The reflection from large absorbing scatterers having a complex refractive indexm=n1−i&kgr; (&kgr;>0), is determined by the Fresnel reflection coefficients. Lasing materials with inverted population or having a complex refractive indexm=n1+i&kgr; ‘‘reflect’’ the incident light with different coefficients, since internal reflections must be taken into account. The reflection coefficients for long cylindrical active scatterers are derived as asymptotic results of the theory of light scattering by large tilted cylinders and explained by polarization considerations. The resulting coefficients can be applied to active scatterers with very large reflection coefficients (negative extinctions).