O

General Business Credit

Form 3800

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service  Attach to your tax return. 

 See instructions on pages 3 and 4.

Name(s) shown on return Identifying 

Current Year Credit

1a

2

3 3

4 4

5 5

6

8

7

Passive activity credits included on line 2 (see instructions)

Subtract line 3 from line 2

Passive activity credits allowed for 2004 (see instructions)

Carryforward of general business credit to 2004. See instructions for the schedule to attach

Carryback of general business credit from 2005 (see instructions)

Current year credit. Add lines 4 through 7

Allowable Credit

For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see page 2. 

Part II

Part I

2

b

d

e

f

g

6

Cat. No. 12392F

Current year credit. Add lines 1a through 1t

q

h

i

j

k

l

1h

1i

1j

1k

1p

1a

1b

1d

1e

1f

1g

Current year investment credit (Form 3468)

Current year work opportunity credit (Form 5884)

Current year credit for alcohol used as fuel (Form 6478)

Current year credit for increasing research activities (Form 6765)

Current year low-income housing credit (Form 8586)

Current year disabled access credit (Form 8826)

Current year enhanced oil recovery credit (Form 8830)

Current year renewable electricity production credit (Form 8835, Section A only)

Current year Indian employment credit (Form 8845)

Current year credit for employer social security and Medicare taxes paid on certain employee tips (Form 8846)

Current year credit for contributions to selected community development corporations (Form 8847)

Current year trans-Alaska pipeline liability fund credit (see instructions)

1q

p

Current year orphan drug credit (Form 8820) 1l

c Current year welfare-to-work credit (Form 8861) 1c

8

7

1r r

Current year general credits from an electing large partnership (Schedule K-1 (Form 1065-B))

Credit allowed for the current year. Enter the smaller of line 8 or line 18 here and on Form

1040, line 54; Form 1120, Schedule J, line 6d; Form 1120-A, Part I, line 2; Form 1041, Schedule

G, line 2c; or the applicable line of your return. If line 19 is smaller than line 8, see instructions.

Individuals, estates, and trusts: See instructions if claiming the research credit. C corporations:

See Schedule A if claiming any regular investment credit carryforward and the line 19 instructions

if there has been an ownership change, acquisition, or reorganization

19

19

9

f

Foreign tax credit 12a

Credits from Form 1040, lines 47 through 53

12a

c Possessions tax credit (Form 5735, line 17 or 27) 12c

d Credit for fuel from a nonconventional source 12d

Qualified electric vehicle credit (Form 8834, line 20)

Add lines 12a through 12e 12f

10

Net income tax. Subtract line 12f from line 11. If zero, skip lines 14 through 17 and enter -0- on line 18

10 Alternative minimum tax (see instructions)

Tentative minimum tax (see instructions)

14

11

Enter 25% (.25) of the excess, if any, of line 14 over $25,000 (see instructions)

13

Subtract line 17 from line 13. If zero or less, enter -0-

17

16

b 12b

Regular tax before credits (see instructions)

Add lines 9 and 10

Enter the greater of line 15 or line 16

15

16

e 12e

14 Net regular tax. Subtract line 12f from line 9. If zero or less, enter -0-

18

9

15

17

18

11

13

(99)

m Current year new markets credit (Form 8874) 1m

n Current year credit for small employer pension plan startup costs (Form 8881) 1n

o Current year credit for employer-provided child care facilities and services (Form 8882) 1o

t

s

Current year biodiesel fuels credit (Form 8864)

Current year low sulfur diesel fuel production credit (Form 8896)

1t

1s
Form 3800 (2004) 

Additional General Business Credit Allowed by Internal Revenue Code Section 

Repeal by the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990)—Only Applicable to C Corpor

A corporation (other than an S corporation) may be entitled to a larger general bu

additional credit against the AMT if: (a) it is claiming a regular investment credit carr

6 attributable, in whole or in part, to the regular investment credit under sec

amendment by the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990), (b) some of that investme

be used because line 18 is smaller than line 8, and (c) it is required to file Form 4

Minimum Tax—Corporations. Complete Schedule A to see if the corporation is 

additional credit.

Schedule A—

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. We

ask for the information on this form to

carry out the Internal Revenue laws of

the United States. You are required to

give us the information. We need it to

ensure that you are complying with

these laws and to allow us to figure and

collect the right amount of tax.

The time needed to complete and file

this form will vary depending on

individual circumstances. The estimated

average time is:

Recordkeeping 

Learning about the

law or the form 

Preparing and sendin

the form to the IRS 

If you have comment

accuracy of these time 

suggestions for making 

simpler, we would be h

you. See the instruction

return with which this f

You are not required to provide the

information requested on a form that is

subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act

unless the form displays a valid OMB

Enter the portion of the credit shown on line 6 that is attributable to the regular investment credit

under section 46 (before amendment by the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990)

Tentative minimum tax (from line 16)

Multiply line 21 by 25% (.25)

Enter the amount from line 18

Enter the portion of the credit shown on line 8 that is not attributable

to the regular investment credit under section 46 (before amendment

by the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990)

21

Subtract line 24 from line 23. If zero or less, enter -0-

22

Subtract line 25 from line 20. If zero or less, enter -0-

For purposes of this line only, refigure the amount on Form 4626, line

10, by using zero on Form 4626, line 6, and enter the result here

Multiply line 27 by 10% (.10)

Net income tax (from line 13)

Enter the amount from line 19

Subtract line 30 from line 29

Subtract line 28 from line 31

Enter the smallest of line 22, line 26, or line 32

Subtract line 33 from line 21

Enter the greater of line 15 or line 34

Subtract line 35 from line 29. Also enter this amount on line 19 instead of the amount

previously figured on that line. Write “Sec. 38(c)(2)” next to your entry on line 19

20

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

20

22

25

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

24

21

27

23

36

control number. Books or records

relating to a form or its instructions must

be retained as long as their contents

may become material in the

administration of any Internal Revenue

law. Generally, tax returns and return

information are confidential, as required

by Internal Revenue Code section 6103.

26

36
Form 3800 (2004) 

Section references are to the Internal

Revenue Code.

General Instructions

Who Must File

You must file Form 3800 if any of the

following apply.

1. You have more than one of the credits

listed on lines 1a through 1t.

Carryback and Carryforward

of Unused Credit

If you cannot use part or all of the credit

because of the tax liability limit (line 19 is

less than line 8), carry the unused credit back

one tax year. To carry back an unused credit,

file an amended return (Form 1040X, 1120X,

or other amended return) for the prior tax

year or an application for tentative refund

(Form 1045, Application for Tentative Refund,

or Form 1139, Corporation Application for

Tentative Refund). Generally, if you file an

application for a tentative refund, it must be

filed by the end of the tax year following the

tax year in which the credit arose.

If you have an unused credit after

carrying it back, carry it forward to each of

the 20 tax years after the year of the credit.

Any qualified business credits (as defined in

section 196(c)) that are unused after the

last tax year of the 20-year carryforward

period (or at the time an individual taxpayer

dies or other taxpayer, such as a

corporation or partnership, ceases to exist)

may be taken as a deduction in the earlier

of:

Change in Filing or Marital Status

● You filed as single in the credit year, but

filed a joint return in the carryback or

carryforward year;

● You filed a joint return in the credit year,

but filed a joint return with a different

spouse in the carryback or carryforward

year; or

● You were married and filed a separate

return in the credit year, but filed a joint

return with the same or a different spouse

in the carryback or carryforward year.

Determine your separate tax liability in the

carryback or carryforward year as follows.

1. Figure your tax for the carryback or

carryforward year as though you were

married filing a separate return.

2. Figure your spouse’s tax in that year

as though he or she was married filing a

separate return.

3. Add the amounts in steps 1 and 2.

4. Divide the amount in step 1 by the

amount in step 3. The result should be

rounded to at least three decimal places.

5. Multiply the decimal in step 4 by the

total tax shown on your joint return for the

carryback or carryforward year. The result

is your separate tax liability and a

carryback or carryforward credit is applied

against this amount only.

Although your carryback or carryforward of

the credit is limited to your separate tax

liability, the amount of your refund resulting

from the carryback or carryforward is further

limited to your share of the joint overpayment.

This is found by subtracting your separate tax

liability (as determined above) from your

contribution toward the payment.

Unless you have an ag

evidence of each spouse

toward the payment of t

your contribution include

on your wages and your 

estimated tax or tax paid 

Your share of these pay

using the same formula 

determining your separa

Substitute the joint estim

paid with the return, for 

the original return for the 

resulted in an overpaym

contribution by your sha

Credit Ordering Rule

● Carryforwards to that 

ones first,

● The general business 

that year, and

● The carryback to that 

When relevant, the co

general business credit r

3800 arising in a single t

in the following order.

● Regular investment cr

● Rehabilitation investm

● Energy investment cre

● Reforestation investme

● Work opportunity cred

jobs credit carryforward)

● Welfare-to-work credit

● Credit for alcohol used 

● Credit for increasing re

● Low-income housing c

● Enhanced oil recovery 

● Disabled access credi

● Renewable electricity 

● Indian employment cre

Your general business credit is limited to

your tax liability. Therefore, if you filed a

joint return in a carryback or carryforward

year and your marital status or filing status

has changed, you may need to figure your

separate tax liability in that carryback or

carryforward year. This would apply if:

General business credits 

3800 are treated as used 

first-out basis by offsetti

earliest-earned credits fi

order in which the credit

tax year is:

2. Any of those credits (other than the

low-income housing credit) is from a

passive activity, or you have a carryback or

carryforward of any of those credits.

3. You are claiming the trans-Alaska

pipeline liability fund credit or general

credits from an electing large partnership.

If you are not required to file Form 3800,

file only the applicable credit form listed on

lines 1a through 1r.

● Credit for contribution

community development 

● Trans-Alaska pipeline 

● General credits from a

partnership.

● Credit for small emplo

startup costs.

● Credit for employer-pr

facilities and services.

● Orphan drug credit.

● New markets credit.

● Credit for employer soc

Medicare taxes paid on c

Although these credits 

on Form 3800, keep a se

each credit to ensure tha

deductions are squande

Attach a copy of the c

your amended return or 

tentative refund. For purposes of this special deduction,

only half of the following credits may be

taken into account: (a) unused investment

credit (other than a credit to which section

48(q)(3) applies as in effect prior to repeal

by the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990)

and (b) unused credit for increasing

research activities.

● Biodiesel fuels credit.

● Low sulfur diesel fuel 

See new Forms 8864 and 8896

respectively for information on how to

claim these credits.

The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004

created two new general business credits.

Also, the new law expanded the credit

for the use of certain qualifying resources

at certain qualifying facilities. See Form

8835 for details on the new resources and

facilities and how to compute the credit.

What’s New

1. The biodiesel fuels credit, effective for

fuel sold or used, after 2004; and

2. The low sulfur diesel fuel production

credit, effective for expenses paid or

incurred after 2002. ● The tax year following the last tax year

of the 20-year carryforward period or

● The tax year in which the individual

taxpayer dies or other taxpayer ceases to

exist.

The general business credit includes the

following:

The credits associated with items 2-4

have special tax liability limits and are not

reported on Form 3800. Any carryback,

carryforward, and passive activity limitation

of these credits is computed separately on

the forms on which they are claimed, and

not on Form 3800.

1. The credits listed on lines 1a through 1t,

2. The empowerment zone and renewal

community employment credit (Form 8844),

3. The New York Liberty Zone business

employee credit (Form 8884), and

4. The portion of the renewable electricity

and refined coal production credit figured in

Section B of Form 8835.
Form 3800 (2004) 

Specific Instructions

Part I—Current Year Credit

Lines 1a–1r

Line 1s

Line 1t

Line 3

Line 5

Line 6

For each credit, attach a detailed

computation showing (a) the tax year the

credit originated, the amount of the credit,

and the amount allowed for that year; (b)

for each carryback year, the year and the

amount of the credit allowed after you

applied the carryback; and (c) for each

carryforward year, the year and the amount

of the credit allowed after you applied the

carryforward.

Line 7

Line 8

Part II—Allowable Credit

Line 10

● Individuals: Form 6251, line 35.

● Corporations: Form 4626, line 14.

● Estates and trusts: Form 1041, Schedule

I, line 56.

Line 16

Line 15

Line 19

Individuals, estates, an

amount of the research 

included on line 19 is lim

of tax attributable to you

from the sole proprietors

interest in the partnershi

estate, or trust (pass-thr

generating the credit. Fig

credit limitation separate

business enterprise by u

formula:

The result figured abo

excess of line 13 over lin

current tax year you had 

income attributable to a 

interest, you cannot claim 

credit this year related to 

If your research credit 

above formula, refigure t

enter on line 19 using on

amount calculated above 

credit plus the general b

other sources. If necessa

Credit Ordering Rule on 

into account any passive 

limitations. Write “Sec. 4

line next to your entry on 

Corporations. If the cor

undergone a post-1986 

change” (as defined in s

section 383 may limit the 

that may be offset by pr

business credits. Also, if 

acquires control of anoth

acquires its assets in a r

section 384 may limit the 

attributable to recognize

that may be offset by pr

general business credits

limitations apply, attach 

the allowable general bu

the amount on line 19, a

383” or “Sec. 384” in the 

your entry on line 19.

(Line 13 - line 15) 

Taxab

to the 

your in

pass-t

Your t

year

Complete only Part I of the appropriate

credit forms to figure your current year

credits. Enter the current year credit on the

applicable entry spaces and attach the

credit forms to your return.

Attach a statement showing how you

figured the section 4612(e) credit.

Enter the total of the amounts shown in

box 7 of the Schedules K-1 (Form 1065-B)

you received from electing large

partnerships.

Enter the credits included on line 2 that are

from passive activities. Generally, a passive

activity is a trade or business in which you

did not materially participate. Generally,

rental activities are passive activities,

whether or not you materially participate.

See Form 8582-CR, Passive Activity Credit

Limitations, or Form 8810, Corporate

Passive Activity Loss and Credit

Limitations, for details.

Enter the passive activity credit allowed

from Form 8582-CR or Form 8810. See the

instructions for the applicable form for

details.

Add all carryforwards to 2004 of unused

credits that are reported on Form 3800.

Enter the alternative minimum tax (AMT)

from the following line of the appropriate

form or schedule.

Although you may not owe AMT, you

generally must still compute the tentative

minimum tax (TMT) to figure your credit.

For a small corporation exempt from the

AMT under section 55(e), enter zero.

Otherwise, complete and attach the

See section 38(c)(5) for special rules that

apply to married couples filing separate

returns, controlled corporate groups,

regulated investment companies, real

estate investment trusts, and estates and

trusts.

If line 19 is smaller than 

Carryback and Carryforw

Credit on page 3.

Use line 7 only when you amend your 2004

return to carry back unused credits from

2005.

If this line is zero, skip Part II.

You must reduce by 35% the portion of

the business credit carryforward

attributable to sections 46(a)(1) regular

investment credit and 46(b)(2)(C) and (D)

business energy investment credit (as in

effect prior to the repeal of these three

sections by the Revenue Reconciliation Act

of 1990). Include the reduced credit on line

6. Do not reduce any portion of the credit

attributable to qualified timber property. If

you cannot use all of the reduced credit

● Individuals: Form 1040, line 43.

● Corporations: Form 1120, Schedule J,

line 3; Form 1120-A, Part I, line 1; or the

applicable line of your tax return.

● Estates and trusts: The sum of the

amounts from Form 1041, Schedule G,

lines 1a and 1b, or the amount from the

applicable line of your tax return.

Line 9

Enter the regular tax before credits from

the appropriate form or schedule.

Corporations filing Form 8895, Section

965(f) Election for Corporations That Are

U.S. Shareholders of a Controlled Foreign

Corporation, must reduce the amount

otherwise reported as regular tax before

credits on line 9 (or on the comparable line

of any other general business credit form)

by the tax attributable to nondeductible

controlled foreign corporation (CFC)

dividends.

appropriate AMT form o

enter on line 16 the TMT 

line of that form or sche

● Individuals: Form 6251

● Corporations: Form 46

● Estates and trusts: Fo

I, line 54.

because line 18 is less than line 8, carry

forward to your next tax year in the

carryforward period the unused portion of

the credit and a corresponding portion of

the 35% reduction. For example, if you are

able to use only half of the credit in 2004,

carry forward the other half of the credit

and half of the 35% reduction.