IRS Form 1045 Instructions

If you have certain net operating losses, tax overpayments, or business credits that you can carryback to prior tax years, you may be able to apply for a quick refund from the federal government by filing IRS Form 1045, Application for Tentative Refund.

In this comprehensive article, we’ll teach you exactly what you need to know to file your tentative refund claim. Let’s begin by walking through this tax form, step by step.

How do I complete IRS Form 1045?

Top of the form

At the top of the form, you’ll need to enter some information about your background.

Taxpayer information

You will enter the following information at the top of your form, as it is shown on your income tax return. Your tax preparation software may not automatically enter this information for you.

Enter the following:

• Taxpayer’s name, as shown on your income tax return
• Social Security number (SSN), or employer identification number, if filing on behalf of an estate or trust
• Spouse’s SSN, if filing jointly
• Complete mailing address, to include city, state, and zip code.

Line 1

In Line 1, enter the purpose for filing Form 1045.

Line 1a: NOL

If you are using a net operating loss (NOL) to reduce your tax bill, you’ll need to complete Schedule A, first. Enter the number from Line 24 of Schedule A in Line 1a.

Line 1b: Unused General business credit

If you’re claiming a tentative refund based on the carryback of an unused general business credit, you’ll need to attach your computation which shows:

• How you calculated the business credit carryback, and
• How you recomputed the credit after applying the carryback

In general, you must carryback any unused general business credits 1 year. There are special rules for joint filers, depending on the tax year or tax years involved. Refer to the instructions for Form 3800 for more detail.

Line 1c: Net section 1256 contracts loss

If applicable, individuals can carry back a net section 1256 contracts loss to each of the 3 years immediately preceding the loss year. For example, a loss occurring in tax year 2022 can be carried back to tax years 2019 through 2021.

However, estates and trusts cannot make this election. If you choose to make this election, keep in mind the following:

• You’ll have to check Box D at the top of Form 6781
• The amount of contracts loss that you use in a given tax year cannot exceed the net Section 1256 gain in that tax year
• The carryback should be reflected as a reduction to AGI in the ‘After carryback’ column on Line 11.
• Attach a copy of Form 6781 and Schedule D for the year of the net Section 1256 contracts loss, as well as the amended Form 6781 and amended Schedule D for each carryback year

Line 2

In Line 2a, enter the dates of your tax year, if your tax year is different from the calendar year. Otherwise, leave blank.

For Line 2b, enter the date that you filed your federal income tax return.

Line 3

If your application is for an unused credit that another carryback created, enter the year of the first carryback.

Otherwise, leave blank.

Line 4

If you filed a joint return or separate years for some tax years, but not all tax years involved in determining the carryback, list the involved years and specify the type of return for each year:

• Joint return: (J)
• Separate return: (S)

Line 5

If the SSN for a carryback year is different from the one you entered in the taxpayer information field, enter the SSN used in Line 5a. In Line 5b, list the applicable tax year(s).

Line 6

If you changed your accounting period, give the date you received permission to change your accounting period. If not, leave blank.

Line 7

If you filed a petition in tax court for the carryback year(s), check Yes. Otherwise, check No.

Line 8

Are you required to file Form 8886 to disclose any reportable transactions that caused a decrease in tax liability?

Check the appropriate box.

Line 9

For NOL carrybacks or net Section 1256 contracts loss, did this cause the release of foreign tax credits, or other credits due to the release of the foreign tax credit?

If so, you cannot use Form 1045 to carry the released foreign tax credits to earlier tax years. You also cannot use Form 1045 to carry any released general business tax credits to earlier years. In both situations, you must file an amended tax return.

Computation of decrease in tax

In Lines 10 through 32, we’ll calculate the decrease in your tax liability based upon the carryback. However, if you did not enter any NOL (Line 1a) or net Section 1256 contracts loss (Line 1c), then you may skip Lines 10 through 15 and proceed directly to Line 16.

How to complete columns

For each line, you might see instructions marked:

• Before carryback
• After carryback

If the instructions are the same for before and after carryback, you’ll simply find the instructions for each line, applicable to both ‘before carryback’ and ‘after carryback’ calculations.

Follow the directions for each column. Start with the first column. If an NOL isn’t fully absorbed in a year to which it is carried, you’ll need to complete Schedule B to figure the amount to carry to the next carryback year.

Before beginning with Line 10, you must first use at least one pair of columns to enter the amounts before and after carryback for each year to which the loss or credit is being carried.

Example

For example, a net operating loss generally cannot be carried back from tax year 2022. However, an exception exists for farming losses, which can be carried back two tax years.

Using a farming loss as an example, for tax year 2022, you will need to enter tax year information in the first two columns. The earliest year goes into column 1, while the next year goes into column 2.

In column 1, you would enter ‘2nd’ and 2020. This heading would read: “2nd preceding tax year ended 12/31/2020.”

As the first preceding year, column 2 would read: “1st preceding tax year ended 12/31/2021.”

Line 10: NOL deduction after carryback

The Form instructions contain several rules for you to figure the tax years to which you must carry an NOL shown on Schedule A, Line 24.

General rule

Most taxpayers cannot carry back an NOL from 2022. Exceptions exist for farming losses and casualty insurance companies (not life insurance companies).

Farming rule

The NOL carryback period for farming losses is 2 tax years. Any NOL not used in the previous tax years may be carried forward to the next tax year. Unused NOL losses may be carried forward indefinitely until used.

Special rule

Special rules may exist for taxpayers who filed a joint return in some, but not all tax years. You can find more information in IRS Publication 536, Net Operating Losses for Individuals, Estates, and Trusts.

Line 11: Adjusted gross income

Before carryback

Enter your AGI for the carryback year as shown on your original or amended tax return.

After carryback

Enter your recalculated AGI after applying:

• NOL
• Net Section 1256 contracts loss carry back
• Refigured items of income, credits, and deductions based on a percentage of AGI.

Refigured items may include:

• Special allowance for passive activity losses from rental real estate activities
• Taxable Social Security benefits
• IRA deductions
• Student loan interest deductions
• Tuition and fees deduction
• Child tax credit
• Excludable savings bond interest
• Exclusion of amounts received under an employer’s adoption assistance program

Line 12: Deductions

Before carryback

Include your deductions from AGI as shown on your income tax return. You may find this on one of the following:

• 2019 Form 1040, Line 11a
• 2020 & 2021 Form 1040, Line 14
• 2019 Form 1040-NR, Lines 37 and 38
• 2020 & 2021 Form 1040-NR, Lines 12 and 13a

After carryback

If you did not itemize deductions on Schedule A, enter the standard tax deduction for the given tax year.

If you did itemize deductions, you may need to refigure any deductions based upon a percentage of AGI. To recalculate these deductions, use the refigured AGI from Line 11. You might need to refigure the following deductions:

• Medical expenses
• Mortgage insurance premiums
• Personal casualty & theft losses
• Miscellaneous deductions subject to 2% AGI limit (currently suspended)

You also will need to refigure any QBI deduction using Form 8995 or Form 8995-A, and their associated schedules.

Line 13

Subtract Line 12 from Line 11.

Line 14: Exemptions

For individuals, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 reduced the personal exemption amount for tax years 2018 through 2025 to zero.

Before carryback

Estates and trusts can enter the amount from Form 1041, Line 21, for the applicable carryback year.

After carryback

Estates and trusts can enter the amount from Form 1041, Line 21, as previously adjusted, for the applicable carryback year.

Line 15: Taxable income

In both columns, you will calculate taxable income by subtracting Line 13 from Line 14.

Line 16: Income tax

Before carryback

Enter your income tax liability as originally calculated in the income tax return.

After carryback

Use the refigured taxable income number from Line 15 to recalculate your income tax. for each applicable carryback year. You may need to include any tax from IRS Form 4970, Tax on Accumulation Distribution of Trusts, or IRS Form 4972, Tax on Lump-Sum Distributions.

Also, attach any schedule used to calculate your tax, or an explanation of the method used to determine your new tax liability.

Line 17: Excess advance payment(s) for premium tax credit or child tax credit

For the Premium Tax Credit (PTC), you will need to use Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit, to recalculate the amount of your PTC, advance PTC (APTC), and excess APTC for each column.

Be sure to include the excess APTC for both Before carryback and After carryback columns. Also include any excess advance payments of the child tax credit for carryback year 2021. For additional information, see the 2021 instructions for Schedule 8812.

Line 18: Alternative minimum tax

Any NOL carryback or net Section 1256 contract loss may cause or impact a taxpayer’s alternative minimum tax (AMT) situation. Individuals should use IRS Form 6251, Alternative Minimum Tax, to determine if the new calculation causes or increases AMT. Estates and trusts will use Schedule I from Form 1041.

Line 19

In both columns, add Lines 16 though 18 and enter the total in Line 19.

Line 20: General business credit

Before carryback

Enter any general business credit as shown on your original tax return.

After carryback

For each prior taxable year with a carryback, you’ll need to recalculate general business credits using IRS Form 3800, General Business Credit.

Line 21: Net premium tax credit and child tax credit

If you claimed a premium tax credit in tax years 2019 through 2021, you’ll need to complete a new Form 8962 using your recalculated income. After recalculating the PTC, enter the new number in the ‘After carryback’ column for the applicable prior year.

Include the child tax credits on Line 21. You may need to refer to your federal return and applicable instructions for the carryback year(s) to determine the before-carryback and after-carryback child tax credits.

Line 22: other credits

Refer to your tax return for any additional credits. A partial list of these tax credits includes:

• Earned income credit
• Credit for child and dependent care expenses
• Education credits
• Foreign tax credit
• Retirement savings contributions credit

If you make an entry in this line, please identify the credit(s) that you claim.

Before carryback

Enter the original credits from your income tax return.

After carryback

Refigure any tax credits based on AGI, modified AGI, or your tax liability. You’ll need to use your refigured AGI, modified AGI, or tax liability to recalculate your credits in each carryback year.

Line 23: Total credits

For each column, combine the totals from Lines 20 through 22 and enter this number in Line 23.

Line 24

For each column, subtract Line 23 from Line 19.

Line 25: Self-employment tax

Do not make any adjustments to self-employment tax because of a loss carryback.

Line 26: Additional Medicare tax

Do not make any adjustments to Additional Medicare tax because of carrybacks.

Line 27: Net investment income tax

Before carryback

Enter the original net investment income tax (NIIT) as calculated on IRS Form 8960 for the applicable taxable year.

After carryback

For each affected carryback year, enter any refigured NIIT calculated on a revised Form 8960 for that taxable year. For more details, please see IRC Section 1411.

Line 28

Reserved for future use. Do not enter anything here.

Line 29: Other taxes

Review your tax return for previous years to identify other taxes not previously mentioned. If you make an entry on this line, you’ll need to identify the applicable taxes.

Line 30: Total tax

For each column, add lines 24 through 29. This is your total tax.

Line 31

Enter the amount from the ‘After carryback’ column, Line 30, for each applicable tax year.

Line 32: Decrease in tax

Subtract Line 31 from Line 30 for each tax year.

Line 33: overpayment of tax due to a claim of right adjustment

If you’re applying for a tentative refund based upon an overpayment of tax under IRC Section 1341(b)(1), enter this amount on Line 33. Also, attach a computation showing the information required by Treasury Regulations Section 5.6411-1(d).

Taxpayer signature

In the taxpayer’s signature field, sign and date the form. If you and your spouse are jointly filing Form 1045, then you and your spouse must both sign.

Below your signature, your paid tax preparer may enter their personal information and sign.

Schedule A: Net operating loss (NOL)

In Schedule A, we will calculate the actual net operating loss. This is the number that you will then enter into Line 1, above.

Line 1

For individuals, subtract either your standard deduction or your itemized deductions (Form 1040, Line 12), from your AGI figure (Form 1040, Line 11). Enter the result here.

Estates and trusts should follow the instructions for Form 1041 and IRS Publications 536 for more guidance in determining their NOL.

Line 2

In Line 2, enter your nonbusiness capital losses before applicable limits. Enter these losses as a positive number.

However, do not include any Section 1202 exclusion amounts, even if entered as a loss on Schedule D of Form 1041.

Line 3

Enter your nonbusiness capital gains in Line 3, without respect to any exclusions.

Line 4

If Line 2 is greater than Line 3, enter the difference. Otherwise, enter zero and proceed to Line 5.

Line 5

If Line 3 is greater than Line 2, enter the difference. Otherwise, enter zero and proceed to Line 6.

After having completed Lines 4 and 5, review them for accuracy. Exactly one line should contain the difference between Lines 2 and 3. The other line should be zero.

If satisfactory, proceed to Line 6.

Line 6: Nonbusiness deductions

Enter, as a positive number, any deductions not connected with a trade or business. According to the form instructions, this should include:

• IRA deductions
• Health savings account deductions
• Archer MSA deductions
• Deductions for payments on behalf of a self-employed individual to a SEP, SIMPLE, or qualified retirement plan
• Alimony paid
  • If your divorce was finalized on or after January 1, 2019, you should not have a deduction for alimony paid to a former spouse
• Most itemized deductions, except for:
  • Casualty and theft losses resulting from a federally declared disaster
  • State income tax on trade or business income
• Standard deduction

Do not include any business deductions on Line 6. This includes the following:

• State income tax on income from a trade or business
• Educator expenses
• Moving expenses for members of the Armed Forces
• Deduction for the deductible part of self-employment health insurance and the deduction for the deductible portion of self-employment tax
• Rental losses
• Loss on the sale or exchange of business real estate or depreciable property
• Shares of a business loss from a partnership or S-corporation
• Ordinary loss on the sale or exchange of small business stock (Section 1244 stock)
• Ordinary loss on the sale or exchange of stock in a small business investment company
• Loss from the sale of accounts receivable under the accrual accounting method
• Casualty or theft losses from a federally declared disaster

Line 7: Nonbusiness income other than capital gains

Enter any income not from a trade or business. This can be income items such as ordinary dividends, annuities, and interest income from investments.

Line 8

In Line 8, combine Lines 5 and 7, then enter the result here.

Line 9

If Line 6 is greater than Line 8, enter the difference. Otherwise, enter zero and proceed to Line 10.

Line 10

If Line 8 is greater than Line 6, enter the difference, not to exceed the amount in Line 5.

Otherwise, enter zero and proceed to Line 11.

After having completed Lines 9 and 10, review them for accuracy. Exactly one line should contain the difference between Lines 6 and 8. The other line should be zero.

If satisfactory, proceed to Line 11.

Line 11: Business losses without limitation

If you have business losses, enter them here. Do not apply any limitations to the business losses entered in Line 11.

Line 12: Business capital gains

Enter any business capital gains, without respect to Section 1202 exclusion.

Line 13

Combine Lines 10 and 12, and enter the result here.

Line 14

In Line 14, subtract Line 13 from Line 11. Enter the result if a positive number. If this results in zero or a negative number, enter ‘0.’

Line 15

Combine Lines 4 and 14. Enter the result here.

Line 16

For individual taxpayers, enter any loss, if applicable, from your 2022 Form 1040, Schedule D, Line 16.

For estates and trusts, enter the loss from Line 19, column (3) of Schedule D from Form 1041.

Enter any losses as a positive number. If you do not have a loss on the applicable line, and you do not have a Section 1202 exclusion, proceed to Line 22 and enter the amount from Line 15.

Line 17: Section 1202 exclusion

Enter any gain that you excluded under Section 1202 for the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock. Enter this as a positive number.

Line 18

Subtract Line 17 from Line 16. If the result is zero or less, enter ‘0.’

Line 19

For individual taxpayers, enter any loss, if applicable, from your 2022 Form 1040, Schedule D, Line 21.

For estates and trusts, enter the loss from Line 20 of Schedule D from Form 1041.

Enter any losses as a positive number.

Line 20

If Line 18 is greater than Line 19, enter the difference. Otherwise, enter zero and proceed to Line 21.

Line 21

If Line 19 is greater than Line 18, enter the difference. Otherwise, enter zero and proceed to Line 21.

After having completed Lines 19 and 20, review them for accuracy. Exactly one line should contain the difference between Lines 18 and 19. The other line should be zero.

If satisfactory, proceed to Line 22.

Line 22

Subtract Line 20 from Line 15. If the result is zero or less, enter ‘0.’

Line 23: NOL deduction from other years

Enter any NOL deduction from other taxable years in Line 23 as a positive number.

Line 24

Combine the following:

• Line 1
• Line 9
• Line 17
• Lines 21 through 23

If the result is a negative number, enter that number here and in Line 1a on Form 1045. If this is zero or a positive number, you do not have any NOL for the current year.

Schedule B: NOL Carryover

In the carryback of an NOL, taxpayers will use Schedule B to determine the NOL deduction for each carryback year and the amount of loss to be carried forward, if applicable. Similar to Form 1045, you’ll enter the earliest year in the first column, followed by the second earliest year, etc.

Using our farmer example for tax year 2022, this would look like:

• Column 1: 2nd year preceding tax year ended 12/31/2020
• Column 2: 1st year preceding tax year ended 12/31/2021

Let’s begin with Line 1.

Line 1: NOL Deduction

Starting in the first column, enter the amount of the loss carried back to the second preceding tax year. Do not use the amount from Line 10.

For subsequent columns, use the amount from Line 10 of the previous column in Schedule B. For example, Column 2 would contain the Line 10 amount from Column 1 on Schedule B.

Line 2: Taxable income before NOL carryback

Do not use any NOL carryback from the current tax year, or later tax years. However, you should account for all NOLs from prior taxable years, which are otherwise allowable as carrybacks or carryforwards.

If your taxable income is shown as zero on your original return or an amended return, then refigure your income without limiting the result to zero. Enter the result in Line 2 as a negative number.

Estates and trusts will need to increase this amount by the sum of:

• Any charitable deduction
• Any income distribution deduction

Line 3: Net capital loss deduction

Individuals will enter the amount on Line 21 from Schedule D on Form 1040 as a positive number, if applicable. Estates and trusts should use the number on Line 16, Schedule D, Form 1041.

Line 4: Section 1202 exclusion

Enter any gain that you excluded under Section 1202 (qualified small business stock) as a positive number.

Line 5: Section 199A deduction

Enter any QBI deduction that you claimed on your tax return under Section 199A(g) for the tax year. For more guidance, refer to the instructions for either Form 8995 or Form 8995-A.

Line 6: Adjustments to AGI

If you entered any amounts on either Line 3 or Line 4, you must recalculate certain income items and deductions based upon AGI. These deductions include:

• Special allowance for passive activity losses from rental real estate
• Taxable Social Security benefits
• IRA deductions
• Excludable savings bond interest
• Exclusion of amounts received under your employer’s adoption assistance program
• Student loan interest deduction
• Tuition and fees deduction

For purposes of recalculation, items in Lines 3 and 4 increase your AGI. Generally, you should determine the adjustment to each item in order of appearance. If you received Social Security benefits and deducted IRA contributions, you should refer to IRS Publication 590-A, Contributions to IRAs to refigure your taxable Social Security benefits and IRA deductions.

Line 7: Adjustments to itemized deduction

Individuals can skip this line if either of the following apply:

• You took the standard deduction for the applicable tax year
• Amounts on Schedule B, Lines 3 through 5, are zero

Otherwise, you will need to complete Lines 11 through 38. On Line 7, enter the amount from Line 38, or Line 12 of the itemized deductions limitation worksheet, contained in the Form 1045 instructions.

For estates and trusts, you’ll refigure any miscellaneous itemized deductions on Line 15c, Form 1041, for years prior to 2018. Also recalculate any casualty or theft losses from IRS Form 4684, Line 18, by substituting the MAGI for the AGI of the estate or trust.

For this purpose, you will calculate MAGI by adding the following amounts previously used for calculating these deductions:

• Total of the amounts from Schedule B, Lines 3 through 6
• Exemption amount from Form 1041, Line 20
• Income distribution deduction as shown or adjusted, from Form 1041, Line 18

Line 8

For estates and trusts only, enter the applicable exemption amount for the given tax year.

Line 9: Modified taxable income

In Line 9, combine Lines 2 through 8. If this amount is zero or less, enter ‘0.’

Line 10: NOL carryover

Generally, subtract Line 9 from Line 1. If this results in a negative number, enter ‘0.’ After completing all applicable columns, carry the number forward to the next tax year from Line 10 on the column for the first tax year preceding the current tax year.

For example, in 2022, carry forward the number from Line 10 of the 2021 column forward to 2023.

Line 11: AGI before NOL carryback

For lines 11 through 38, you only need to complete these entries for carryback years in which:

• You itemized deductions, and
• Lines 3, 4, or 5 are greater than zero

If this is the case, enter the AGI before the NOL carryback, then proceed to Line 12.

Line 12

Add Line 3 and Line 6, then enter the total here.

Line 13: Modified adjusted gross income

Add Line 11 and Line 12, then enter the result in Line 13.

Line 14

Enter any medical expenses from Schedule A, Line 4. This number represents the medical expense deduction after accounting for the AGI-based floor for the tax year.

Line 15

Enter any medical expenses from Schedule A, Line 1. This number represents the medical expense deduction before accounting for the AGI-based floor for the tax year.

Line 16

Multiply Line 13 by the applicable percentage from Schedule A, Line 3.

As a cautionary tale, look at each year’s Schedule A, to ensure that you’re applying the correct percentage for the given tax year.

Line 17

Subtract Line 16 from Line 15. If this results in a negative number, enter ‘0.’

Line 18

Subtract Line 17 from Line 14.

Line 19: Mortgage insurance premiums

If applicable, enter the amount of mortgage insurance premiums paid during the tax year, either on Line 8d, Schedule A, or as adjusted.

Line 20: refigured mortgage insurance premiums

Although no longer available, mortgage insurance premiums may be deductible based upon your modified AGI.

If your MAGI, as calculated on Line 13, is $100,000 or less ($50,000 for married couples filing separate return), then your deduction is not limited. Simply enter the amount from Line 19 here, then enter ‘0’ on Line 21, below.

If your MAGI is more than $100,000 ($50,000 for married couples filing separately), then you will need to complete the mortgage insurance premiums deduction worksheet, located in the form instructions. Use this worksheet to refigure your deduction, then enter the result here.

Line 21

Subtract Line 20 from Line 19.

Line 22

Carry down the MAGI number from Line 13 of Schedule B.

Line 23

Enter any NOL carryback from a prior year that was deducted to figure Line 11 on Schedule B.

Line 24

Add Line 22 and Line 23, then enter the result in Line 24.

Line 25: Charitable contributions from Schedule A

Enter the amount of any charitable contributions directly from Schedule A as follows:

• Form 1040: Schedule A, Line 14
• Form 1040-NR: Schedule A, Line 5

Line 26: Refigured charitable contributions

You will need to refigure charitable contributions by using the number in Line 24 as your AGI if either of the following apply:

• You entered a positive number in Line 23, or
• You had items of income or deductions based upon AGI that are listed in the instructions for Line 6 of Schedule B

If you must refigure your charitable contributions, then do the following:

• Figure the adjustment to each item of income or deduction as outlined for Line 6, without any NOL carryback when figuring AGI. Attach documentation showing your calculations.
• Add the following lines from Schedule B to the above adjustments:
  • Line 3
  • Line 4
  • Line 5
  • Line 11
  • Line 23

Line 27

Subtract Line 26 from Line 25.

Line 28

In Line 28, enter the amount of casualty and theft losses entered in Form 4684, Line 18. This represents the total casualty and theft losses after the AGI-based floor.

Line 29

In Line 29, enter the amount of casualty and theft losses entered in Form 4684, Line 16. This represents the total casualty and theft losses before the AGI-based floor.

Line 30

Multiply the figure in Line 22 by 10%.

Line 31

Subtract Line 30 from Line 29. If this is a negative number or zero, enter ‘0.’

Line 32

Subtract Line 31 from Line 28 and enter this number here.

Lines 33 through 37

Skip these lines, as they are reserved for future use by the Internal Revenue Service.

Line 38

Combine the following lines:

• Line 18
• Line 21
• Line 27
• Line 32

Enter the result here and in Line 7.

Video walkthrough

Watch this instructional video as we walk through this tax form, step by step.

Frequently asked questions

Below are some commonly asked questions about Form 1045.

Where can I find IRS Form 1045?

You may download this tax form from the IRS website. For your convenience, we’ve included the latest copy in this article.

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