Are NOLs only useful for income below the $71.7k AMT exemption amount for a single filer?

[chucknjr]

I'm just curious but is my income being no more than $71.7k for the next few years until my NOLs are used up the only way I will avoid AMT and avoid wasting my NOLs?

For example, here are some scenarios I've tried.  Seems like AMT is a big penalty for "total income anywhere between -$130k and +$1.07million.  I guess the only way to avoid AMT is to make either a modest income or millions? 

	TurboTax parameter analysis
				K-1	K-1
Variation	NOL 2018 carryover	AMT NOL 2018 carryover	Taxable Roth conversion	Bx1 Ordinary Biz Inc	Bx? Guar Pmt	Total Income	Standard Deduction	Taxable Income	Tentative Tax	AMT	Total Tax	Penalty	Balance Due
1	($202,319)	$0	$71,700	$0	$0	($130,619)	$12,200	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
2	($202,319)	($202,319)	$71,700			($130,619)	$12,200	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
3	($202,319)	($202,319)	$254,000			$51,681	$12,200	$39,481	$4,543	$0	$4,543	$147	$4,690
4	($202,319)	$0	$254,000	$0	$0	$51,681	$12,200	$39,481	$4,543	$42,855	$47,398	$1,537	$48,935
5	($202,319)	$0	$254,000	$50,000	$0	$101,681	$12,200	$89,481	$15,649	$45,499	$61,148	$1,983	$63,131
6	($202,319)	$0	$254,000	$0	$50,000	$101,681	$12,200	$89,481	$15,649	$45,499	$61,148	$1,983	$63,131
7	($202,319)	($202,319)	$254,000	$0	$50,000	$101,681	$12,200	$89,481	$15,649	$0	$15,649	$507	$16,156
8	($202,319)	$0	$71,700	$0	$50,000	($80,619)	$12,200	$0	$0	$13,000	$13,000	$422	$13,422
9	($202,319)	$0	$0	$71,700	$0	($130,619)	$12,200	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
10	($202,319)	$0	$0	$81,700	$0	($120,619)	$12,200	$0	$0	$2,600	$2,600	$84	$2,684
11	($202,319)	$0	$0	$121,700	$0	($80,619)	$12,200	$0	$0	$13,000	$13,000	$422	$13,422
12	($202,319)	$0	$0	$271,700	$0	$69,381	$12,200	$57,181	$8,437	$43,667	$52,104	$1,690	$53,794
13	($202,319)	$0	$0	$471,700	$0	$269,381	$12,200	$257,181	$65,207	$42,897	$108,104	$3,506	$111,610
14	($202,319)	$0	$0	$671,700	$0	$469,381	$12,200	$457,181	$135,207	$40,195	$175,402	$5,688	$181,090
15	($202,319)	$0	$0	$871,700	$0	$669,381	$12,200	$657,181	$208,144	$32,036	$240,180	$7,788	$247,968
16	($202,319)	$0	$0	$1,071,700	$0	$869,381	$12,200	$857,181	$282,144	$14,036	$296,180	$9,604	$305,784
17	($202,319)	$0	$0	$1,271,700	$0	$1,069,381	$12,200	$1,057,181	$356,144	$0	$356,144	$11,549	$367,693

[koalasfouru]

There is no way around AMT and that's why AMT exists.

[chucknjr]

Well, doesn't my original post demonstrate that if you can keep your your income below $71.7k you can escape AMT?

[koalasfouru]

yes because it's a parallel system designed to capture some tax where there would be none. At around $70k the regular system suffices.

[LindaB1993]

I believe you are referring the AMT exemption amount.

AMT Exemption Amounts for 2019

Beginning in 2019, the AMT exemption for individual filers is $71,700. For married joint filers, the figure is $111,700. In 2020, those figures are $72,900 and $113,400.

The AMT is levied at two rates: 26 percent and 28 percent. The AMT exemption amount for 2019 is $71,700 for singles and $111,700 for married couples filing jointly (Table 3) before the phaseout income threshold amounts: 

In 2019, the 28 percent AMT rate applies to excess AMTI of $194,800 for all taxpayers ($97,400 for married couples filing separate returns).

Unfortunately, the alternative minimum tax treats NOLs differently. So, even if you have no taxable income, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t owe AMT.

One major difference under AMT is the NOL deduction. The basic idea is that for AMT purposes, the NOL deduction is limited to 90% of the income for the year. So, even if your NOL deduction was larger than your income for the year, AMT could still apply to 10% of your income.