If a company’s deductible expenses exceed its income, generally a net operating loss (NOL) occurs. The upside is tax benefits: If the tax year generating the NOL ended on or before 12/31/17, the NOL can be carried back up to 2 years to generate an immediate tax refund and boost cash flow. Any remaining NOL can be carried forward up to 20 years. Or the entire NOL can be carried forward. But the TCJA makes significant, generally unfavorable, changes to the tax treatment of NOLs. The rules are complicated, especially for pass-through entities. Contact us for details.


Author: Jeff Lucke
Jeff Lucke, CPA, is the founder of Lucke & Associates, with an entrepreneurial background. Jeff has had ownership interests in businesses within several industries including automotive, construction, healthcare, telecommunications, and restaurants, as well as being active in real estate. As an owner of a growing CPA firm and other businesses, he has gained unique insights into the challenges and issues that face other growing businesses that most other CPAs do not have. This kind of knowledge ultimately benefits every one of the firm’s clients. He is very involved with clients and becomes deeply involved in their businesses and helping them succeed. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting; his professional affiliations include the AICPA and KSCPA. Jeff currently serves a board member for his community on the Construction Financial Managers Association, the American Diabetes Association, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.