Sony Corp. hasn't changed provisions in its forecast to reflect a tax law revision, indicating the company may report a smaller loss for the last fiscal year.

The change in tax law is "surely a positive factor for Sony's earnings," said Mami Imada, a Sony spokeswoman, responding to questions about a Nikkei newspaper report Thursday.

Under the law change, dividends paid by foreign units of Japanese businesses are exempt from taxation. Companies in Japan typically include provisions for these taxes in their annual results.