The use by a corporation of the losses it continued in earlier years to compensate taxes on the profits it attains in future years. Individuals can also utilize a tax umbrella so that their investment losses in past years balance their investment profits in coming years. A tax umbrella takes benefit of a tax law provision to decrease tax liability.

Businesses and individuals are restricted in how much of a loss they can utilize to balance taxes in any particular year. Any loss that is left over can be utilized to compensate taxes on profits in coming years. A tax umbrella is also referred to as a tax loss carry forward.