Net operating loss
Under U.S. Federal income tax law, a net operating loss (NOL) occurs when certain tax-deductible expenses exceed taxable revenues for a taxable year.[1] If a taxpayer is taxed during profitable periods without receiving any tax relief (e.g. a refund) during periods of NOLs, an unbalanced tax burden results.[2] Consequently, in some situations, Congress allows taxpayers to use the losses in one year to offset the profits of other years. This provision is achieved through the carryback (as far back as 5 years per the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ) and carryforward of NOLs.[3]
Under U.S. Federal income tax law, a net operating loss (NOL) occurs when certain tax-deductible expenses exceed taxable revenues for a taxable year.[1] If a taxpayer is taxed during profitable periods without receiving any tax relief (e.g. a refund) during periods of NOLs, an unbalanced tax burden results.[2] Consequently, in some situations, Congress allows taxpayers to use the losses in one year to offset the profits of other years. This provision is achieved through the carryback of two years and/or a carryforward of up to 20 years. (Previously, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, carrybacks of up to five years were allowed. [3]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Kieso, Weygandt J. and Terry D. Warfield. Fundamentals of Intermediate Accounting, John Wiley & Sons, 2006. p.699 ISBN 0-471-75272
- ^ Donaldson, Samual A. Federal Income Taxation of Individuals: Cases, Problems and Materials, ThomsonWest, 2 ed. 2007. p.301 ISBN 978-0-314-17597-7
- ^ See generally 26 U.S.C. § 172.
