Expanded Loss Carryback Option for All Businesses - NEW Legislation

Most Businesses May Take Advantage Of Expanded Loss Carryback Option Under New IRS Procedure

Small Businesses and Big Businesses alike can take part in the cheer this season with a new tax law passed this week. In light of the financial hit taken by businesses in general in the recent economic downturn, the IRS is allowing losses incurred during the economic downturn to reduce income from prior tax years to any taxpayer with business losses. See the article below for more information.

Most Businesses May Take Advantage Of Expanded Loss

Carryback Option Under New IRS Procedure
IR-2009-105, Nov. 20, 2009

WASHINGTON — Most businesses may use losses incurred during the economic downturn to reduce income from prior tax years, under a revenue procedure issued today by the Internal Revenue Service. The relief provided under the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 differs from similar relief issued earlier this year in that the previous relief was limited to small businesses. The current relief is applicable to any taxpayer with business losses, except those that received payments under the Troubled Asset Relief Program. The relief also applies to a loss from operations of a life insurance company. Taxpayers under the procedure may elect to carry back a net operating loss (NOL) for a period of three, four or five years, or a loss from operations for four or five years, to offset taxable income in those preceding taxable years. An NOL or loss from operations carried back five years may offset no more than 50 percent of a taxpayer's taxable income in that fifth preceding year. This limitation does not apply to the fourth or third preceding year. The procedure applies to taxpayers that incurred an NOL or a loss from operations for a taxable year ending after Dec. 31, 2007, and beginning before Jan. 1, 2010. http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=215657,00.html