed your return on time without making the election, you can still make the election on an amended return filed within 6 months of the due date of the return (excluding extensions) by attaching the election to the amended return, and writing “Filed pursuant to section 301.9100-2” on the election statement. If you make the election to carry back a 2009 NOL, you must use 2009 Form 1045 to claim the deduction. To make a 2008 NOL claim, you must use the 2008 Form 1045. However, if you elect a 5-year carryback for a 2008 NOL under the special rules explained above, you must follow the Special Rules for Certain 5-Year NOL Carrybacks explained on page 13 of this publication.
Changing your carryback period.
You can elect to use a 3, 4, or 5-year carryback period for a 2008 or 2009 NOL even if you (a) previously filed Form 1045, or (b) made an election to waive the carryback period for a NOL arising in a tax year ending before November 6, 2009. To make the election, attach an election statement to (a) an amended Form 1045, (b) an amended return (using Form 1040X or Form 1041) for the loss year, or (c) an amended return for the earliest carryback year. The election statement must include the three items listed under Special Rules for 2008 or 2009 NOLs discussed above. If you previously filed a Form 1045 or amended return without making the election, you must state that the election amends a previous carryback application or claim. If you previously made an election to waive the carryback period, you must also state that you are revoking a NOL carryback waiver. Generally, the Form 1045 or amended return must be filed by April 15, 2010 (or by October 15, 2010, if an extension is filed).
Eligible small business (ESB) loss.

In 2008, you could elect a 3, 4, or 5-year carryback period for an ESB loss under Rev. Proc. 2009-26. The 3, 4, or 5-year carryback period applies only to the ESB loss portion of the NOL. An ESB loss is the smaller of:

  1. The amount that would be the 2008 NOL if only income, gains, losses, and deductions attributable to ESBs were taken into account, or
  2. The 2008 NOL.
An ESB is a sole proprietorship, partnership, or S corporation that has average annual gross receipts (reduced by returns and allowances) of $15 million or less during the 3-year period ending with the tax year of the NOL. This gross receipts test is applied at the sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporate level, and the aggregation rules of Internal Revenue Code section 448(c)(2) apply. If the business did not exist for this entire 3-year period, use the period the business was in existence. A 2008 NOL is any NOL for a tax year ending or beginning in 2008. For a fiscal year taxpayer with a tax year beginning in 2007 and ending in 2008, see 2008 Publication 536 for further details.
Carryback under Rev. Proc. 2009-52.
If you elected a 3, 4, or 5-year carryback period for a 2008 NOL attributable to ESBs under Rev. Proc. 2009-26, you may not revoke that election to make an election under Rev. Proc. 2009-52. However, you can make an election under Rev. Proc. 2009-52 for a NOL that was not covered by your election under Rev. Proc. 2009-26. See the 2008 Instructions for Form 1045 for more information on electing a 3, 4, or 5-year carryback period for a NOL attributable to ESBs.
Specified liability loss.

The carryback period for a specified liability loss is 10 years. Only the specified liability loss portion of the NOL can be carried back 10 years. Generally, a specified liability loss is a loss arising from:

  1. Reclamation of land,
  2. Dismantling of a drilling platform,
  3. Remediation of environmental contamination, or
  4. Payment under any workers compensation act.

Any loss from a liability arising from (1) through (4) above can be taken into account as a specified liability loss only if you used an accrual method of accounting throughout the period in which the act (or failure to act) occurred. For details, see section 172(f) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Waiving the 10-year carryback.

You can choose to figure the carryback period for a specified liability loss without regard to the special 10-year carryback rule. To make this choice for 2009, attach to your 2009 income tax return filed by the due date (including extensions) a statement that you are choosing to treat any 2009 specified liability losses without regard to the special 10-year carryback rule. If you filed your original return on time, you can make this choice on an amended return filed within 6 months after the due date of the return (excluding extensions). Attach a statement to your amended return and write “Filed pursuant to section 301.9100-2” at the top of the statement. Once made, this choice is irrevocable.

Waiving the Carryback Period

You can choose not to carry back your NOL. If you make this choice, then you can use your NOL only in the 20-year carryforward period. (This choice means you also choose not to carry back any alternative tax NOL.)

To make this choice, attach a statement to your original return filed by the due date (including extensions) for the NOL year. This statement must show that you are choosing to waive the carryback period under section 172(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

If you filed your return timely but did not file the statement with it, you must file the statement with an amended return for the NOL year within 6 months of the due date of your original return (excluding extensions). Enter “Filed pursuant to section 301.9100-2” at the top of the statement.

Once you choose to waive the carryback period, it generally is irrevocable. If you choose to waive the carryback period for more than one NOL, you must make a separate choice and attach a separate statement for each NOL year.

If you do not file this statement on time, you cannot waive the carryback period.

How To Carry an NOL Back or Forward

If you choose to carry back the NOL, you must first carry the entire NOL to the earliest carryback year. If your NOL is not used up, you can carry the rest to the next earliest carryback year, and so on.

If you do not use up the NOL in the carryback years, carry forward what remains of it to the 20 tax years following the NOL year. Start by carrying it to the first tax year after the NOL year. If you do not use it up, carry the unused part to the next year. Continue to carry any unused part of the NOL forward until the NOL is used up or you complete the 20-year carryforward period.

Example —

You started your business as a sole proprietor in 2009 and had a $42,000 NOL for the year. No part of the NOL qualifies for the 3-year, 5-year, or 10-year carryback (and you did not choose a 3, 4, or 5-year carryback period for 2008 or 2009 losses). You begin using your NOL in 2007, the second year before the NOL year, as shown in the following chart.

Year Carryback/
Carryover
Unused
Loss
2007$42,000$40,000
200840,00037,000
2009 (NOL year)
201037,00031,500
201131,50022,500
201222,50012,700
201312,7004,000
20144,000-0-

If your loss were larger, you could carry it forward until the year 2029. If you still had an unused 2009 carryforward after the year 2029, you may not deduct it.

Example —

Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that $4,000 of the NOL is attributable to a casualty loss and this loss qualifies for a 3-year carryback period. You begin using the $4,000 in 2006. As shown in the following chart, $3,000 of this NOL is used in 2006. The remaining $1,000 is carried to 2007 with the $38,000 NOL that you must begin using in 2007.

Year Carryback/
Carryover
Unused
Loss
2006$4,000$1,000
200739,00037,000
200837,00034,000
2009 (NOL year)
201034,00028,500
201128,50019,500
201219,5009,700
20139,7001,000
20141,000-0-

How To Claim an NOL Deduction

If you have not already carried the NOL to an earlier year, your NOL deduction is the total NOL. If you carried the NOL to an earlier year, your NOL deduction is the carried over NOL minus the NOL amount you used in the earlier year or years.

If you carry more than one NOL to the same year, your NOL deduction is the total of these carrybacks and carryovers.

NOL more than taxable income.
If your NOL is more than the taxable income of the year you carry it to (figured before deducting the NOL), you generally will have an NOL carryover to the next year. See How To Figure an NOL Carryover , later, to determine how much NOL you have used and how much you carry to the next year.

Deducting a Carryback

If you carry back your NOL, you can use either Form 1045 or Form 1040X. You can get your refund faster by using Form 1045, but you have a shorter time to file it. You can use Form 1045 to apply an NOL to all carryback years. If you use Form 1040X, you must use a separate Form 1040X for each carryback year to which you apply the NOL.

Estates and trusts that do not file Form 1045 must file an amended Form 1041 (instead of Form 1040X) for each carryback year to which NOLs are applied. Use a copy of the appropriate year's Form 1041, check the Amended return box, and follow the Form 1041 instructions for amended returns. Include the NOL deduction with other deductions not subject to the 2% limit (line 15a). Also, see the special procedures for filing an amended return due to an NOL carryback, explained under Form 1040X , later.

Form 1045.
You can apply for a quick refund by filing Form 1045. This form results in a tentative adjustment of tax in the carryback year. See the Form 1045 illustrated at the end of this discussion. If the IRS refunds or credits an amount to you from Form 1045 and later determines that the refund or credit is too much, the IRS may assess and collect the excess immediately. Generally, you must file Form 1045 on or after the date you file your tax return for the NOL year, but not later than one year after the end of the NOL year. If the last day of the NOL year falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the form will be considered timely if postmarked on the next business day. For example, if you are a calendar year taxpayer with a carryback from 2009 to 2007, you must file Form 1045 on or after the date you file your tax return for 2009, but no later than January 3, 2011.
Exception.
If you have a 2008 or 2009 NOL and you are filing Form 1045 to elect a 3, 4, or 5-year carryback period under Rev. Proc. 2009-52, you must file Form 1045 by the later of the regular due date (discussed above), or the due date (including extensions) for filing your return for your last tax year beginning in 2009.
Form 1040X.
If you do not file Form 1045, you can file Form 1040X to get a refund of tax because of an NOL carryback. File Form 1040X within 3 years after the due date, including extensions, for filing the return for the NOL year. For example, if you are a calendar year taxpayer and filed your 2006 return by the April 16, 2007, due date, you must file a claim for refund of 2004 tax because of an NOL carryback from 2006 by April 15, 2010. Attach a computation of your NOL using Schedule A (Form 1045) and, if it applies, your NOL carryover using Schedule B (Form 1045), discussed later.
Refiguring your tax.
To refigure your total tax liability for a carryback year, first refigure your adjusted gross income for that year. (On Form 1045, use lines 10 and 11 and the “After carryback” column for the applicable carryback year.) Use your adjusted gross income after applying the NOL deduction to refigure income or deduction items that are based on, or limited to, a percentage of your adjusted gross income. Refigure the following items.
  1. The special allowance for passive activity losses from rental real estate activities.
  2. Taxable social security and tier 1 railroad retirement benefits.
  3. IRA deductions.
  4. Excludable savings bond interest.
  5. Excludable employer-provided adoption benefits.
  6. The student loan interest deduction.
  7. The tuition and fees deduction.
If more than one of these items apply, refigure them in the order listed above, using your adjusted gross income after applying the NOL deduction and any previous item. (Enter your NOL deduction on Form 1045, line 10. On line 11, using the “After carryback” column, enter your adjusted gross income refigured after applying the NOL deduction and after refiguring any above items.) Next, refigure your taxable income. (On Form 1045, use lines 12 through 15 and the “After carryback” column.) Use your refigured adjusted gross income (Form 1045, line 11, using the “After carryback” column) to refigure certain deductions and other items that are based on or limited to a percentage of your adjusted gross income. Refigure the following items. Do not refigure the itemized deduction for charitable contributions. Finally, use your refigured taxable income (Form 1045, line 15, using the “After carryback” column) to refigure your total tax liability. Refigure your income tax, your alternative minimum tax, and any credits that are based on, or limited to, the amount of tax. (On Form 1045, use lines 16 through 25, and the “After carryback” column.) The earned income credit, for example, may be affected by changes to adjusted gross income or the amount of tax (or both) and, therefore, must be recomputed. If you become eligible for a credit because of the carryback, complete the form for that specific credit (such as the EIC Worksheet) for that year. While it is necessary to refigure your income tax, alternative minimum tax, and credits, do not refigure your self-employment tax.

Deducting a Carryforward

If you carry forward your NOL to a tax year after the NOL year, list your NOL deduction as a negative figure on the Other income line of Form 1040 or Form 1040NR (line 21 for 2009). Estates and trusts include an NOL deduction on Form 1041 with other deductions not subject to the 2% limit (line 15a for 2009).

You must attach a statement that shows all the important facts about the NOL. Your statement should include a computation showing how you figured the NOL deduction. If you deduct more than one NOL in the same year, your statement must cover each of them.

Change in Marital Status

If you and your spouse were not married to each other in all years involved in figuring NOL carrybacks and carryovers, only the spouse who had the loss can take the NOL deduction. If you file a joint return, the NOL deduction is limited to the income of that spouse.

For example, if your marital status changes because of death or divorce, and in a later year you have an NOL, you can carry back that loss only to the part of the income reported on the joint return (filed with your former spouse) that was related to your taxable income. After you deduct the NOL in the carryback year, the joint rates apply to the resulting taxable income.

Refund limit.

If you are not married in the NOL year (or are married to a different spouse), and in the carryback year you were married and filed a joint return, your refund for the overpaid joint tax may be limited. You can claim a refund for the difference between your share of the refigured tax and your contribution toward the tax paid on the joint return. The refund cannot be more than the joint overpayment. Attach a statement showing how you figured your refund.

Figuring your share of a joint tax liability.

There are five steps for figuring your share of the refigured joint tax liability.

  1. Figure your total tax as though you had filed as married filing separately.
  2. Figure your spouse's total tax as though your spouse had also filed as married filing separately.
  3. Add the amounts in (1) and (2).
  4. Divide the amount in (1) by the amount in (3).
  5. Multiply the refigured tax on your joint return by the amount figured in (4). This is your share of the joint tax liability.

Figuring your contribution toward tax paid.

Unless you have an agreement or clear evidence of each spouse's contributions toward the payment of the joint tax liability, figure your contribution by adding the tax withheld on your wages and your share of joint estimated tax payments or tax paid with the return. If the original return for the carryback year resulted in an overpayment, reduce your contribution by your share of the tax refund. Figure your share of a joint payment or refund by the same method used in figuring your share of the joint tax liability. Use your taxable income as originally reported on the joint return in steps (1) and (2) above, and substitute the joint payment or refund for the refigured joint tax in step (5).

Change in Filing Status

If you and your spouse were married and filed a joint return for each year involved in figuring NOL carrybacks and carryovers, figure the NOL deduction on a joint return as you would for an individual. However, treat the NOL deduction as a joint NOL.

If you and your spouse were married and filed separate returns for each year involved in figuring NOL carrybacks and carryovers, the spouse who sustained the loss may take the NOL deduction on a separate return.

Special rules apply for figuring the NOL carrybacks and carryovers of married people whose filing status changes for any tax year involved in figuring an NOL carryback or carryover.

Separate to joint return.

If you and your spouse file a joint return for a carryback or carryforward year, and were married but filed separate returns for any of the tax years involved in figuring the NOL carryback or carryover, treat the separate carryback or carryover as a joint carryback or carryover.

Joint to separate returns.

If you and your spouse file separate returns for a carryback or carryforward year, but filed a joint return for any or all of the tax years involved in figuring the NOL carryover, figure each of your carryovers separately.

Joint return in NOL year.

Figure each spouse's share of the joint NOL through the following steps.

  1. Figure each spouse's NOL as if he or she filed a separate return. See How To Figure an NOL , earlier. If only one spouse has an NOL, stop here. All of the joint NOL is that spouse's NOL.
  2. If both spouses have an NOL, multiply the joint NOL by a fraction, the numerator of which is spouse A's NOL figured in (1) and the denominator of which is the total of the spouses' NOLs figured in (1). The result is spouse A's share of the joint NOL. The rest of the joint NOL is spouse B's share.
Example —

Mark and Nancy are married and file a joint return for 2009. They have an NOL of $5,000. They carry the NOL back to 2007, a year in which Mark and Nancy filed separate returns. Figured separately, Nancy's 2009 deductions were more than her income, and Mark's income was more than his deductions. Mark does not have any NOL to carry back. Nancy can carry back the entire $5,000 NOL to her 2007 separate return.

Example —

Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that both Mark and Nancy had deductions in 2009 that were more than their income. Figured separately, his NOL is $1,800 and her NOL is $3,000. The sum of their separate NOLs ($4,800) is less than their $5,000 joint NOL because his deductions included a $200 net capital loss that is not allowed in figuring his separate NOL. The loss is allowed in figuring their joint NOL because it was offset by Nancy's capital gains. Mark's share of their $5,000 joint NOL is $1,875 ($5,000 × $1,800/$4,800) and Nancy's is $3,125 ($5,000 − $1,875).

Joint return in previous carryback or carryforward year.
If only one spouse had an NOL deduction on the previous year's joint return, all of the joint carryover is that spouse's carryover. If both spouses had an NOL deduction (including separate carryovers of a joint NOL, figured as explained in the previous discussion), figure each spouse's share of the joint carryover through the following steps.
  1. Figure each spouse's modified taxable income as if he or she filed a separate return. See Modified taxable income under How To Figure an NOL Carryover , later.
  2. Multiply the joint modified taxable income you used to figure the joint carryover by a fraction, the numerator of which is spouse A's modified taxable income figured in (1) and the denominator of which is the total of the spouses' modified taxable incomes figured in (1). This is spouse A's share of the joint modified taxable income.
  3. Subtract the amount figured in (2) from the joint modified taxable income. This is spouse B's share of the joint modified taxable income.
  4. Reduce the amount figured in (3), but not below zero, by spouse B's NOL deduction.
  5. Add the amounts figured in (2) and (4).
  6. Subtract the amount figured in (5) from spouse A's NOL deduction. This is spouse A's share of the joint carryover. The rest of the joint carryover is spouse B's share.
Example —

Sam and Wanda filed a joint return for 2007 and separate returns for 2008 and 2009. In 2009, Sam had an NOL of $18,000 and Wanda had an NOL of $2,000. They choose to carry back both NOLs 2 years to their 2007 joint return and claim a $20,000 NOL deduction.

Their joint modified taxable income (MTI) for 2007 is $15,000, and their joint NOL carryover to 2008 is $5,000 ($20,000 – $15,000). Sam and Wanda each figure their separate MTI for 2007 as if they had filed separate returns. Then they figure their shares of the $5,000 carryover as follows.

Step 1.
Sam's separate MTI$9,000
Wanda's separate MTI+ 3,000
Total MTI$12,000
Step 2.
Joint MTI$15,000
Sam's MTI ÷ total MTI
($9,000 ÷ $12,000)
× .75
Sam's share of joint MTI$11,250
Step 3.
Joint MTI$15,000
Sam's share of joint MTI− 11,250
Wanda's share of joint MTI$3,750
Step 4.
Wanda's share of joint MTI$3,750
Wanda's NOL deduction− 2,000
Wanda's remaining share$1,750
Step 5.
Sam's share of joint MTI$11,250
Wanda's remaining share+ 1,750
Joint MTI to be offset$13,000
Step 6.
Sam's NOL deduction$18,000
Joint MTI to be offset− 13,000
Sam's carryover to 2008$5,000
Joint carryover to 2008$5,000
Sam's carryover− 5,000
Wanda's carryover to 2008$-0-

Wanda's $2,000 NOL deduction offsets $2,000 of her $3,750 share of the joint modified taxable income and is completely used up. She has no carryover to 2008. Sam's $18,000 NOL deduction offsets all of his $11,250 share of joint modified taxable income and the remaining $1,750 of Wanda's share. His carryover to 2008 is $5,000.

Illustrated Form 1045

The following example illustrates how to use Form 1045 to claim an NOL deduction in a carryback year. It includes a filled-in page 1 of Form 1045.

Example —

Martha Sanders is a self-employed contractor. Martha's 2009 deductions are more than her 2009 income because of a business loss. She uses Form 1045 to carry back her NOL 2 years and claim an NOL deduction in 2007. (Martha does not choose a 3, 4, or 5-year carryback period for her 2009 NOL under the rule for 2008 or 2009 NOLs.) Her filing status in both years was single. See the filled-in Form 1045 on page 12.

Martha figures her 2009 NOL on Schedule A, Form 1045 (not shown). (For an example using Schedule A, see Illustrated Schedule A (Form 1045) under How To Figure an NOL , earlier.) She enters the $10,000 NOL from Schedule A, line 25, on Form 1045, line 1a.

Martha completes lines 10 through 25, using the “Before carryback” column under the column for the second preceding tax year ended 12/31/07 on page 1 of Form 1045 using the following amounts from her 2007 return.

2007 Adjusted gross income$50,000
Itemized deductions:
Medical expenses
[$6,000 − ($50,000 × 7.5%)]
$2,250
State income tax+ 2,000
Real estate tax+ 4,000
Home mortgage interest+ 5,000
Total itemized deductions$13,250
Exemption$3,400
Income tax$4,768
Self-employment tax$6,120

Martha refigures her taxable income for 2007 after carrying back her 2009 NOL as follows:

2007 Adjusted gross income$50,000
Less:
NOL from 2009−10,000
2007 Adjusted gross income after carryback$40,000
Less:
Itemized deductions:
Medical expenses
[$6,000 − ($40,000 × 7.5%)]
$3,000
State income tax+ 2,000
Real estate tax+ 4,000
Home mortgage interest+ 5,000
Total itemized deductions−14,000
Less:
Exemption− 3,400
2007 Taxable income after carryback$22,600

Martha then completes lines 10 through 25, using the “After carryback” column under the column for the second preceding tax year ended 12/31/07. On line 10, Martha enters her $10,000 NOL deduction. Her new adjusted gross income on line 11 is $40,000 ($50,000 − $10,000). To complete line 12, she must refigure her medical expense deduction using her new adjusted gross income. Her refigured medical expense deduction is $3,000 [$6,000 − ($40,000 × 7.5%)]. This increases her total itemized deductions to $14,000 [$13,250 + ($3,000 − $2,250)].

Martha uses her refigured taxable income ($22,600) from line 15, and the tax tables in her 2007 Form 1040 instructions to find her income tax. She enters the new amount, $3,003, on line 16, and her new total tax liability, $9,123, on line 25.

Martha used up her $10,000 NOL in 2007 so she does not complete a column for the first preceding tax year ended 12/31/2008. The decrease in tax because of her NOL deduction (line 27) is $1,765.

Martha files Form 1045 after filing her 2009 return, but no later than January 3, 2011. She mails it to the Internal Revenue Service Center for the place where she lives as shown in the 2009 instructions for Form 1040 and attaches a copy of her 2009 return (including the applicable forms and schedules).

Form 1045, page 1

Form 1045 Application for Tentative Refund 2009

How To Figure an NOL Carryover

If your NOL is more than your taxable income for the year to which you carry it (figured before deducting the NOL), you may have an NOL carryover. You must make certain modifications to your taxable income to determine how much NOL you will use up in that year and how much you can carry over to the next tax year. Your carryover is the excess of your NOL deduction over your modified taxable income for the carryback or carryforward year. If your NOL deduction includes more than one NOL, apply the NOLs against your modified taxable income in the same order in which you incurred them, starting with the earliest.

Modified taxable income.

Your modified taxable income is your taxable income figured with the following changes.

  1. You cannot claim an NOL deduction for the NOL carryover you are figuring or for any later NOL.
  2. You cannot claim a deduction for capital losses in excess of your capital gains. Also, you must increase your taxable income by the amount of any section 1202 exclusion claimed on Schedule D (Form 1040).
  3. You cannot claim the domestic production activities deduction.
  4. You cannot claim a deduction for your exemptions for yourself, your spouse, or dependents.
  5. You must figure any item affected by the amount of your adjusted gross income after making the changes in (1), (2), and (3), above, and certain other changes to your adjusted gross income that result from (1), (2), and (3). This includes income and deduction items used to figure adjusted gross income (for example, IRA deductions), as well as certain itemized deductions. To figure a charitable contribution deduction, do not include deductions for NOL carrybacks in the change in (1) but do include deductions for NOL carryforwards from tax years before the NOL year.

Your taxable income as modified cannot be less than zero.

Schedule B (Form 1045).
You can use Schedule B (Form 1045) to figure your modified taxable income for carryback years and your carryover from each of those years. Do not use Schedule B for a carryforward year. If your 2009 return includes an NOL deduction from an NOL year before 2009 that reduced your taxable income to zero (to less than zero, if an estate or trust), see NOL Carryover From 2009 to 2010 , later.
Special Rules for Certain 5-Year NOL Carrybacks.
If you elect to carry back a 2008 or 2009 NOL for a period of 5 years under Rev. Proc. 2009-52 (as explained under Special Rules for 2008 or 2009 NOLs on page 8), the amount so elected is absorbed by no more than 50 percent of your modified taxable income for the 5th preceding tax year. You must follow the special rules discussed below.
Carryback under Rev. Proc. 2009-52.
The amount of the NOL that is absorbed in the 5th preceding tax year is limited to 50 percent of modified taxable income for such tax year (determined without regard to the NOL for the loss year or any tax year thereafter). To figure this limit, combine lines 2 through 8 on Schedule B (Form 1045) and divide that amount by 2. Enter the result (but not less than zero) on Schedule B (Form 1045), line 9. Subtract the amount so entered on line 9 from the amount on line 1 and enter the result on Schedule B (Form 1045), line 10. For other years, the general rule applies.
Carryback under Rev. Proc. 2009-52 and other 5-year carryback provisions.
If you carry back part of your NOL to the 5th preceding tax year under Rev. Proc. 2009-52 and also carry back to the 5th preceding year another part of your NOL from the same loss year under a different 5-year carryback provision, such as Rev. Proc. 2009-26 (for ESBs) or section 172(b)(1)(G) (farming losses), use the Worksheet for NOL Carryovers on page 8 of the 2009 Instructions for Form 1045, to calculate your NOL carryover from the 5th preceding tax year.

Illustrated Schedule B (Form 1045)

The following example illustrates how to figure an NOL carryover from a carryback year. It includes a filled-in Schedule B (Form 1045).

Example —

Ida Brown runs a small clothing shop. In 2009, she has an NOL of $36,000 that she carries back to 2007. (Ida does not choose a 3, 4, or 5-year carryback period for her 2009 NOL under the special rules for 2008 or 2009 NOLs.) She has no other carrybacks or carryovers to 2007.

Ida's adjusted gross income in 2007 was $35,000, consisting of her salary of $36,000 minus a $1,000 capital loss deduction. She is single and claimed only one personal exemption of $3,400. During that year, she gave $1,450 in charitable contributions. Her medical expenses were $3,000. She also deducted $1,650 in taxes and $3,125 in home mortgage interest.

Her deduction for charitable contributions was not limited because her contributions, $1,450, were less than 50% of her adjusted gross income. The deduction for medical expenses was limited to expenses over 7.5% of adjusted gross income (.075 × $35,000 = $2,625; $3,000 − $2,625 = $375). The deductions for taxes and home mortgage interest were not subject to any limits. She was able to claim $6,600 ($1,450 + $375 + $1,650 + $3,125) in itemized deductions for 2007. She had no other deductions in 2007. Her taxable income for the year was $25,000.

Ida's $36,000 carryback will reduce her 2007 taxable income to zero. She completes the column for the second preceding tax year ended 12/31/07 of Schedule B (Form 1045) to figure how much of her NOL she uses up in 2007 and how much she can carry over to 2008. See the illustrated Schedule B shown on pages 14 and 15. Ida does not complete the column for the first preceding tax year ended 12/31/08 because the $6,525 carryover to 2008 is completely used up that year. (See the information for line 9 below.)

Line 1. Ida enters $36,000, her 2009 net operating loss, on line 1.

Line 2. She enters $25,000, her 2007 taxable income, on line 2.

Line 3. Ida enters her net capital loss deduction of $1,000 on line 3.

Lines 4 and 5. Ida had no section 1202 exclusion or domestic production activities deduction in 2007. She enters zero on lines 4 and 5.

Line 6. Although Ida's entry on line 3 modifies her adjusted gross income, that does not affect any other items included in her adjusted gross income. Ida enters zero on line 6.

Line 7. Ida had itemized deductions and entered $1,000 on line 3, so she completes lines 11 through 38 to figure her adjustment to itemized deductions. On line 7, she enters the total adjustment from line 38.

Line 11. Ida's adjusted gross income for 2007 was $35,000.

Line 12. She adds lines 3 through 6 and enters $1,000 on line 12. (This is her net capital loss deduction added back, which modifies her adjusted gross income.)

Line 13. Her modified adjusted gross income for 2007 is now $36,000.

Line 14. On her 2007 tax return, she deducted $375 as medical expenses.

Line 15. Her actual medical expenses were $3,000.

Line 16. She multiplies her modified adjusted gross income, $36,000, by .075. She enters $2,700 on line 16.

Line 17. The difference between her actual medical expenses and the amount she is allowed to deduct is $300.

Line 18. The difference between her medical deduction and her modified medical deduction is $75. She enters this on line 18.

Lines 19 through 21. Ida had no deduction for qualified mortgage insurance premiums in 2007. She skips lines 19 and 20 and enters zero on line 21.

Line 22. She enters her modified adjusted gross income of $36,000 on line 22.

Line 23. She had no other carrybacks to 2007 and enters zero on line 23.

Line 24. Her modified adjusted gross income remains $36,000.

Line 25. Her actual contributions for 2007 were $1,450, which she enters on line 25.

Line 26. She now refigures her charitable contributions based on her modified adjusted gross income. Her contributions are well below the 50% limit, so she enters $1,450 on line 26.

Line 27. The difference is zero.

Lines 28 through 37. Ida had no casualty losses or deductions for miscellaneous items in 2007. She skips lines 28 through 31 and lines 33 through 36. Ida enters zero on lines 32 and 37.

Line 38. She combines lines 18, 21, 27, 32, and 37 and enters $75 on line 38. She carries this figure to line 7.

Line 8. Ida enters the deduction for her personal exemption of $3,400 for 2007.

Line 9. After combining lines 2 through 8, Ida's modified taxable income is $29,475.

Line 10. Ida figures her carryover to 2008 by subtracting her modified taxable income (line 9) from her NOL deduction (line 1). She enters the $6,525 carryover on line 10. She also enters the $6,525 as her NOL deduction for 2008 on Form 1045, page 1, line 10, in the “After carryback” column under the column for the first preceding tax year ended 12/31/08. (For an illustrated example of page 1 of Form 1045, see Illustrated Form 1045 under How To Claim an NOL Deduction , earlier.)

Form 1045, page 3

Form 1045 (2009) Page 3

Form 1045, page 4

Form 1045 (2009) Page 4

NOL Carryover From 2009 to 2010

If you had an NOL deduction carried forward from a year prior to 2009 that reduced your taxable income on your 2009 return to zero (to less than zero, if an estate or trust), complete Table 1, Worksheet for NOL Carryover From 2009 to 2010 on the following page. It will help you figure your NOL to carry to 2010. Keep the worksheet for your records.

Worksheet Instructions

At the top of the worksheet, enter the NOL year for which you are figuring the carryover.

More than one NOL.

If your 2009 NOL deduction includes amounts for more than one loss year, complete this worksheet only for one loss year. To determine which year, start with your earliest NOL and subtract each NOL separately from your taxable income figured without the NOL deduction. Complete this worksheet for the earliest NOL that reduces your taxable income below zero. Your NOL carryover to 2010 is the total of the amount on line 10 of the worksheet and all later NOL amounts.

Example —

Your taxable income for 2009 is $4,000 without your $9,000 NOL deduction. Your NOL deduction includes a $2,000 carryover from 2007 and a $7,000 carryover from 2008. Subtract your 2007 NOL of $2,000 from $4,000. This gives you taxable income of $2,000. Your 2007 NOL is now completely used up. Subtract your $7,000 2008 NOL from $2,000. This gives you taxable income of ($5,000). You now complete the worksheet for your 2008 NOL. Your NOL carryover to 2010 is the unused part of your 2008 NOL from line 10 of the worksheet.

Line 2.

Treat your NOL deduction for the NOL year entered at the top of the worksheet and later years as a positive amount. Add it to your negative taxable income. Enter the result on line 2.

Line 6.

You must refigure the following income and deductions based on adjusted gross income.

  1. The special allowance for passive activity losses from rental real estate activities.
  2. Taxable social security and tier 1 railroad retirement benefits.
  3. IRA deductions.
  4. Excludable savings bond interest.
  5. Excludable employer-provided adoption benefits.
  6. The student loan interest deduction.
  7. The tuition and fees deduction.

If none of these items apply to you, enter zero on line 6. Otherwise, increase your adjusted gross income by the total of lines 3 through 5 and your NOL deduction for the NOL year entered at the top of the worksheet and later years. Using this increased adjusted gross income, refigure the items that apply, in the order listed above. Your adjustment for each item is the difference between the refigured amount and the amount included on your return. Combine the adjustments for previous items with your adjusted gross income before refiguring the next item. Keep a record of your computations. Enter your total adjustments for the above items on line 6.

Line 7.

Enter zero if you claimed the standard deduction. Otherwise, use lines 11 through 50 of the worksheet to figure the amount to enter on this line. Complete only those sections that apply to you.

Estates and trusts.
Enter zero on line 7 if you did not claim any miscellaneous deductions on Form 1041, line 15b, or a casualty or theft loss. Otherwise, refigure these deductions by substituting modified adjusted gross income (see below) for adjusted gross income. Subtract the recomputed deductions from those claimed on the return. Enter the result on line 7.
Modified adjusted gross income.
To refigure miscellaneous itemized deductions of an estate or trust (Form 1041, line 15b), modified adjusted gross income is the total of the following amounts. To refigure the casualty and theft loss deduction of an estate or trust, modified adjusted gross income is the total of the following amounts.

Line 11.

Treat your NOL deduction for the NOL year entered at the top of the worksheet and for later years as a positive amount. Add it to your adjusted gross income. Enter the result on line 11.

Line 20.
Is your modified adjusted gross income from line 13 of this worksheet more than $260,000 ($135,000 if married filing separately)? □ Yes. Your deduction is limited. Refigure your deduction using the New Motor Vehicle Tax Deduction Worksheet in the 2009 Schedule A (Form 1040). On line 4 of the New Motor Vehicle Tax Deduction Worksheet, enter the amount from line 13 of this worksheet. □ No. Your deduction is not limited. Enter the amount from line 19 on line 20 and enter -0- on line 21.
Line 23.
Is your modified adjusted gross income from line 13 of this worksheet more than $100,000 ($50,000 if married filing separately)? □ Yes. Your deduction is limited. Refigure your deduction using the Qualified Mortgage Insurance Premiums Deduction Worksheet in the 2009 Instructions for Schedule A (Form 1040). On line 2 of the Qualified Mortgage Insurance Premiums Deduction Worksheet, enter the amount from line 13 of this worksheet. □ No. Your deduction is not limited. Enter the amount from line 22 on line 23 and enter -0- on line 24.
Line 26.
If you had a contributions carryover from 2008 to 2009 and your NOL deduction includes an amount from an NOL year before 2008, you may have to reduce your contributions carryover. This reduction is any adjustment you made to your 2008 charitable contributions deduction when figuring your NOL carryover to 2009. Use the reduced contributions carryover to figure the amount to enter on line 26.
Worksheet for NOL Carryover

Worksheet for NOL. Carryover From 2009 to 2010 (For an NOL Year Before 2009)

Worksheet for NOL Carryover (Continued)

Worksheet for NOL. Carryover From 2009 to 2010 (For an NOL Year Before 2009), Page 2.

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