NOL Poison Pills: Using Corporate Law for Tax Purposes
117 J. Tax’n. 312-318 (Dec. 2012)
12 Pages Posted: 23 Jul 2012 Last revised: 28 Oct 2015
Date Written: October 19, 2012
Abstract
Hundreds of thousands of corporations report net operating loss (NOL) carryovers every year. Corporations, with the benefit of NOL rules, may turn disappointing losses into favorable tax results. With an economic recovery on the horizon, corporations are in better position to fully utilize the benefits of NOLs generated in prior years. NOL usage is not without peril, however. Corporations should carefully monitor corporate ownership changes to ensure that NOLs are not lost to the NOL trafficking rules. Under the NOL trafficking rules, excessive shareholder turnover triggers substantial NOL limitations. Unfortunately, corporations are not in control of their shareholder turnover, and therefore not in complete control of their NOLs. To maintain NOL control, corporate tax planning may utilize corporate law, including an NOL poison pill plan. This article discusses the motivations, benefits and consequences of NOL poison pill plans.
Keywords: Tax, NOL, Poison Pill, 382, tax planning, corporate law, net operating loss, tax loss, shareholder
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