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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.
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.
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.
The following topics are not covered in this publication.
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.
See How To Get Tax Help near the end of this publication for information about getting these publications and forms.
Follow Steps 1 through 5 to figure and use your NOL.
Individuals — Form 1040, line 41, or Form 1040NR, line 38. |
Estates and trusts — Form 1041, line 22. |
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.
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.
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:
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.
Enter on line 17 any gain you excluded under Internal Revenue Code section 1202 on the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock.
The amount deductible for capital losses is limited based on whether the losses are business capital losses or 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.
You can deduct your business capital losses (line 11) only up to the total of:
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.
You cannot deduct any NOL carryovers or carrybacks from other years. Enter the total amount of your NOL deduction for losses from other years.
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).
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 savings | 425 |
| Net long-term capital gain on sale of real estate used in business | 2,000 |
| 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 deduction | 5,700 |
| Personal exemption | 3,650 |
| 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 exemption | 3,650 |
| 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 |



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.
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.
This is the year in which the NOL occurred.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.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.
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 | |
| 2008 | 40,000 | 37,000 | |
| 2009 (NOL year) | |||
| 2010 | 37,000 | 31,500 | |
| 2011 | 31,500 | 22,500 | |
| 2012 | 22,500 | 12,700 | |
| 2013 | 12,700 | 4,000 | |
| 2014 | 4,000 | -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.
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 | |
| 2007 | 39,000 | 37,000 | |
| 2008 | 37,000 | 34,000 | |
| 2009 (NOL year) | |||
| 2010 | 34,000 | 28,500 | |
| 2011 | 28,500 | 19,500 | |
| 2012 | 19,500 | 9,700 | |
| 2013 | 9,700 | 1,000 | |
| 2014 | 1,000 | -0- |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
There are five steps for figuring your share of the refigured joint tax liability.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Figure each spouse's share of the joint NOL through the following steps.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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).

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.
Your modified taxable income is your taxable income figured with the following changes.
Your taxable income as modified cannot be less than zero.
The following example illustrates how to figure an NOL carryover from a carryback year. It includes a filled-in Schedule B (Form 1045).
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.)


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.
At the top of the worksheet, enter the NOL year for which you are figuring the carryover.
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.
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.
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.
You must refigure the following income and deductions based on adjusted gross income.
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.
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.
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.


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