Let $M$ be a finite matroid on ground set $E$ with rank function $r_M:2^E\to \mathbb{N}\cup\{0\}$, and let $e\in E$. Let $M\setminus e$ denote the deletion of $e$, and let $M/e$ denote the contraction of $e$. Then the Tutte polynomial satisfies the following recurrence: If $e$ is a loop of $M$, then