§ 39. Carryback and carryforward of unused credits

§ 39. Carryback and carryforward of unused credits

(a) In general

(1) 1-year carryback and 20-year carryforward If the sum of the business credit carryforwards to the taxable year plus the amount of the current year business credit for the taxable year exceeds the amount of the limitation imposed by subsection (c) of section 38 for such taxable year (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “unused credit year”), such excess (to the extent attributable to the amount of the current year business credit) shall be—

and, subject to the limitations imposed by subsections (b) and (c), shall be taken into account under the provisions of section 38(a) in the manner provided in section 38(a).

(A) a business credit carryback to the taxable year preceding the unused credit year, and

(B) a business credit carryforward to each of the 20 taxable years following the unused credit year,

(2) Amount carried to each year

(A) Entire amount carried to first year The entire amount of the unused credit for an unused credit year shall be carried to the earliest of the 21 taxable years to which (by reason of paragraph (1)) such credit may be carried.

(B) Amount carried to other 20 years The amount of the unused credit for the unused credit year shall be carried to each of the other 20 taxable years to the extent that such unused credit may not be taken into account under section 38(a) for a prior taxable year because of the limitations of subsections (b) and (c).

(3) 5-year carryback for marginal oil and gas well production credit Notwithstanding subsection (d), in the case of the marginal oil and gas well production credit—

(A) this section shall be applied separately from the business credit (other than the marginal oil and gas well production credit),

(B) paragraph (1) shall be applied by substituting “each of the 5 taxable years” for “the taxable year” in subparagraph (A) thereof, and

(C) paragraph (2) shall be applied—

(i) by substituting “25 taxable years” for “21 taxable years” in subparagraph (A) thereof, and

(ii) by substituting “24 taxable years” for “20 taxable years” in subparagraph (B) thereof.

(4) 3-year carryback for applicable credits Notwithstanding subsection (d), in the case of any applicable credit (as defined in section 6417(b))—

(A) this section shall be applied separately from the business credit (other than the applicable credit),

(B) paragraph (1) shall be applied by substituting “each of the 3 taxable years” for “the taxable year” in subparagraph (A) thereof, and

(C) paragraph (2) shall be applied—

(i) by substituting “23 taxable years” for “21 taxable years” in subparagraph (A) thereof, and

(ii) by substituting “22 taxable years” for “20 taxable years” in subparagraph (B) thereof.

(b) Limitation on carrybacks The amount of the unused credit which may be taken into account under section 38(a)(3) for any preceding taxable year shall not exceed the amount by which the limitation imposed by section 38(c) for such taxable year exceeds the sum of—

(1) the amounts determined under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 38(a) for such taxable year, plus

(2) the amounts which (by reason of this section) are carried back to such taxable year and are attributable to taxable years preceding the unused credit year.

(c) Limitation on carryforwards The amount of the unused credit which may be taken into account under section 38(a)(1) for any succeeding taxable year shall not exceed the amount by which the limitation imposed by section 38(c) for such taxable year exceeds the sum of the amounts which, by reason of this section, are carried to such taxable year and are attributable to taxable years preceding the unused credit year.

(d) Transitional rule No portion of the unused business credit for any taxable year which is attributable to a credit specified in section 38(b) or any portion thereof may be carried back to any taxable year before the first taxable year for which such specified credit or such portion is allowable (without regard to subsection (a)).

(Added Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title IV, § 473, July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 828; amended Pub. L. 99–514, title II, § 231(d)(3)(C)(i), title XVIII, § 1846, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2179, 2856; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1002(l)(26), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3381; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, §§ 11511(b)(2), 11611(b)(2), 11801(a)(2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–485, 1388–503, 1388–520; Pub. L. 102–486, title XIX, § 1914(c), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3023; Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, §§ 13302(a)(2), 13322(d), 13443(b)(2), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 555, 563, 569; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, §§ 1205(c), 1703(n)(1), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1775, 1877; Pub. L. 105–34, title VII, § 701(b)(1), title X, § 1083(a), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 869, 951; Pub. L. 105–206, title VI, § 6010(n), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 816; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title I, § 121(b)(2)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–610; Pub. L. 107–16, title VI, § 619(c)(1), June 7, 2001, 115 Stat. 110; Pub. L. 108–357, title II, § 245(b)(1), title III, § 341(c), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1447, 1487; Pub. L. 109–135, title IV, § 412(g), Dec. 21, 2005, 119 Stat. 2637; Pub. L. 111–240, title II, § 2012(a), (b), Sept. 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 2554; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(b)(5)(E), (F), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1202; Pub. L. 117–169, title I, § 13801(d), Aug. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 2012.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 39 was renumbered section 34 of this title.

Another prior section 39 was renumbered section 37 of this title.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 117–169 added par. (4).

2018—Subsec. (a)(3)(A). Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(b)(5)(F), struck out “or the eligible small business credits” after “gas well production credit)”.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(b)(5)(E), struck out par. (4) which related to 5-year carryback for eligible small business credits.

2010—Subsec. (a)(3)(A). Pub. L. 111–240, § 2012(b), inserted “or the eligible small business credits” after “credit)”.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 111–240, § 2012(a), added par. (4).

2005—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 109–135, § 412(g)(1), substituted “the taxable year” for “each of the 1 taxable years”.

Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 109–135, § 412(g)(2), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: “paragraph (1) shall be applied by substituting ‘5 taxable years’ for ‘1 taxable years’ in subparagraph (A) thereof, and”.

2004—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 108–357, § 341(c), added par. (3).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–357, § 245(b)(1), amended heading and text of subsec. (d) generally, substituting provisions prohibiting carryback of the unused business credit attributable to a credit specified in section 38(b) for provisions prohibiting carryback of the enhanced oil recovery credit before 1991, sections 44, 45A, and 45B credits before their enactments, the renewable electricity production credit before its effective date, the empowerment zone employment credit, section 45C credit before July 1, 1996, DC Zone credits before their effective date, the new markets tax credit before Jan. 1, 2001, and the small employer pension plan startup cost credit before Jan. 1, 2002.

2001—Subsec. (d)(10). Pub. L. 107–16, § 619(c)(1), added par. (10).

2000—Subsec. (d)(9). Pub. L. 106–554 added par. (9).

1998—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–206 amended Pub. L. 105–34, § 1083(a)(2). See 1997 Amendment note below.

1997—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1083(a)(1), substituted “1-year” for “3-year” and “20-year” for “15-year” in heading, “1 taxable” for “3 taxable” in subpar. (A), and “20 taxable” for “15 taxable” in subpar. (B).

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1083(a)(2), as amended by Pub. L. 105–206, § 6010(n), in subpar. (A), substituted “21 taxable” for “18 taxable”, and in subpar. (B), substituted “20 years” for “17 years” in heading and “20 taxable” for “17 taxable” in text.

Subsec. (d)(8). Pub. L. 105–34, § 701(b)(1), added par. (8).

1996—Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1703(n)(1)(A), substituted “45A” for “45” in heading.

Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1703(n)(1)(B), substituted “45B” for “45” in heading.

Subsec. (d)(7). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1205(c), added par. (7).

1993—Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 103–66, § 13302(a)(2), added par. (4).

Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 103–66, § 13322(d), added par. (5).

Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 103–66, § 13443(b)(2), added par. (6).

1992—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–486 redesignated par. (5), relating to carryback of enhanced oil recovery credit, as (1), redesignated par. (5), relating to carryback of section 44 credit, as (2), and added par. (3).

1990—Subsec. (d)(1) to (4). Pub. L. 101–508, § 11801(a)(2), struck out par. (1) which related to carryforwards from an unused credit year which did not expire before first taxable year beginning after Dec. 31, 1983, par. (2) which related to carrybacks in determining amount allowable as credit including net tax liability, par. (3) which related to similar rules for research credit under section 30, and par. (4) which provided for no carryback of low-income housing credit before 1987.

Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 101–508, § 11611(b)(2), added par. (5) relating to carryback of section 44 credit.

Pub. L. 101–508, § 11511(b)(2), added par. (5) relating to carryback of enhanced oil recovery credit.

1988—Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 100–647 added par. (4).

1986—Subsec. (d)(1)(A). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1846(1), inserted “(as in effect before the enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1984)”.

Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1846(2), substituted “as defined in section 26(b)” for “as so defined in section 25(b)”.

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 99–514, § 231(d)(3)(C)(i), added par. (3).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2022 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 117–169 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2022, see section 13801(g) of Pub. L. 117–169, set out as an Effective Date note under section 6417 of this title.

Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–240, title II, § 2012(c), Sept. 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 2554, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to credits determined in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2009.”

Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–357, title II, § 245(b)(2), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1448, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to taxable years ending after December 31, 2003.”

Amendment by section 245(b) of Pub. L. 108–357 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2004, see section 245(e) of Pub. L. 108–357, set out as a note under section 38 of this title.

Amendment by section 341(c) of Pub. L. 108–357 applicable to production in taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2004, see section 341(e) of Pub. L. 108–357, set out as a note under section 38 of this title.

Effective Date of 2001 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–16 applicable to costs paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2001, with respect to qualified employer plans first effective after such date, see section 619(d) of Pub. L. 107–16, set out as a note under section 38 of this title.

Effective Date of 2000 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–554 applicable to investments made after Dec. 31, 2000, see § 1(a)(7) [title I, § 121(e)] of Pub. L. 106–554, set out as a note under section 38 of this title.

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–206 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105–34, to which such amendment relates, see section 6024 of Pub. L. 105–206, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–34, title VII, § 701(d), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 869, provided that: “Except as provided in subsection (c) [amending table of subchapters for this chapter], the amendments made by this section [enacting subchapter W of this chapter and amending this section and section 1016 of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 5, 1997].”

Pub. L. 105–34, title X, § 1083(b), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 951, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to credits arising in taxable years beginning after December 31, 1997.”

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by section 1205(c) of Pub. L. 104–188 applicable to amounts paid or incurred in taxable years ending after June 30, 1996, see section 1205(e) of Pub. L. 104–188, set out as a note under section 45K of this title.