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IRS Releases Guidance on New Five-Year NOL Carryback

By Alistair M. Nevius, J.D.

Please note: This item is from our archives and was published in 2009. It is provided for historical reference. The content may be out of date and links may no longer function.

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The IRS has issued guidance on how eligible small businesses can take advantage of the increased net operating loss (NOL) carryback provisions enacted in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, P.L. 111-5 (ARRA) (Rev. Proc. 2009- 19). Under those provisions, eligible small businesses may carry back a 2008 NOL up to five years instead of the otherwise available two-year limit. Eligible small businesses are those with average gross receipts of $15 million or less for the three-year period ending in 2008.

In the revenue procedure, the Service prescribed how businesses may elect the longer carryback period under Sec. 172(b) (1)(H). A business may make the election for an NOL occurring in a tax year either beginning or ending in calendar 2008; the choice is irrevocable. Businesses that have not yet filed a return for the NOL year may make the election by attaching a statement to their return. For an NOL year beginning in 2008, the business must file the return with the statement by the return’s due date, including any extensions. However, for an NOL year ending in 2008 or before February 17, 2009 (the date of ARRA’s enactment), the return with statement must have been filed on or before April 17, 2009.

Businesses that have already filed a return for the 2008 NOL tax year with a carryback election under prior law may file an amended return with a statement of the new carryback period before April 17, 2009, or the date that is six months after the due date for that return (not including extensions), whichever is later. Businesses that elected to forgo the priorlaw carryback in a return filed for the 2008 NOL year may revoke that election and file a new election on or before April 17, 2009. The revenue procedure also provides specifics pertaining to partners of a partnership, shareholders in S corporations, and sole proprietors.

In an accompanying news release (IR-2009-26), the Service said it will closely monitor related filings of Forms 1045, Application for Tentative Refund, and 1139, Corporation Application for Tentative Refund, for sole proprietorships and corporations, respectively, and work to issue refunds within 45 days or sooner. The provisions should help struggling businesses receive a quick cash infusion, IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said in the release.