carry forward

British  

verb

1. accounting to transfer (a balance) to the next page, column, etc

2. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): carry over.  tax accounting to apply (a legally permitted credit, esp an operating loss) to the taxable income of following years to ease the overall tax burden

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noun

1. Also called: carry-over.  tax accounting an amount carried forward

carry forward Idioms  

1. Also, carry over . Transfer a bookkeeping entry to the next column, page, another account, or the next accounting period, as in Let's carry forward this loss to the next quarter for a saving in taxes , or She made an error in carrying over this column . The first term dates from the first half of the 1800s; the variant dates from the mid-1700s.

2. Make progress in, advance, as in His successor hoped to carry forward his work . Also see carry on .

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Example Sentences

This means, for example, they can deduct the cost of investment in developing projects against tax and carry forward those credits against future profits.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

"We want to carry forward a process of normalisation with Azerbaijan," the source said, adding: "Among the disagreements between our two countries is the fate of Martin Ryan."

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

And later this month, investors will turn to the “January barometer,” another indicator built around the idea that market strength or weakness early in the year can carry forward.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 3, 2026

The BLS’s choice to carry forward previous shelter costs was in line with longstanding contingency plans for missing data, the agency said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 30, 2025

This was the message we needed to carry forward.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• carry over