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Contents

Publication 541 Introduction ........................................ 1


Cat. No. 15071D
Department Important Change for 1999 ............... 2
of the
Treasury Partnerships Forming a Partnership .......................

Terminating a Partnership ................


2

3
Internal
Revenue
Service Exclusion From Partnership Rules .. 3
For use in preparing
Tax Year .............................................. 3
1999 Returns Partnership Return (Form 1065) ....... 4

Penalties .............................................. 4

Partnership Income or Loss ............. 5

Partner's Distributive Share .............. 6

Partnership Distributions .................. 8

Transactions Between Partnership


and Partners ................................ 11

Basis of Partner's Interest ................ 13

Disposition of Partner's Interest ...... 14

Adjusting the Basis of Partnership


Property ........................................ 17

Form 1065 Example ........................... 17

How To Get More Information .......... 19

Index .................................................... 26

Introduction
This publication explains how the tax law ap-
plies to partnerships and to partners. A part-
nership does not pay tax on its income but
“passes through” any profits or losses to its
partners. Partners must include partnership
items on their tax returns.
For a discussion of business expenses a
partnership can deduct, see Publication 535.
Members of oil and gas partnerships should
read about the deduction for depletion in
chapter 13 of that publication.
Certain partnerships must have a tax
matters partner (TMP) who is also a general
partner. For information on the rules for des-
ignating a TMP, see the instructions for
Schedule B of Form 1065 and section
301.6231(a)(7)–1 of the regulations.

Withholding on foreign partner or firm. If


a partnership acquires a U.S. real property
interest from a foreign person or firm, the
partnership may have to withhold tax on the
amount it pays for the property (including
cash, the fair market value of other property,
and any assumed liability). If a partnership
has income effectively connected with a trade
or business in the United States, it must
withhold on the income allocable to its foreign
partners. A partnership may have to withhold
tax on a foreign partner's distributive share
of fixed or determinable income not effectively
connected with a U.S. trade or business. A
partnership that fails to withhold may be held
liable for the tax, applicable penalties, and
interest. For more information, see Publica-
tion 515, Withholding of Tax on Nonresident
Aliens and Foreign Corporations.
co-ownership of property maintained and of the business requires substantial invento-
rented or leased is not a partnership unless ries or investments in plants, machinery, or
Important Change the co-owners provide services to the tenants. equipment.
The rules you must use to determine
for 1999 whether an organization is classified as a Capital is not material. In general, capital
partnership changed for organizations formed is not a material income-producing factor if
Photographs of missing children. The after 1996. the income of the business consists princi-
Internal Revenue Service is a proud partner pally of fees, commissions, or other compen-
with the National Center for Missing and Ex- Organizations formed after 1996. An or- sation for personal services performed by
ploited Children. Photographs of missing ganization formed after 1996 is classified as members or employees of the partnership.
children selected by the Center may appear a partnership for federal tax purposes if it has
in this publication on pages that would other- two or more members and it is none of the Capital interest. A capital interest in a part-
wise be blank. You can help bring these following. nership is an interest in its assets that is dis-
children home by looking at the photographs tributable to the owner of the interest in either
and calling 1–800–THE–LOST (1–800–843– • An organization formed under a federal of the following situations.
5678) if you recognize a child. or state law that refers to it as a corpo-
ration, body corporate, or body politic. • The owner withdraws from the partner-
Useful Items ship.
• An organization formed under a state law
You may want to see: that refers to it as a joint-stock company • The partnership liquidates.
or joint-stock association.
Publication The mere right to share in earnings and
• An insurance company. profits is not a capital interest in the partner-
䡺 505 Tax Withholding and Estimated • Certain banks. ship.
Tax
• An organization wholly owned by a state Gift of capital interest. If a family member
䡺 533 Self-Employment Tax or local government. (or any other person) receives a gift of a
䡺 535 Business Expenses • An organization specifically required to capital interest in a partnership in which cap-
be taxed as a corporation by the Internal ital is a material income-producing factor, the
䡺 537 Installment Sales
Revenue Code (for example, certain donee's distributive share of partnership in-
䡺 538 Accounting Periods and Methods publicly traded partnerships). come is subject to both of the following re-
strictions.
䡺 544 Sales and Other Dispositions of • Certain foreign organizations.
Assets • A tax-exempt organization. • It must be figured by reducing the part-
䡺 551 Basis of Assets nership income by reasonable compen-
• A real estate investment trust.
sation for services the donor renders to
䡺 925 Passive Activity and At-Risk Rules • An organization classified as a trust un- the partnership.
䡺 946 How To Depreciate Property der section 301.7701–4 of the regulations
• The donee's distributive share of part-
or otherwise subject to special treatment
nership income attributable to donated
under the Internal Revenue Code.
Form (and Instructions) capital must not be proportionately
• Any other organization that elects to be greater than the donor's distributive share
䡺 1065 U.S. Partnership Return of In- classified as a corporation by filing Form attributable to the donor's capital.
come 8832.
Purchase. For purposes of determining
䡺 Schedule K–1 (Form 1065) Partner's
For more information, see the instructions for a partner's distributive share, an interest pur-
Share of Income, Credits, De- chased by one family member from another
Form 8832.
ductions, Etc. family member is considered a gift from the
䡺 8308 Report of a Sale or Exchange of Organizations formed before 1997. An or- seller. The fair market value of the purchased
Certain Partnership Interests ganization formed before 1997 and classified interest is considered donated capital. For this
as a partnership under the old rules will gen- purpose, members of a family include only
䡺 8582 Passive Activity Loss Limitations
erally continue to be classified as a partner- spouses, ancestors, and lineal descendants
䡺 8736 Application for Automatic Exten- ship as long as the organization has at least (or a trust for the primary benefit of those
sion of Time To File U.S. Return two members and does not elect to be clas- persons).
for a Partnership, REMIC, or for sified as a corporation by filing Form 8832.
Certain Trusts Example. A father sold 50% of his busi-
ness to his son. The resulting partnership had
䡺 8832 Entity Classification Election Family Partnership a profit of $60,000. Capital is a material
䡺 8865 Return of U.S. Persons With Re-
income-producing factor. The father per-
Members of a family can be partners. How-
formed services worth $24,000, which is rea-
spect to Certain Foreign Partner- ever, family members (or any other person)
sonable compensation, and the son per-
ships will be recognized as partners only if one of
formed no services. The $24,000 must be
See How To Get More Information near the following requirements is met.
allocated to the father as compensation. Of
the end of this publication for information the remaining $36,000 of profit due to capital,
about getting publications and forms. • If capital is a material income-producing
at least 50%, or $18,000, must be allocated
factor, they acquired their capital interest
to the father since he owns a 50% capital in-
in a bona fide transaction (even if by gift
terest. The son's share of partnership profit
or purchase from another family mem-
cannot be more than $18,000.
ber), actually own the partnership inter-
Forming a Partnership est, and actually control the interest.
Husband-wife partnership. If spouses carry
The following sections contain general infor- • If capital is not a material income- on a business together and share in the pro-
mation about partnerships. producing factor, they joined together in fits and losses, they may be partners whether
good faith to conduct a business. They or not they have a formal partnership agree-
Organizations Classified as agreed that contributions of each entitle ment. If so, they should report income or loss
them to a share in the profits, and some from the business on Form 1065. They should
Partnerships capital or service has been (or is) pro- not report the income on a Schedule C (Form
An unincorporated organization with two or vided by each partner. 1040) in the name of one spouse as a sole
more members is generally classified as a proprietor.
partnership for federal tax purposes if its Capital is material. Capital is a material Each spouse should carry his or her share
members carry on a trade, business, financial income-producing factor if a substantial part of the partnership income or loss from
operation, or venture and divide its profits. of the gross income of the business comes Schedule K–1 (Form 1065) to their joint or
However, a joint undertaking merely to share from the use of capital. Capital is ordinarily separate Form(s) 1040. Each spouse should
expenses is not a partnership. For example, an income-producing factor if the operation include his or her respective share of self-
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employment income on a separate Schedule does not close, and the LLC can continue to thority to sell his or her share of the
SE (Form 1040), Self-Employment Tax. This use the partnership's taxpayer identification property produced or extracted for the
generally does not increase the total tax on number. time being for his or her account, but not
the return, but it does give each spouse credit However, the conversion may change for a period of time in excess of the min-
for social security earnings on which retire- some of the partners' bases in their partner- imum needs of the industry, and in no
ment benefits are based. ship interests if the partnership has recourse event for more than one year.
liabilities that become nonrecourse liabilities.
Because the partners share recourse and However, this exclusion does not apply to an
Partnership Agreement nonrecourse liabilities differently, their bases unincorporated organization one of whose
The partnership agreement includes the ori- must be adjusted to reflect the new sharing principal purposes is cycling, manufacturing,
ginal agreement and any modifications. The ratios. If a decrease in a partner's share of or processing for persons who are not mem-
modifications must be agreed to by all part- liabilities exceeds the partner's basis, he or bers of the organization.
ners or adopted in any other manner provided she must recognize gain on the excess. For
by the partnership agreement. The agree- more information, see Effect of Partnership Electing the exclusion. An eligible organ-
ment or modifications can be oral or written. Liabilities under Basis of Partner's Interest, ization that wishes to be excluded from the
Partners can modify the partnership later. partnership rules must make the election not
agreement for a particular tax year after the The same rules apply if an LLC classified later than the time for filing the partnership
close of the year but not later than the date as a partnership is converted into a partner- return for the first tax year for which exclusion
for filing the partnership return for that year. ship. is desired. This filing date includes any ex-
This filing date does not include any exten- tension of time. See section 1.761–2(b) of the
sion of time. regulations for the procedures to follow.
If the partnership agreement or any mod-
ification is silent on any matter, the provisions
of local law are treated as part of the agree-
Exclusion From
ment. Partnership Rules Tax Year
Certain partnerships that do not actively con- Taxable income is figured on the basis of a
duct a business can choose to be completely tax year. A “tax year” is the accounting period
or partially excluded from being treated as used for keeping records and reporting in-
Terminating a partnerships for federal income tax purposes. come and expenses.
All the partners must agree to make the
Partnership choice, and the partners must be able to Partnership. A partnership determines its
A partnership terminates when one of the compute their own taxable income without tax year as if it were a taxpayer. However,
following events takes place. computing the partnership's income. How- there are limits on the year it can choose. In
ever, the partners are not exempt from the general, a partnership must use its required
1) All its operations are discontinued and rule that limits a partner's distributive share tax year. Exceptions to this rule are discussed
no part of any business, financial opera- of partnership loss to the adjusted basis of the under Exceptions to Required Tax Year, later.
tion, or venture is continued by any of its partner's partnership interest. Nor are they
partners in a partnership. exempt from the requirement of a business Partners. Partners can change their tax year
purpose for adopting a tax year for the part- only if they receive permission from the IRS.
2) At least 50% of the total interest in part- This also applies to corporate partners, who
nership that differs from its required tax year,
nership capital and profits is sold or ex- are usually allowed to change their account-
discussed under Tax Year, later.
changed within a 12-month period, in- ing periods without prior approval if they meet
cluding a sale or exchange to another certain conditions.
Investing partnership. An investing part-
partner.
nership can be excluded if the participants in
the joint purchase, retention, sale, or ex- Closing of tax year. Generally, the partner-
See section 1.708–1(b)(1) of the regu-
change of investment property meet all of the ship's tax year is not closed because of the
lations for more information on the termination
following requirements. sale, exchange, or liquidation of a partner's
of a partnership. For special rules that apply
interest, the death of a partner, or the entry
to a merger, consolidation, or division of a
• They own the property as co-owners. of a new partner. However, if a partner sells,
partnership, see section 1.708–1(b)(2) of the
exchanges, or liquidates his or her entire in-
regulations. • They reserve the right separately to take terest, the partnership's tax year is closed for
or dispose of their shares of any property
that partner. For partnership tax years begin-
Date of termination. The partnership's tax acquired or retained.
ning after 1997, the death of a partner also
year ends on the date of termination. For • They do not actively conduct business closes the partnership's tax year for that
purposes of (1), earlier, the date of termi- or irrevocably authorize some person partner. See Distributive Share in Year of
nation is the date the partnership completes acting in a representative capacity to Disposition under Partner's Distributive
the winding up of its affairs. For purposes of purchase, sell, or exchange the invest- Share, later.
(2), earlier, the date of termination is the date ment property. Each separate participant
of the sale or exchange of a partnership in- can delegate authority to purchase, sell,
terest that, by itself or together with other or exchange his or her share of the in- Required Tax Year
sales or exchanges in the preceding 12 vestment property for the time being for A partnership generally must conform its tax
months, transfers an interest of 50% or more his or her account, but not for a period year to its partners' tax years. The rules for
in both capital and profits. of more than a year. determining the required tax year are as fol-
lows.
Short period return. If a partnership is ter- Operating agreement partnership. An op-
minated before the end of the tax year, Form erating agreement partnership group can be • Majority interest tax year. If one or more
1065 must be filed for the short period, which excluded if the participants in the joint pro- partners having the same tax year own
is the period from the beginning of the tax duction, extraction, or use of property meet an interest in partnership profits and
year through the date of termination. The re- the following requirements. capital of more than 50% (a majority in-
turn is due the 15th day of the fourth month terest), the partnership must use the tax
following the date of termination. See Part- • They own the property as co-owners, ei- year of those partners.
nership Return (Form 1065), later, for infor- ther in fee or under lease or other form Testing day. The partnership deter-
mation about filing Form 1065. of contract granting exclusive operating mines if there is a majority interest tax
rights. year on the testing day, which is usually
Conversion of partnership into limited li- the first day of the partnership's current
ability company (LLC). The conversion of a • They reserve the right separately to take tax year.
partnership into an LLC classified as a part- in kind or dispose of their shares of any Change in tax year. If a partnership's
nership for federal tax purposes does not property produced, extracted, or used. majority interest tax year changes, it will
terminate the partnership. The conversion is • They do not jointly sell services or the not be required to change to another tax
not a sale, exchange, or liquidation of any property produced or extracted. Each year for 2 years following the year of
partnership interest, the partnership's tax year separate participant can delegate au- change.
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• Principal partner. If there is no majority Procedures. Generally, determination of the any expenses treated as deductions or credits
interest tax year, the partnership must partnership's required tax year is made at the for federal income tax purposes.
use the tax year of all its principal part- beginning of the partnership's current tax See the instructions for Form 1065 for
ners. A principal partner is one who has year. However, the IRS can require the part- more information about who must file Form
a 5% or more interest in the profits or nership to use another day or period that will 1065.
capital of the partnership. more accurately reflect the ownership of the
partnership. Due date. Form 1065 generally must be filed
• Least aggregate deferral of income. If The change to a required tax year is by April 15 following the close of the partner-
there is no majority interest tax year and treated as initiated by the partnership with the ship's tax year if its accounting period is the
the principal partners do not have the consent of the IRS. No formal application for calendar year. A fiscal year partnership gen-
same tax year, the partnership generally a change in tax year is needed. erally must file its return by the 15th day of the
must use a tax year that results in the Notifying IRS. Any partnership that 4th month following the close of its fiscal year.
least aggregate deferral of income to the changes to a required tax year must notify the If a partnership needs more time to file its
partners. IRS by writing at the top of the first page of return, it should file Form 8736 by the regular
its tax return for its first required tax year, due date of its Form 1065. The automatic
Least aggregate deferral of income. The “FILED UNDER SECTION 806 OF THE TAX extension is 3 months.
tax year that results in the least aggregate REFORM ACT OF 1986.” If the partnership has made a section 444
deferral of income is determined as follows. Short period return. When a partnership election to use a tax year other than a re-
changes its tax year, a short period return quired year, an automatic extension of time
1) Figure the number of months of deferral must be filed. The short period return covers for filing a return will run concurrently with any
for each partner using one partner's tax the months between the end of the partner- extension of time allowed by the section 444
year. Count the months from the end of ship's prior tax year and the beginning of its election. The filing of an application for ex-
that tax year forward to the end of each new tax year. tension does not extend the time for filing a
other partner's tax year. If a partnership changes to the tax year partner's personal income tax return or for
resulting in the least aggregate deferral of in- paying any tax due on a partner's personal
2) Multiply each partner's months of defer-
come, a statement must be attached to the income tax return.
ral figured in step (1) by that partner's
short period return showing the computations If the date for filing a return falls on a
interest in the partnership profits for the
used to determine that tax year. The short Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the part-
year used in step (1).
period return must indicate at the top of page nership can file the return on the next busi-
3) Add the amounts in step (2) to get the 1, “FILED UNDER SECTION 1.706–1T.” ness day.
aggregate (total) deferral for the tax year
used in step (1). Schedule K–1 due to partners. The part-
Exceptions to Required nership must furnish copies of Schedule K–1
4) Repeat steps (1) through (3) for each (Form 1065) to the partners by the date Form
partner's tax year that is different from Tax Year 1065 is required to be filed, including exten-
the other partners' years. There are two exceptions to the required tax sions.
year rule.
The partner's tax year that results in the
lowest number in step (3) above is the tax Business purpose tax year. If a partnership
year that must be used by the partnership. If
more than one year qualifies as the tax year
establishes an acceptable business purpose
for having a tax year different from its required
Penalties
that has the least aggregate deferral of in- tax year, the different tax year can be used. To help ensure that returns are filed correctly
come, the partnership can choose any year The deferral of income to the partners is not and on time, the law provides penalties for
that qualifies. However, if one of the years considered a business purpose. failure to do so.
that qualifies is the partnership's existing tax See Business Purpose Tax Year in Publi-
year, the partnership must retain that tax cation 538 for more information. Failure to file. A penalty is assessed against
year. any partnership that must file a partnership
return and fails to file on time, including ex-
Example. Rose and Irene each have a Section 444 election. Partnerships can elect tensions, or fails to file a return with all the
50% interest in a partnership that uses a fiscal under section 444 of the Internal Revenue information required. The penalty is $50 times
year ending June 30. Rose uses a calendar Code to use a tax year different from both the the total number of partners in the partnership
year while Irene has a fiscal year ending No- required tax year and any business purpose during any part of the tax year for each month
vember 30. The partnership must change its tax year. Certain restrictions apply to this (or part of a month) the return is late or in-
tax year to a fiscal year ending November 30 election. In addition, the electing partnership complete, up to 5 months.
because this results in the least aggregate may be required to make a payment repre- The penalty will not be imposed if the
deferral of income to the partners. This was senting the value of the extra tax deferral to partnership can show reasonable cause for
determined as shown in the following table. the partners. its failure to file a complete or timely return.
See Section 444 Election in Publication Certain small partnerships (with 10 or fewer
538 for more information. partners) meet this reasonable cause test if:
Months Interest
Year End Year Profits of × 1) All partners are individuals (other than
12/31: End Interest Deferral Deferral nonresident aliens), estates, or C corpo-
Rose .................... 12/31
Irene ..................... 11/30
0.5
0.5
-0-
11
-0-
5.5
Partnership Return rations,
2) All partners have timely filed income tax
Total Deferral ......................................... 5.5 (Form 1065) returns fully reporting their shares of the
Every partnership that engages in a trade or partnership's income, deductions, and
Months Interest credits, and
Year End Year Profits of ×
business or has gross income must file a re-
11/30: End Interest Deferral Deferral turn on Form 1065 showing its income, de- 3) The partnership has not elected to be
ductions, and other required information. In subject to the rules for consolidated audit
Rose .................... 12/31 0.5 1 0.5
addition, the partnership return shows the proceedings (explained later under Part-
Irene ..................... 11/30 0.5 -0- -0-
names and addresses of each partner and ner's Distributive Share, in the dis-
Total Deferral ......................................... 0.5 each partner's distributive share of taxable cussion under Reporting Distributive
income. This is an information return and Share).
must be signed by a general partner. If a
Special de minimis rule. If the tax year limited liability company is treated as a part- For partnership tax years ending be-
that results in the least aggregate deferral
produces an aggregate deferral that is less
nership, it must file Form 1065 and one of its
members must sign the return.
! fore August 6, 1997, a small partner-
CAUTION ship met this reasonable cause test if

than 0.5 when compared to the aggregate A partnership is not considered to engage all of the following applied.
deferral of the current tax year, the partner- in a trade or business, and is not required to
ship's current tax year is treated as the tax file a Form 1065, for any tax year in which it • All partners were individuals (other than
year with the least aggregate deferral. neither receives income nor pays or incurs nonresident aliens) or estates.
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• The partnership did not make a special • Net income or loss from other rental ac- business. The statement must provide all the
allocation of any partnership item. tivities. following information.
• Gains and losses from sales or ex- • A description of each organization ex-
The failure to file penalty is assessed changes of capital assets.
against the partnership. However, each pense incurred (whether or not paid).
partner is individually liable for the penalty to • Gains and losses from sales or ex- • The amount of each expense.
the extent the partner is liable for partnership changes of property described in section
1231 of the Internal Revenue Code. • The date each expense was incurred.
debts in general.
If the partnership wants to contest the • Charitable contributions. • The month the partnership began its
penalty, it must pay the penalty and sue for business.
refund in a U.S. District Court or the U.S. • Dividends (passed through to corporate
partners) that qualify for the dividends-
• The number of months (not less than 60)
Court of Federal Claims. over which the expenses are to be
received deduction.
amortized.
Failure to furnish copies to the partners. • Taxes paid or accrued to foreign coun-
The partnership must furnish copies of tries and U.S. possessions. Expenses less than $10 need not be
Schedule K–1 to the partners. A penalty for separately listed, provided the total amount is
each statement not furnished will be as- • Other items of income, gain, loss, de- listed with the dates on which the first and last
sessed against the partnership unless the duction, or credit, as provided by regu- of the expenses were incurred. A cash basis
failure to do so is due to reasonable cause lations. Examples include nonbusiness partnership must also indicate the amount
and not willful neglect. expenses, intangible drilling and devel- paid before the end of the year for each ex-
opment costs, and soil and water con- pense.
servation expenses. Amortizable expenses. Amortization
Trust fund recovery penalty. A person re-
sponsible for withholding, accounting for, or applies to expenses that are:
depositing or paying withholding taxes who Elections. The partnership makes most
choices about how to figure income. These 1) Incident to the creation of the partner-
willfully fails to do so can be held liable for a
include choices for the following items. ship,
penalty equal to the tax not paid.
“Willfully” in this case means voluntarily, 2) Chargeable to a capital account, and
consciously, and intentionally. Paying other • Accounting method.
expenses of the business instead of the taxes 3) The type that would be amortized if they
• Depreciation method. were incurred in the creation of a part-
due is considered willful behavior.
A responsible person can be a partner, • Method of accounting for specific items, nership having a fixed life.
an employee of the partnership, or an ac- such as depletion or installment sales.
To satisfy (1), an expense must be in-
countant. This may also include someone • Nonrecognition of gain on involuntary curred during the period beginning at a point
who signs checks for the partnership or oth- conversions of property. that is a reasonable time before the partner-
erwise has authority to cause the spending ship begins business and ending with the
of partnership funds. • Amortization of certain organization fees
date for filing the partnership return (not in-
and business start-up costs of the part-
cluding extensions) for the tax year in which
Other penalties. Criminal penalties can be nership.
the partnership begins business. In addition,
imposed for willful failure to file, tax evasion, the expense must be for creating the part-
or making a false statement. However, each partner chooses how to
treat the partner's share of foreign and U.S. nership and not for starting or operating the
Other penalties can be imposed for the partnership trade or business.
following actions. possessions taxes, certain mining exploration
expenses, and income from cancellation of To satisfy (3), the expense must be for a
debt. type of item normally expected to benefit the
• Not supplying a taxpayer identification partnership throughout its entire life.
number. More information. For more information
on the following topics, see the listed publi- Organization expenses that can be amor-
• Not furnishing information returns. cation. tized include the following.

• Overstating tax deposit claims. • Legal fees for services incident to the
• Accounting methods: Publication 538. organization of the partnership, such as
• Underpaying tax due to a valuation mis-
statement. • Depreciation methods: Publication 946. negotiation and preparation of a partner-
ship agreement.
• Not furnishing information on tax shelters. • Installment sales: Publication 537.
• Accounting fees for services incident to
• Promoting abusive tax shelters. • Amortization and depletion: Publication the organization of the partnership.
535, chapters 12 and 13.
However, certain penalties may not be • Filing fees.
• Involuntary conversions: Publication 544
imposed if there is reasonable cause for (condemnations) and Publication 547 Expenses not amortizable. Expenses
noncompliance. (casualties and thefts). that cannot be amortized (regardless of how
the partnership characterizes them) include
Organization expenses and syndication expenses connected with the following
fees. Neither the partnership nor any partner actions.
Partnership Income can deduct, as a current expense, amounts
• Acquiring assets for the partnership or
paid or incurred to organize a partnership or
or Loss to promote the sale of, or to sell, an interest transferring assets to the partnership.
A partnership computes its income and files in the partnership. • Admitting or removing partners other than
its return in the same manner as an individual. The partnership can choose to amortize at the time the partnership is first organ-
However, certain deductions are not allowed certain organization expenses over a period ized.
to the partnership. of not less than 60 months. The period must
start with the month the partnership begins • Making a contract relating to the opera-
business. This election is irrevocable and the tion of the partnership trade or business
Separately stated items. Certain items must (even if the contract is between the part-
be separately stated on the partnership return period the partnership chooses in this election
cannot be changed. If the partnership elects nership and one of its members).
and included as separate items on the part-
ners' returns. These items, listed on Sched- to amortize these expenses and is liquidated • Syndicating the partnership. Syndication
ule K (Form 1065), are the following. before the end of the amortization period, the expenses, such as commissions, profes-
remaining balance in this account is deduct- sional fees, and printing costs connected
ible as a loss. with the issuing and marketing of inter-
• Ordinary income or loss from trade or Making the election. The election to ests in the partnership are capitalized.
business activities.
amortize organization expenses is made by They can never be deducted by the
• Net income or loss from rental real estate attaching a statement to the partnership's re- partnership, even if the syndication is
activities. turn for the tax year the partnership begins its unsuccessful.
Page 5
share of the partnership items is determined Inconsistent treatment of items. Partners
by the partner's interest in the partnership. must generally treat partnership items the
Partner's Distributive Substantial economic effect. An allo- same way on their individual tax returns as
cation has substantial economic effect if both they are treated on the partnership return. If
Share of the following tests are met. a partner treats an item differently on his or
A partner's taxable income for a tax year in- her individual return, the IRS can immediately
cludes his or her distributive share of certain • There is a reasonable possibility that the assess and collect any tax and penalties that
partnership items for the partnership's tax allocation will substantially affect the dol- result from adjusting the item to make it con-
year ending with or within the partner's tax lar amount of the partners' shares of sistent with the partnership return. However,
year. partnership income or loss independently this rule will not apply if a partner identifies the
of tax consequences. different treatment by filing Form 8082, No-
tice of Inconsistent Treatment or Administra-
Gross income. When it is necessary to de- • The partner to whom the allocation is tive Adjustment Request (AAR), with his or
termine the gross income of a partner, the made actually receives the economic her return.
partner's gross income includes his or her benefit or bears the economic burden
distributive share of the partnership's gross corresponding to that allocation. Consolidated audit procedures. Under
income. For example, the partner's share of
current examination procedures, the tax
the partnership gross income is used in de-
Partner's interest in partnership. If a part- treatment of any partnership item is generally
termining whether an income tax return must
ner's distributive share of a partnership item determined at the partnership level in a con-
be filed by that partner.
cannot be determined under the partnership solidated audit proceeding, rather than at the
agreement, it is determined by his or her in- individual partner's level. After the proper
Estimated tax. Partners may have to make terest in the partnership. The partner's inter- treatment is determined at the partnership
payments of estimated tax as a result of est is determined by taking into account all level, the IRS can automatically make related
partnership income. of the following items. adjustments to the tax returns of the partners,
Generally, the required estimated tax based on their share of the adjusted items.
payment for individuals is the smaller of the • The partners' relative contributions to the The consolidated audit procedures do not
following amounts. partnership. apply to certain small partnerships (with 10
or fewer partners) if all partners are one of the
1) 90% of the tax to be shown on the cur- • The interests of all partners in economic following.
rent year's tax return. profits and losses (if different from inter-
ests in taxable income or loss) and in • An individual (other than a nonresident
2) 100% of the total tax shown on the prior cash flow and other nonliquidating distri- alien).
year's tax return. butions.
• A C corporation.
A different rule applies to individuals who • The rights of the partners to distributions
of capital upon liquidation. • An estate of a deceased partner.
receive at least two-thirds of their gross in-
come from farming or fishing. However, small partnerships can make an
See Publication 505 for more information. Nonrecourse liability. A nonrecourse li- election to have these procedures apply.
ability is one for which no partner or related
person has an economic risk of loss. An al- For partnership tax years ending be-
Self-employment income. A partner is not
an employee of the partnership. The partner's
location of a loss, deduction, or partnership
expense attributable to nonrecourse liabilities
! fore August 6, 1997, these proce-
CAUTION dures do not apply to small partner-
distributive share of ordinary income from a not deductible or chargeable to capital cannot ships if both of the following applied.
partnership is generally included in figuring have economic effect. Therefore, a partner's
net earnings from self-employment. How- share of nonrecourse deductions is deter- • All partners were individuals (other than
ever, a limited partner generally does not in- mined by his or her interest in the partnership. nonresident aliens) or estates.
clude his or her distributive share of income For the rules on allocating nonrecourse de-
or loss in computing net earnings from self- ductions, see section 1.704–2 of the regu- • The partnership did not make a special
employment. This exclusion does not apply lations. allocation of any partnership item.
to guaranteed payments made to a limited
partner for services actually rendered to or
on behalf of a partnership engaged in a trade Limits on Losses
or business. Reporting Distributive
Self-employment tax. If an individual Share Partner's adjusted basis. A partner's dis-
partner has net earnings from self-employ- tributive share of partnership loss is allowed
A partner must report his or her distributive
ment of $400 or more for the year, the partner only to the extent of the adjusted basis of the
share of partnership items on his or her tax
must figure self-employment tax on Schedule partner's partnership interest. The adjusted
return, whether or not it is actually distributed.
SE (Form 1040). For more information on basis is figured at the end of the partnership's
(However, a partner's deduction for his or her
self-employment tax, see Publication 533. tax year in which the loss occurred, before
distributive share of a loss may be limited.
See Limits on Losses, later.) These items are taking the loss into account. Any loss more
Alternative minimum tax. To figure alter- reported to the partner on Schedule K–1 than the partner's adjusted basis is not
native minimum tax, a partner must sepa- (Form 1065). deductible for that year. However, any loss
rately take into account any distributive share See the Partner's Instructions for Sched- not allowed for this reason will be allowed as
of items of income and deductions that enter ule K–1 (Form 1065) for more information. a deduction (up to the partner's basis) at the
into the computation of alternative minimum The following discussions explain how end of any succeeding year in which the
taxable income. For information on which partnership items are treated on a partner's partner increases his or her basis to more
items of income and deductions are affected, return. than zero. See Basis of Partner's Interest,
see the Form 6251 instructions. later.
Character of items. The character of each Example. Mike and Joe are equal part-
item of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit ners in a partnership. Mike files his individual
Figuring Distributive Share included in a partner's distributive share is return on a calendar year basis. The partner-
Generally, the partnership agreement deter- determined as if the partner realized the item ship return is also filed on a calendar year
mines a partner's distributive share of any directly from the same source as the part- basis. The partnership incurred a $10,000
item or class of items of income, gain, loss, nership or incurred the item in the same loss last year and Mike's distributive share of
deduction, or credit. The allocations provided manner as the partnership. the loss is $5,000. The adjusted basis of his
for in the partnership agreement or any mod- For example, a partner's distributive share partnership interest before considering his
ification will be disregarded if they do not have of gain from the sale of partnership depre- share of last year's loss was $2,000. He could
substantial economic effect. If an allocation ciable property used in the trade or business claim only $2,000 of the loss on last year's
does not have substantial economic effect or of the partnership is treated as gain from the individual return. The adjusted basis of his
the partnership agreement does not provide sale of depreciable property the partner used interest at the end of last year was then re-
for the allocation, the partner's distributive in a trade or business. duced to zero.
Page 6
The partnership showed an $8,000 profit or businesses in which the partner mate- 2) The total adjusted bases of depreciable
for this year. Mike's $4,000 share of the profit rially participates. real property held by the partner imme-
increased the adjusted basis of his interest diately before the cancellation (other
by $4,000 (not taking into account the $3,000 Limited partners. Limited partners are than property acquired in contemplation
excess loss he could not deduct last year). generally not considered to materially partic- of the cancellation).
His return for this year will show his $4,000 ipate in trade or business activities conducted
distributive share of this year's profits and the through partnerships. Effect on partner's basis. Because of
$3,000 loss not allowable last year. The ad- More information. For more information offsetting adjustments, the cancellation of a
justed basis of his partnership interest at the on passive activities, see Publication 925 and partnership debt does not usually cause a net
end of this year is $1,000. the instructions for Forms 1065 and 8582. change in the basis of a partnership interest.
Each partner's basis is:
Not-for-profit activity. Deductions relating
Partner's Exclusions and 1) Increased by his or her share of the
to an activity not engaged in for profit are
partnership income from the cancellation
limited. For a discussion of the limits, see Deductions of debt (whether or not the partner ex-
chapter 1 in Publication 535.
To determine the allowable amount of any cludes the income), and
At-risk limits. At-risk rules apply to most exclusion or deduction subject to a limit, a 2) Reduced by the deemed distribution re-
trade or business activities, including activ- partner must combine any separate exclu- sulting from the reduction in his or her
ities conducted through a partnership. The sions or deductions on his or her income tax share of partnership liabilities.
at-risk rules limit a partner's deductible loss return with the distributive share of partner-
to the amounts for which that partner is con- ship exclusions or deductions before applying (See Adjusted Basis under Basis of Partner's
sidered at risk in the activity. the limit. Interest, later.) The basis of a partner's inter-
A partner is considered at risk for all of the est will change only if the partner's share of
following amounts. Cancellation of qualified real property income is different from the partner's share
business debt. A partner other than a C of debt.
• The money and adjusted basis of any corporation can elect to exclude from gross As explained earlier, however, a partner's
property he or she contributed to the ac- income the partner's distributive share of in- election to exclude income from the cancel-
tivity. come from cancellation of the partnership's lation of qualified real property business debt
qualified real property business debt. This is may reduce the basis of the partner's interest
• The partner's share of net income re- a debt (other than a qualified farm debt) in- to the extent the interest is treated as depre-
tained by the partnership. ciable real property.
curred or assumed by the partnership in
• Certain amounts borrowed by the part- connection with real property used in its trade Basis of depreciable real property re-
nership for use in the activity if the partner or business and secured by that property. A duced. If the basis of depreciable real prop-
is personally liable for repayment or the debt incurred or assumed after 1992 qualifies erty is reduced and the property is disposed
amounts borrowed are secured by the only if it was incurred or assumed to acquire, of, then the following rules apply for purposes
partner's property (other than property construct, reconstruct, or substantially im- of determining the ordinary income from re-
used in the activity). prove such property. A debt incurred to refi- capture of depreciation under section 1250
nance a qualified real property business debt of the Internal Revenue Code.
A partner is not considered at risk for qualifies, but only up to the refinanced debt.
amounts protected against loss through A partner who elects the exclusion must • Any such basis reduction is treated as a
guarantees, stop-loss agreements, or similar reduce the basis of his or her depreciable real deduction allowed for depreciation.
arrangements. Nor is the partner at risk for property by the amount excluded. For this
amounts borrowed if the lender has an inter- • The determination of what would have
purpose, a partnership interest is treated as been the depreciation adjustment under
est in the activity (other than as a creditor) depreciable real property to the extent of the
or is related to a person (other than the part- the straight line method is made as if
partner's share of the partnership's deprecia- there had been no such reduction.
ner) having such an interest. ble real property. However, a partnership in-
For more information on determining the terest cannot be treated as depreciable real Therefore, the basis reduction recaptured
amount at risk, see Publication 925. property unless the partnership makes a cor- as ordinary income is reduced over the time
responding reduction in the basis of its the partnership continues to hold the property,
Passive activities. Generally, section 469 depreciable real property with respect to that as the partnership forgoes depreciation de-
of the Internal Revenue Code limits the partner. ductions due to the basis reduction.
amount a partner can deduct for passive ac- To elect the exclusion, the partner must
tivity losses and credits. The passive activity file Form 982, Reduction of Tax Attributes Section 179 deduction. A partner can elect
limits do not apply to the partnership. Instead, Due To Discharge of Indebtedness, with his to deduct all or part of the cost of certain as-
they apply to each partner's share of income, or her original income tax return. However, if sets under section 179 of the Internal Reve-
loss, or credit from passive activities. Be- the partner timely filed the return without nue Code.
cause the treatment of each partner's share making the election, he or she can still make Limits. The section 179 deduction is
of partnership income, loss, or credit depends the election by filing an amended return within subject to certain limits that apply to the
on the nature of the activity that generated it, six months of the due date of the original re- partnership and to each partner. The part-
the partnership must report income, loss, and turn (excluding extensions). The election nership determines its section 179 deduction
credits separately for each activity. must be attached to the amended return with subject to the limits. It then allocates the de-
Generally, passive activities include a “Filed pursuant to section 301.9100–2” written duction among its partners.
trade or business activity in which the partner on the election statement. The amended re- Each partner adds the amount allocated
does not materially participate. The level of turn should be filed at the same address as from the partnership (shown on Schedule
each partner's participation must be deter- the original return. K–1) to his or her other nonpartnership sec-
mined by the partner. Exclusion limit. The partner's exclusion tion 179 costs and then applies the maximum
Rental activities. Passive activities also cannot be more than the smaller of the fol- dollar limit to this total. To determine if a
include rental activities, regardless of the lowing two amounts. partner has exceeded the $200,000 invest-
partner's participation. However, a rental real ment limit, the partner does not include any
estate activity in which the partner materially 1) The partner's share of the excess (if any) of the cost of section 179 property placed in
participates is not considered a passive ac- of: service by the partnership. After the maximum
tivity. The partner must also meet both of the dollar limit and investment limit are applied,
following conditions for the tax year. a) The outstanding principal of the
debt immediately before the can- the remaining cost of the partnership and
cellation, over nonpartnership section 179 property is sub-
• More than half of the personal services ject to the taxable income limit.
the partner performs in any trade or b) The fair market value (as of that Figuring partnership's taxable income.
business are in a real property trade or time) of the property securing the For purposes of the taxable income limit,
business in which the partner materially debt, reduced by the outstanding taxable income of a partnership is figured by
participates. principal of other qualified real adding together the net income (or loss) from
• The partner performs more than 750 property business debt secured by all trades or businesses actively conducted
hours of services in real property trades that property (as of that time). by the partnership during the tax year.
Page 7
Figuring partner's taxable income. For books, the partners can agree to estimate the partnership year ending June 30, 2000, Larry
purposes of the taxable income limit, the tax- distributive share by taking the prorated and his estate's distributive share is $3,000.
able income of a partner who is engaged in amount the partner would have included in Larry's self-employment income to be re-
the active conduct of one or more of a part- income if he or she had remained a partner ported on Schedule SE (Form 1040) for 1999
nership's trades or businesses includes his for the entire partnership tax year. is $2,500. This consists of his $2,000 distrib-
or her allocable share of taxable income de- A partner who sells or exchanges only part utive share for the partnership tax year ending
rived from the partnership's active conduct of of an interest in a partnership, or whose in- June 30, 1999, plus $500 (2/12 × $3,000) of the
any trade or business. terest is reduced (whether by entry of a new distributive share for the tax year ending June
Basis adjustment. A partner who is al- partner, partial liquidation of a partner's inter- 30, 2000.
located section 179 expenses from the part- est, gift, or otherwise), reports his or her dis-
nership must reduce the basis of his or her tributive share of partnership items by taking
partnership interest by the total section 179 into account his or her varying interests dur-
expenses allocated, regardless of whether ing the partnership year.
the full amount allocated can be currently
Example. ABC is a calendar year part-
Partnership
deducted. See Adjusted Basis under Basis
of Partner's Interest, later. If a partner dis- nership with three partners, Alan, Bob, and Distributions
poses of his or her interest in a partnership, Cathy. Under the partnership agreement, Partnership distributions include the following.
the partner's basis for determining gain or profits and losses are shared in proportion to
loss is increased by any outstanding carry- each partner's contributions. On January 1 • A withdrawal by a partner in anticipation
over of disallowed deductions of section 179 the ratio was 90% for Alan, 5% for Bob, and of the current year's earnings.
expenses allocated from the partnership. 5% for Cathy. On December 1 Bob and Cathy
The basis of a partnership's section 179 each contributed additional amounts. The • A distribution of the current year's or prior
property must be reduced by the section 179 new profit and loss sharing ratios were 30% years' earnings not needed for working
deduction elected by the partnership. This for Alan, 35% for Bob, and 35% for Cathy. capital.
reduction of basis must be made even if any For its tax year ended December 31, the • A complete or partial liquidation of a
partner cannot deduct his or her entire partnership had a loss of $1,200. This loss partner's interest.
allocable share of the section 179 deduction occurred equally over the partnership's tax
year. The loss is divided among the partners • A distribution to all partners in a complete
because of the limits. liquidation of the partnership.
More information. See Publication 946 as follows:
for more information on the section 179 de- A partnership distribution is not taken into
Profit Part
duction. or Loss of Year Total Share account in determining the partner's distribu-
Partner % × Held × Loss = of Loss tive share of partnership income or loss. If any
Partnership expenses paid by partner. In Alan ............ 90 × 11/12 × $1,200 = $990 gain or loss from the distribution is recognized
general, a partner cannot deduct partnership 30 × 1/12 × 1,200 = 30 by the partner, it must be reported on his or
expenses paid out of personal funds unless her return for the tax year in which the distri-
the partnership agreement requires the part- Bob ............. 5 × 11/12 × 1,200 = 55 bution is received. Money or property with-
ner to pay the expenses. These expenses are 35 × 1/12 × 1,200 = 35 drawn by a partner in anticipation of the cur-
usually considered incurred and deductible rent year's earnings is treated as a distribution
Cathy .......... 5 × 11/12 × 1,200 = 55
by the partnership. 35 × 1/12 × 1,200 = 35 received on the last day of the partnership's
If an employee of the partnership performs tax year.
part of a partner's duties and the partnership
agreement requires the partner to pay the Certain cash basis items prorated daily. Effect on partner's basis. A partner's ad-
employee out of personal funds, the partner If any partner's interest in a partnership justed basis in his or her partnership interest
can deduct the payment as a business ex- changes during the tax year, each partner's is decreased (but not below zero) by the
pense. share of certain cash basis items of the part- money and adjusted basis of property dis-
nership must be determined by prorating the tributed to the partner. See Adjusted Basis
Interest expense for distributed loan. If the items on a daily basis. That daily portion is under Basis of Partner's Interest, later.
partnership distributes borrowed funds to a then allocated to the partners in proportion to
partner, the partnership should list the part- their interests in the partnership at the close Effect on partnership. A partnership gen-
ner's share of interest expense for these of each day. This rule applies to the following erally does not recognize any gain or loss
funds as “Interest expense allocated to debt- items for which the partnership uses the cash because of distributions it makes to partners.
financed distributions” under “Other de- method of accounting. The partnership may be able to elect to adjust
ductions” on the partner's Schedule K–1. The the basis of its undistributed property, as ex-
partner deducts this interest on his or her tax • Interest. plained later under Adjusting the Basis of
return depending on how the partner uses the Partnership Property.
• Taxes.
funds. See chapter 8 in Publication 535 for
more information on the allocation of interest • Payments for services or for the use of Certain distributions treated as a sale or
expense related to debt-financed distribu- property. exchange. When a partnership distributes
tions. the following items, the distribution may be
Self-employment income of deceased treated as a sale or exchange of property
Debt-financed acquisitions. The interest partner. A different rule applies in computing rather than a distribution.
expense on loan proceeds used to purchase a deceased partner's self-employment in-
an interest in, or make a contribution to, a come for the year of death. The partner's • Unrealized receivables or substantially
partnership must be allocated as explained in self-employment income includes the part- appreciated inventory items to a partner
chapter 8 of Publication 535. ner's distributive share of income earned by in exchange for any part of the partner's
the partnership through the end of the month interest in other partnership property, in-
in which the partner's death occurs. This is cluding money.
Distributive Share in Year true even though the deceased partner's es- • Other property (including money) in ex-
tate or heirs may succeed to the decedent's change for any part of a partner's interest
of Disposition rights in the partnership. For this purpose, in unrealized receivables or substantially
If a partner's entire interest in a partnership partnership income for the year in which a appreciated inventory items.
is disposed of, whether by sale, exchange, partner dies is considered to be earned
liquidation, the partner's death, or otherwise, equally in each month. See Payments for Unrealized Receivables
his or her distributive share of partnership and Inventory Items under Disposition of
items must be included in the partner's in- Example. Larry, a partner in WoodsPar, Partner's Interest, later.
come for the tax year in which membership is a calendar year taxpayer. WoodsPar's fis- This treatment does not apply to the fol-
in the partnership ends. To compute the dis- cal year ends June 30. For the partnership lowing distributions.
tributive share of these items, the partner- year ending June 30, 1999, Larry's distribu-
ship's tax year is considered ended on the tive share of partnership profits is $2,000. On • A distribution of property to the partner
date the partner disposed of the interest. To August 18, 1999, Larry dies and his estate who contributed the property to the part-
avoid an interim closing of the partnership succeeds to his partnership interest. For the nership.
Page 8
• Certain payments made to a retiring Loss on distribution. A partner does not property to another partner under Con-
partner or successor in interest of a de- recognize loss on a partnership distribution tribution of Property, later.
ceased partner. unless all of the following requirements are
met. The character of the gain is determined
Inventory items that have appreciated by reference to the character of the net pre-
substantially in value. Inventory items of • The adjusted basis of the partner's inter- contribution gain. This gain is in addition to
the partnership are considered to have ap- est in the partnership exceeds the distri- any gain the partner must recognize if the
preciated substantially in value if, at the time bution. money distributed is more than his or her
of the sale or distribution, their total fair mar- basis in the partnership.
• The partner's entire interest in the part- For these rules, the term “money” includes
ket value is more than 120% of the partner- nership is liquidated.
ship's adjusted basis for the property. How- marketable securities treated as money, as
ever, if a principal purpose for acquiring • The distribution is in money, unrealized discussed earlier.
inventory property is to avoid ordinary income receivables, or inventory items. Effect on basis. The adjusted basis of
treatment by reducing the appreciation to less the partner's interest in the partnership is in-
There are exceptions to these general creased by any net precontribution gain rec-
than 120%, that property is excluded. rules. See the following discussions. Also, ognized by the partner. Other than for pur-
see Liquidation at Partner's Retirement or poses of determining the gain, the increase
Death under Disposition of Partner's Interest, is treated as occurring immediately before the
Partner's Gain or Loss later. distribution. See Basis of Partner's Interest,
A partner generally recognizes gain on a later.
partnership distribution only to the extent any Distribution of partner's debt. If a partner- The partnership must adjust its basis in
money (and marketable securities treated as ship acquires a partner's debt and extin- any property the partner contributed within 7
money) included in the distribution exceeds guishes the debt by distributing it to the part- years (5 years for property contributed before
the adjusted basis of the partner's interest in ner, the partner will recognize capital gain or June 9, 1997) of the distribution to reflect any
the partnership. Any gain recognized is gen- loss to the extent the fair market value of the gain that partner recognizes under this rule.
erally treated as capital gain from the sale of debt differs from the basis of the debt (deter- Exceptions. Any part of a distribution that
the partnership interest on the date of the mined under the rules discussed in Partner's is property the partner previously contributed
distribution. If partnership property (other than Basis for Distributed Property, later). to the partnership is not taken into account in
marketable securities treated as money) is The partner is treated as having satisfied determining the amount of the excess distri-
distributed to a partner, he or she generally the debt for its fair market value. If the issue bution or the partner's net precontribution
does not recognize any gain until the sale or price (adjusted for any premium or discount) gain. For this purpose, the partner's previ-
other disposition of the property. of the debt exceeds its fair market value when ously contributed property does not include a
For exceptions to these rules, see Distri- distributed, the partner may have to include contributed interest in an entity to the extent
bution of partner's debt and following dis- the excess amount in income as canceled its value is due to property contributed to the
cussions, later. Also, see Payments for Un- debt. entity after the interest was contributed to the
realized Receivables and Inventory Items Similarly, a deduction may be available to partnership.
under Disposition of Partner's Interest, later. a corporate partner if the fair market value of Recognition of gain under this rule also
the debt at the time of distribution exceeds its does not apply to a distribution of unrealized
Example. The adjusted basis of Jo's adjusted issue price. receivables or substantially appreciated in-
partnership interest is $14,000. She receives ventory items if the distribution is treated as
a distribution of $8,000 cash and land that has Net precontribution gain. A partner gener- a sale or exchange, as discussed earlier.
an adjusted basis of $2,000 and a fair market ally must recognize gain on the distribution
value of $3,000. Because the cash received of property (other than money) if the partner
does not exceed the basis of her partnership contributed appreciated property to the part- Partner's Basis for
interest, Jo does not recognize any income nership during the 7-year period before the Distributed Property
on the distribution. Any gain on the land will distribution.
be recognized when she sells or otherwise Unless there is a complete liquidation of a
disposes of it. The distribution decreases the A 5-year period applies to property partner's interest, the basis of property (other
adjusted basis of Jo's partnership interest to ! contributed before June 9, 1997, or
under a written binding contract:
than money) distributed to the partner by a
partnership is its adjusted basis to the part-
$4,000 [$14,000 − ($8,000 + $2,000)].
CAUTION

nership immediately before the distribution.


1) That was in effect on June 8, 1997, and However, the basis of the property to the
Marketable securities treated as money. at all times thereafter before the contri- partner cannot be more than the adjusted
Generally, a marketable security distributed bution, and basis of his or her interest in the partnership
to a partner is treated as money in determin- 2) That provides for the contribution of a reduced by any money received in the same
ing whether gain is recognized on the distri- fixed amount of property. transaction.
bution. This treatment, however, does not
generally apply if that partner contributed the Example 1. The adjusted basis of Beth's
The gain recognized is the lesser of the partnership interest is $30,000. She receives
security to the partnership or an investment
following amounts. a distribution of property that has an adjusted
partnership made the distribution to an eligi-
ble partner. 1) The excess of: basis of $20,000 to the partnership and
The amount treated as money is the se- $4,000 in cash. Her basis for the property is
curity's fair market value when distributed, a) The fair market value of the prop- $20,000.
reduced (but not below zero) by the excess erty received in the distribution,
(if any) of: over Example 2. The adjusted basis of Mike's
partnership interest is $10,000. He receives
b) The adjusted basis of the partner's a distribution of $4,000 cash and property that
1) The partner's distributive share of the interest in the partnership imme-
gain that would be recognized had the has an adjusted basis to the partnership of
diately before the distribution, re- $8,000. His basis for the distributed property
partnership sold all its marketable secu- duced (but not below zero) by any
rities at their fair market value imme- is limited to $6,000 ($10,000 − $4,000, the
money received in the distribution. cash he receives).
diately before the transaction resulting in
the distribution, over 2) The “net precontribution gain” of the
partner. This is the net gain the partner Complete liquidation of partner's interest.
2) The partner's distributive share of the would recognize if all the property con- The basis of property received in complete
gain that would be recognized had the tributed by the partner within 7 years (5 liquidation of a partner's interest is the ad-
partnership sold all such securities it still years for property contributed before justed basis of the partner's interest in the
held after the distribution at the fair June 9, 1997) of the distribution, and partnership reduced by any money distributed
market value in (1). held by the partnership immediately be- to the partner in the same transaction.
fore the distribution, were distributed to
For the definition of marketable securities another partner, other than a partner Partner's holding period. A partner's hold-
and other information, see section 731(c) of who owns more than 50% of the part- ing period for property distributed to the part-
the Internal Revenue Code. nership. See Distribution of contributed ner includes the period the property was held
Page 9
by the partnership. If the property was con- basis decrease is less than the total un- or depreciation that would have been allowed
tributed to the partnership by a partner, then realized depreciation, allocate it among or allowable if the partnership had previously
the period it was held by that partner is also those items in proportion to their re- chosen the optional adjustment.
included. spective amounts of unrealized depreci- The choice must be made with the part-
ation.) ner's tax return for the year of the distribution
Basis divided among properties. If the if the distribution includes any property sub-
2) Allocate any remaining basis decrease
basis of property received is the adjusted ject to depreciation, depletion, or amorti-
among all the items in proportion to their
basis of the partner's interest in the partner- zation. If the choice does not have to be
respective assigned basis amounts (as
ship (reduced by money received in the same made for the distribution year, it must be
decreased in (1)).
transaction), it must be divided among the made with the return for the first year in which
properties distributed to the partner. For Example. Tom's basis in his partnership the basis of the distributed property is perti-
properties distributed after August 5, 1997, interest is $20,000. In a distribution in liqui- nent in determining the partner's income tax.
allocate the basis using the following rules. dation of his entire interest, he receives A partner choosing this special basis ad-
properties C and D, neither of which is in- justment must attach a statement to his or her
1) Allocate the basis first to unrealized tax return that the partner chooses under
ventory or unrealized receivables. Property
receivables and inventory items included section 732(d) of the Internal Revenue Code
C has an adjusted basis to the partnership
in the distribution by assigning a basis to adjust the basis of property received in a
of $15,000 and a fair market value of $15,000.
to each item equal to the partnership's distribution. The statement must show the
Property D has an adjusted basis to the
adjusted basis in the item immediately computation of the special basis adjustment
partnership of $15,000 and a fair market
before the distribution. If the total of for the property distributed and list the prop-
value of $5,000.
these assigned bases exceeds the erties to which the adjustment has been allo-
To figure his basis in each property, Tom
allocable basis, decrease the assigned cated.
first assigns bases of $15,000 to property C
bases by the amount of the excess.
and $15,000 to property D (their adjusted
Example. Bob purchased a 25% interest
2) Allocate any remaining basis to proper- bases to the partnership). This leaves a
in X partnership for $17,000 cash. At the time
ties other than unrealized receivables $10,000 basis decrease (the $30,000 total of
of the purchase, the partnership owned in-
and inventory items by assigning a basis the assigned bases minus the $20,000
ventory having a basis to the partnership of
to each property equal to the partner- allocable basis). He allocates the entire
$14,000 and a fair market value of $16,000.
ship's adjusted basis in the property im- $10,000 to property D (its unrealized depre-
Thus, $4,000 of the $17,000 he paid was at-
mediately before the distribution. If the ciation). Tom's basis in property C is $15,000
tributable to his share of inventory with a ba-
allocable basis exceeds the total of and his basis in property D is $5,000 ($15,000
sis to the partnership of $3,500.
these assigned bases, increase the as- − $10,000).
Within 2 years after acquiring his interest,
signed bases by the amount of the ex-
Distributions before August 6, 1997. Bob withdrew from the partnership and for his
cess. If the total of these assigned bases
For properties distributed before August 6, entire interest received cash of $1,500, in-
exceeds the allocable basis, decrease
1997, allocate the basis using the following ventory with a basis to the partnership of
the assigned bases by the amount of the
rules. $3,500, and other property with a basis of
excess.
$6,000. The value of the inventory received
Allocating a basis increase. Allocate 1) Allocate the basis first to unrealized was 25% of the value of all partnership in-
any basis increase required in rule (2), earlier receivables and inventory items included ventory. (It is immaterial whether the inven-
first to properties with unrealized appreciation in the distribution to the extent of the tory he received was on hand when he ac-
to the extent of the unrealized appreciation. partnership's adjusted basis in those quired his interest.)
(If the basis increase is less than the total items. If the partnership's adjusted basis Since the partnership from which Bob
unrealized appreciation, allocate it among in those items exceeded the allocable withdrew did not make the optional adjust-
those properties in proportion to their re- basis, allocate the basis among the ment to basis, he chose to adjust the basis
spective amounts of unrealized appreciation.) items in proportion to their adjusted of the inventory received. His share of the
Allocate any remaining basis increase among bases to the partnership. partnership's basis for the inventory is in-
all the properties in proportion to their re- creased by $500 (1/4 of the $2,000 difference
2) Allocate any remaining basis to other
spective fair market values. between the $16,000 fair market value of the
distributed properties in proportion to
inventory and its $14,000 basis to the part-
Example. Julie's basis in her partnership their adjusted bases to the partnership.
nership at the time he acquired his interest).
interest is $55,000. In a distribution in liqui- Partner's interest more than partner- The adjustment applies only for purposes of
dation of her entire interest, she receives ship basis. If the basis of a partner's interest determining his new basis in the inventory,
properties A and B, neither of which is in- to be divided in a complete liquidation of the and not for purposes of partnership gain or
ventory or unrealized receivables. Property A partner's interest is more than the partner- loss on disposition.
has an adjusted basis to the partnership of ship's adjusted basis for the unrealized The total to be allocated among the prop-
$5,000 and a fair market value of $40,000. receivables and inventory items distributed, erties Bob received in the distribution is
Property B has an adjusted basis to the part- and if no other property is distributed to which $15,500 ($17,000 basis of his interest −
nership of $10,000 and a fair market value the partner can apply the remaining basis, the $1,500 cash received). His basis in the in-
of $10,000. partner has a capital loss to the extent of the ventory items is $4,000 ($3,500 partnership
To figure her basis in each property, Julie remaining basis of the partnership interest. basis + $500 special adjustment). The re-
first assigns bases of $5,000 to property A maining $11,500 is allocated to his new basis
and $10,000 to property B (their adjusted for the other property he received.
Special adjustment to basis of property
bases to the partnership). This leaves a
received. A partner who acquired any part Mandatory adjustment. A partner does
$40,000 basis increase (the $55,000
of his or her partnership interest in a sale or not always have a choice whether or not to
allocable basis minus the $15,000 total of the
exchange or upon the death of another part- use this special adjustment to basis. The
assigned bases). She first allocates $35,000
ner may be able choose a special basis ad- special adjustment to basis must be made for
to property A (its unrealized appreciation).
justment for the property. In order for the a distribution of property, whether or not the
The remaining $5,000 is allocated between
partner to choose the special adjustment, the distribution is made within 2 years after the
the properties based on their fair market val-
distribution must be made within 2 years after partnership interest was acquired, if all of the
ues, $4,000 ($40,000/$50,000) to property A
the partner acquired the partnership interest. following conditions existed when the partner
and $1,000 ($10,000/$50,000) to property B.
Also, the partnership must not have chosen received the partnership interest.
Julie's basis in property A is $44,000 ($5,000
the optional adjustment to basis, discussed
+ $35,000 + $4,000) and her basis in property
later under Adjusting the Basis of Partnership
B is $11,000 ($10,000 + $1,000).
Property, when the partner acquired the
• The fair market value of all partnership
property (other than money) was more
Allocating a basis decrease. Use the partnership interest.
than 110% of its adjusted basis to the
following rules to allocate any basis decrease If a partner chooses this special basis
partnership.
required in rule (1) or rule (2), earlier. adjustment, the partner's basis for the prop-
erty distributed is the same as it would have • If there had been a liquidation of the
1) Allocate the basis decrease first to items been if the partnership had chosen the op- partner's interest immediately after it was
with unrealized depreciation to the extent tional adjustment to basis. However, this as- acquired, an allocation of the basis of that
of the unrealized depreciation. (If the signed basis is not reduced by any depletion interest under the general rules (dis-
Page 10
cussed earlier under Basis divided anteed payments are not subject to income share of the partnership income is 10%. The
among properties) would have decreased tax withholding. partnership has $50,000 of ordinary income
the basis of property that could not be The partnership generally deducts guar- after deducting the guaranteed payment. She
depreciated, depleted, or amortized and anteed payments on line 10 of Form 1065 as must include ordinary income of $15,000 on
increased the basis of property that could a business expense. They are also listed on her individual income tax return for her tax
be. Schedules K and K–1 of the partnership re- year in which the partnership's tax year ends
turn. The individual partner reports guaran- ($10,000 guaranteed payment + $5,000
• The optional basis adjustment, if it had
teed payments on Schedule E (Form 1040) ($50,000 × 10%) distributive share).
been chosen by the partnership, would
as ordinary income, along with his or her
have changed the partner's basis for the Example 2. Mike is a calendar year tax-
distributive share of the partnership's other
property actually distributed. payer who is a partner in a partnership. The
ordinary income.
Guaranteed payments made to partners partnership uses a fiscal year that ended
Marketable securities. A partner's basis in for organizing the partnership or syndicating January 31, 1999. Mike received guaranteed
marketable securities received in a partner- interests in the partnership are capital ex- payments from the partnership from February
ship distribution, as determined in the pre- penses and are not deductible by the part- 1, 1998, until December 31, 1998. He must
ceding discussions, is increased by any gain nership. However, these payments must be include these guaranteed payments in in-
recognized by treating the securities as included in the partners' individual income tax come for 1999 and report them on his 1999
money. See Marketable securities treated as returns. See Organization expenses and income tax return.
money under Partner's Gain or Loss, earlier. syndication fees under Partnership Income
The basis increase is allocated among the or Loss, earlier. Payments resulting in loss. If guaran-
securities in proportion to their respective teed payments to a partner result in a part-
amounts of unrealized appreciation before the nership loss in which the partner shares, the
basis increase. Minimum payment. If a partner is to receive partner must report the full amount of the
a minimum payment from the partnership, the guaranteed payments as ordinary income.
guaranteed payment is the amount by which The partner separately takes into account his
the minimum payment is more than the part- or her distributive share of the partnership
ner's distributive share of the partnership in-
Transactions Between come before taking into account the guaran-
loss, to the extent of the adjusted basis of the
partner's partnership interest.
teed payment.
Partnership and
Example. Under a partnership agree-
Partners ment, Sandy is to receive 30% of the part-
Sale or Exchange
For certain transactions between a partner nership income, but not less than $8,000. The of Property
and his or her partnership, the partner is partnership has net income of $20,000. Special rules apply to a sale or exchange of
treated as not being a member of the part- Sandy's share, without regard to the minimum property between a partnership and certain
nership. These transactions include the fol- guarantee, is $6,000 (30% × $20,000). The persons.
lowing. guaranteed payment that can be deducted
by the partnership is $2,000 ($8,000 − Losses. Losses will not be allowed from a
1) Performing services for or transferring $6,000). Sandy's income from the partnership sale or exchange of property (other than an
property to a partnership if— is $8,000, and the remaining $12,000 will be interest in the partnership) directly or indi-
reported by the other partners in proportion rectly between a partnership and a person
a) There is a related allocation and to their shares under the partnership agree-
distribution to a partner, and whose direct or indirect interest in the capital
ment. or profits of the partnership is more than 50%.
b) The entire transaction, when If the partnership net income had been If the sale or exchange is between two
viewed together, is properly char- $30,000, there would have been no guaran- partnerships in which the same persons di-
acterized as occurring between the teed payment since her share, without regard rectly or indirectly own more than 50% of the
partnership and a partner not acting to the guarantee, would have been greater capital or profits interests in each partnership,
in the capacity of a partner. than the guarantee. no deduction of a loss is allowed.
2) Transferring money or other property to The basis of each partner's interest in the
Self-employed health insurance premi- partnership is decreased (but not below zero)
a partnership if— ums. Premiums for health insurance paid by by the partner's share of the disallowed loss.
a) There is a related transfer of money a partnership on behalf of a partner for ser- If the purchaser later sells the property,
or other property by the partnership vices as a partner are treated as guaranteed only the gain realized that is greater than the
to the contributing partner or an- payments. The partnership can deduct the loss not allowed will be taxable. If any gain
other partner, and payments as a business expense and the from the sale of the property is not recognized
partner must include them in gross income. because of this rule, the basis of each part-
b) The transfers together are properly However, if the partnership accounts for in- ner's interest in the partnership is increased
characterized as a sale or ex- surance paid for a partner as a reduction in by the partner's share of that gain.
change of property. distributions to the partner, the partnership
cannot deduct the premiums. Gains. Gains are treated as ordinary income
Payments by accrual basis partnership to For 1999, a partner who qualifies can de- in a sale or exchange of property directly or
cash basis partner. A partnership that uses duct 60% of the health insurance premiums indirectly between a person and a partner-
an accrual method of accounting cannot de- paid by the partnership on his or her behalf ship, or between two partnerships, if both of
duct any business expense owed to a cash as an adjustment to income. The partner the following tests are met.
basis partner until the amount is paid. How- cannot deduct the premiums for any calendar
ever, this rule does not apply to guaranteed month or part of a month in which the partner • More than 50% of the capital or profits
payments made to a partner, which are gen- is eligible to participate in any subsidized interest in the partnership(s) is directly
erally deductible when accrued. health plan maintained by any employer of or indirectly owned by the same
the partner or the partner's spouse. For more person(s).
information on the self-employed health in-
Guaranteed Payments surance deduction, see chapter 10 in Publi- • The property in the hands of the
Guaranteed payments are those made by a cation 535. transferee immediately after the transfer
partnership to a partner that are determined is not a capital asset. Property that is not
without regard to the partnership's income. A Including payments in partner's income. a capital asset includes accounts receiv-
partnership treats guaranteed payments for Guaranteed payments are included in income able, inventory, stock-in-trade, and
services, or for the use of capital, as if they in the partner's tax year in which the partner- depreciable or real property used in a
were made to a person who is not a partner. ship's tax year ends. trade or business.
This treatment is for purposes of determining
gross income and deductible business ex- Example 1. Under the terms of a part- More than 50% ownership. To determine if
penses only. For other tax purposes, guar- nership agreement, Erica is entitled to a fixed there is more than 50% ownership in part-
anteed payments are treated as a partner's annual payment of $10,000 without regard to nership capital or profits, the following rules
distributive share of ordinary income. Guar- the income of the partnership. Her distributive apply.
Page 11
1) An interest directly or indirectly owned distribution occur more than 2 years apart, the ation, depletion, and gain or loss for the
by or for a corporation, partnership, es- transfers are presumed not to be a sale un- property is the same as the partner's adjusted
tate, or trust is considered to be owned less the facts clearly indicate that the trans- basis for the property when it was contributed,
proportionately by or for its shareholders, fers are a sale. increased by any gain recognized by the
partners, or beneficiaries. Form 8275 required. A partner must at- partner at the time of contribution.
tach Form 8275, Disclosure Statement, (or
2) An individual is considered to own the
other statement) to his or her return if the Allocations to account for built-in gain or
interest directly or indirectly owned by
partner contributes property to a partnership loss. The fair market value of property at the
or for the individual's family. For this rule,
and, within 2 years (before or after the con- time it is contributed may be different from the
“family” includes only brothers, sisters,
tribution), the partnership transfers money or partner's adjusted basis. The partnership
half-brothers, half-sisters, spouses, an-
other consideration to the partner. For ex- must allocate among the partners any in-
cestors, and lineal descendants.
ceptions to this requirement, see section come, deduction, gain, or loss on the property
3) If a person is considered to own an in- 1.707–3(c)(2) of the regulations. in a manner that will account for the differ-
terest using rule (1), that person (the A partnership must attach Form 8275 (or ence. This rule also applies to contributions
“constructive owner”) is treated as if ac- other statement) to its return if it distributes of accounts payable and other accrued but
tually owning that interest when rules (1) property to a partner, and, within 2 years unpaid items of a cash basis partner.
and (2) are applied. However, if a per- (before or after the distribution), the partner The partnership can use different allo-
son is considered to own an interest us- transfers money or other consideration to the cation methods for different items of contrib-
ing rule (2), that person is not treated as partnership. uted property. A single reasonable method
actually owning that interest in reapply- Form 8275 must include the following in- must be consistently applied to each item,
ing rule (2) to make another person the formation. and the overall method or combination of
constructive owner. methods must be reasonable. See section
• A caption identifying the statement as a 1.704–3 of the regulations for allocation
Example. Individuals A and B and Trust disclosure under section 707 of the methods generally considered reasonable.
T are equal partners in Partnership ABT. A's Internal Revenue Code. If the partnership sells contributed prop-
husband, AH, is the sole beneficiary of Trust erty and recognizes gain or loss, built-in gain
T. Trust T's partnership interest will be attri-
• A description of the transferred property
or money, including its value. or loss is allocated to the contributing partner.
buted to AH only for the purpose of further If contributed property is subject to depreci-
attributing the interest to A. As a result, A is • A description of any relevant facts in de- ation or other cost recovery, the allocation of
a more-than-50% partner. This means that termining if the transfers are properly deductions for these items takes into account
any deduction for losses on transactions be- viewed as a disguised sale. (See section built-in gain or loss on the property. However,
tween her and ABT will not be allowed, and 1.707–3(b)(2) of the regulations for a de- the total depreciation, depletion, gain, or loss
gain from property that in the hands of the scription of the facts and circumstances allocated to partners cannot be more than the
transferee is not a capital asset is treated as considered in determining if the transfers depreciation or depletion allowable to the
ordinary, rather than capital, gain. are a disguised sale.) partnership or the gain or loss realized by the
partnership.
More information. For more information on Contribution to investment company.
these special rules, see Sales and Exchanges Gain is recognized when property is contrib- Example. Sara and Gail form an equal
Between Related Persons in chapter 2 of uted (in exchange for an interest in the part- partnership. Sara contributed $10,000 in cash
Publication 544. nership) to a partnership that would be to the partnership and Gail contributed
treated as an investment company if it were depreciable property with a fair market value
incorporated. of $10,000 and an adjusted basis of $4,000.
Contribution of Property A partnership is treated as an investment The partnership's basis for depreciation is
Usually, neither the partner nor the partner- company if over 80% of the value of its as- limited to the adjusted basis of the property
ship recognizes a gain or loss when property sets, excluding cash and nonconvertible debt in Gail's hands, $4,000.
is contributed to the partnership in exchange obligations, is held for investment and con- In effect, Sara purchased an undivided
for a partnership interest. This applies sists of readily marketable stocks, securities, one-half interest in the depreciable property
whether a partnership is being formed or is or interests in regulated investment compa- with her contribution of $10,000. Assuming
already operating. The partnership's holding nies or real estate investment trusts. Whether that the depreciation rate is 10% a year under
period for the property includes the partner's a partnership is an investment company un- the General Depreciation System (GDS), she
holding period. der this test is ordinarily determined imme- would have been entitled to a depreciation
The contribution of limited partnership in- diately after the transfer of property. deduction of $500 per year, based on her in-
terests in one partnership for limited partner- This rule applies to limited partnerships terest in the partnership.
ship interests in another partnership qualifies and general partnerships, regardless of However, since the partnership is allowed
as a tax-free contribution of property to the whether they are privately formed or publicly only $400 per year of depreciation (10% of
second partnership if the transaction is made syndicated. $4,000), no more than $400 can be allocated
for business purposes. The exchange is not between the partners. The entire $400 must
subject to the rules explained later under Contribution to foreign partnership. A do- be allocated to Sara.
Disposition of Partner's Interest. mestic partnership that contributed property
after August 5, 1997, to a foreign partnership Distribution of contributed property to an-
Disguised sales. A contribution of money in exchange for a partnership interest may other partner. If a partner contributes prop-
or other property to the partnership followed have to file Form 8865 if either of the follow- erty to a partnership and the partnership dis-
by a distribution of different property from the ing apply. tributes the property to another partner within
partnership to the partner is treated not as a 7 years of the contribution, the contributing
contribution and distribution, but as a sale of 1) Immediately after the contribution, the partner must recognize gain or loss on the
property, if both of the following tests are met. partnership owned, directly or indirectly, distribution.
at least a 10% interest in the foreign
• The distribution would not have been partnership. A 5-year period applies to property
made but for the contribution. 2) The fair market value of the property !
CAUTION
contributed before June 9, 1997, or
under a written binding contract:
• The partner's right to the distribution does contributed to the foreign partnership,
not depend on the success of partnership when added to other contributions of 1) That was in effect on June 8, 1997, and
operations. property made to the partnership during at all times thereafter before the contri-
the preceding 12-month period, is bution, and
All facts and circumstances are consid- greater than $100,000.
ered in determining if the contribution and 2) That provides for the contribution of a
distribution are more properly characterized See the form instructions for more informa- fixed amount of property.
as a sale. However, if the contribution and tion.
distribution occur within 2 years of each other, The recognized gain or loss is the amount
the transfers are presumed to be a sale un- Basis of contributed property. If a partner the contributing partner would have recog-
less the facts clearly indicate that the trans- contributes property to a partnership, the nized if the property had been sold for its fair
fers are not a sale. If the contribution and partnership's basis for determining depreci- market value when it was distributed. This
Page 12
amount is the difference between the proper- payment for services to the partnership is a • The partner's distributive share of the
ty's basis and its fair market value at the time guaranteed payment, discussed earlier. partnership losses (including capital
of contribution. The character of the gain or losses).
loss will be the same as the character of the Profits interest. A profits interest is a part-
gain or loss that would have resulted if the nership interest other than a capital interest. • The partner's distributive share of non-
partnership had sold the property to the If a person receives a profits interest for pro- deductible partnership expenses that are
distributee partner. Appropriate adjustments viding services to or for the benefit of a part- not capital expenditures.
must be made to the adjusted basis of the nership in a partner capacity or in anticipation • The partner's deduction for depletion for
contributing partner's partnership interest and of being a partner, the receipt of such an in- any partnership oil and gas wells, up to
to the adjusted basis of the property distrib- terest is not a taxable event for the partner the proportionate share of the adjusted
uted to reflect the recognized gain or loss. or the partnership. However, this does not basis of the wells allocated to the partner.
apply in the following situations.
Disposition of certain contributed prop- • The partner's share of any section 179
erty. The following rules determine the • The profits interest relates to a substan- expenses, even if the partner cannot de-
character of the partnership's gain or loss on tially certain and predictable stream of duct the entire amount on his or her in-
a later disposition of certain types of property. income from partnership assets, such as dividual income tax return.
income from high-quality debt securities
1) Unrealized receivables. For property or a high-quality net lease. Partner's liabilities assumed by part-
that was an unrealized receivable in the nership. If contributed property is subject to
hands of the contributing partner, any
• Within 2 years of receipt, the partner a debt or if a partner's liabilities are assumed
disposes of the profits interest.
gain or loss on a disposition by the by the partnership, the basis of that partner's
partnership is ordinary income or loss. • The profits interest is a limited partner- interest is reduced (but not below zero) by the
Unrealized receivables are defined later ship interest in a publicly traded partner- liability assumed by the other partners. This
under Payments for Unrealized Receiv- ship. partner must reduce his or her basis because
ables and Inventory Items. When read- the assumption of the liability is treated as a
ing the definition, substitute “partner” for distribution of money to that partner. The
“partnership.” other partners' assumption of the liability is
treated as a contribution by them of money
2) Inventory items. For property that was
an inventory item in the hands of the Basis of Partner's to the partnership. See Effect of Partnership
Liabilities, later.
contributing partner, a gain or loss on a
disposition by the partnership within 5 Interest
Example 1. John acquired a 20% interest
years after the contribution is ordinary The basis of a partnership interest is the
in a partnership by contributing property that
income or loss. Inventory items are de- money plus the adjusted basis of any property
had an adjusted basis to him of $8,000 and
fined later in Payments for Unrealized the partner contributed. If the partner must
a $4,000 mortgage. The partnership assumed
Receivables and Inventory Items. recognize gain as a result of the contribution,
payment of the mortgage. The basis of John's
this gain is included in the basis of his or her
3) Capital loss property. For property that interest is:
interest. Any increase in a partner's individual
was a capital asset in the contributing liabilities because of an assumption of part-
partner's hands, any loss on a disposi- Adjusted basis of contributed property ........ $8,000
nership liabilities is considered a contribution
tion by the partnership within 5 years of money to the partnership by the partner. Minus: Part of mortgage assumed by other
after the contribution is a capital loss. partners (80% × $4,000) .............................. 3,200
The capital loss is limited to the amount Basis of John's partnership interest ............ $4,800
by which the partner's adjusted basis for Interest acquired by gift, etc. If a partner
the property exceeded the property's fair acquires an interest in a partnership by gift,
market value immediately before the inheritance, or under any circumstance other Example 2. If, in Example 1, the contrib-
contribution. than by a contribution of money or property uted property had a $12,000 mortgage, the
to the partnership, the partner's basis must basis of John's partnership interest would be
4) Substituted basis property. If the part- be determined using the basis rules described zero. The $1,600 difference between the
nership disposes of any of the property in Publication 551. mortgage assumed by the other partners,
listed in (1), (2), or (3) in a nonrecogni- $9,600 (80% × $12,000), and his basis of
tion transaction, these rules apply if the $8,000 would be treated as capital gain from
recipient of the property disposes of any Adjusted Basis the sale or exchange of a partnership interest.
substituted basis property resulting from The basis of an interest in a partnership is However, this gain would not increase the
the transaction. increased or decreased by certain items. basis of his partnership interest.

Increases. A partner's basis is increased by


Contribution of Services the following items.
Book value of partner's interest. The ad-
justed basis of a partner's interest is deter-
A partner can acquire an interest in partner-
mined without considering any amount shown
ship capital or profits as compensation for • The partner's additional contributions to in the partnership books as a capital, equity,
services performed or to be performed. the partnership, including an increased or similar account.
share of or assumption of partnership li-
Capital interest. A capital interest is an in- abilities.
Example. Sam contributes to his part-
terest that would give the holder a share of • The partner's distributive share of taxable nership property that has an adjusted basis
the proceeds if the partnership's assets were and nontaxable partnership income. of $400 and a fair market value of $1,000.
sold at fair market value and the proceeds His partner contributes $1,000 cash. While
were distributed in a complete liquidation of • The partner's distributive share of the
excess of the deductions for depletion each partner has increased his capital ac-
the partnership. This determination generally count by $1,000, which will be reflected in the
is made at the time of receipt of the partner- over the basis of the depletable property,
unless the property is oil or gas wells partnership books, the adjusted basis of
ship interest. The fair market value of such Sam's interest is only $400 and the adjusted
an interest received by a partner as compen- whose basis has been allocated to part-
ners. basis of his partner's interest is $1,000.
sation for services must generally be included
in the partner's gross income in the first tax
year in which the partner can transfer the in- Decreases. The partner's basis is decreased When determined. The adjusted basis of a
terest or the interest is not subject to a sub- (but never below zero) by the following items. partner's partnership interest is ordinarily de-
stantial risk of forfeiture. The partnership in- termined at the end of the partnership's tax
terest transferred as compensation for • The money (including a decreased share year. However, if there has been a sale or
services is subject to the rules discussed in of partnership liabilities or an assumption exchange of all or part of the partner's interest
chapter 2 of Publication 535 under Restricted of the partner's individual liabilities by the or a liquidation of his or her entire interest in
property. partnership) and adjusted basis of prop- a partnership, the adjusted basis is deter-
The fair market value of an interest in erty distributed to the partner by the mined on the date of sale, exchange, or liq-
partnership capital transferred to a partner as partnership. uidation.
Page 13
Alternative rule for figuring adjusted ba- risk of loss on that liability immediately Constructive liquidation. Generally, in
sis. In certain cases, the adjusted basis of after the assumption. a constructive liquidation, the following events
a partnership interest can be figured by using are treated as occurring at the same time.
the partner's share of the adjusted basis of Related person. A related person, for
partnership property that would be distributed these purposes, includes all of the following. • All partnership liabilities become payable
if the partnership terminated. in full.
This alternative rule can be used in either • An individual and his or her spouse, an- • All of the partnership's assets have a
of the following situations. cestors, and lineal descendants.
value of zero, except for property con-
• An individual and a corporation 80% or tributed to secure a liability.
• The circumstances are such that the more in value of the outstanding stock of
partner cannot practicably apply the • All property is disposed of by the part-
which is owned, directly or indirectly, by
general basis rules. nership in a fully taxable transaction for
or for such individual.
no consideration (except relief from li-
• It is, in the opinion of the IRS, reasonable • Two corporations that are members of abilities for which the creditor's right to
to conclude that the result produced will
the same controlled group. reimbursement is limited solely to one or
not vary substantially from the result un-
more assets of the partnership).
der the general basis rules. • A grantor and a fiduciary of any trust.
• Fiduciaries of two separate trusts if the • All items of income, gain, loss, or de-
Adjustments may be necessary in figuring duction are allocated to the partners.
the adjusted basis of a partnership interest same person is a grantor of both trusts.
under the alternative rule. For example, ad- • The partnership liquidates.
• A fiduciary and a beneficiary of the same
justments would be required to include in the trust. Example. Ted and Jane form a cash ba-
partner's share of the adjusted basis of part- sis general partnership with cash contribu-
nership property any significant discrepancies • A fiduciary and a beneficiary of two sep-
arate trusts if the same person is a tions of $20,000 each. Under the partnership
that resulted from contributed property, agreement, they share all partnership profits
transfers of partnership interests, or distribu- grantor of both trusts.
and losses equally. They borrow $60,000 and
tions of property to the partners. • A fiduciary of a trust and a corporation, purchase depreciable business equipment.
80% or more in value of the outstanding This debt is included in the partners' basis in
stock of which is owned, directly or indi- the partnership because incurring it creates
Effect of Partnership rectly, by or for the trust or a grantor of an additional $60,000 of basis in the partner-
Liabilities the trust. ship's depreciable property.
A partner's basis in a partnership interest in- • A person and a tax-exempt educational If neither partner has an economic risk of
cludes the partner's share of a partnership li- or charitable organization controlled di- loss in the liability, it is a nonrecourse liability.
ability only if, and to the extent that, the li- rectly or indirectly by the person or by Each partner's basis would include his or her
ability: members of the person's family. share of the liability, $30,000.
If Jane is required to pay the creditor if the
1) Creates or increases the partnership's • A corporation and a partnership if the partnership defaults, she has an economic
basis in any of its assets, same persons own 80% or more in value risk of loss in the liability. Her basis in the
of the outstanding stock of the corpo- partnership would be $80,000 ($20,000 +
2) Gives rise to a current deduction to the ration and 80% or more of the capital or $60,000), while Ted's basis would be
partnership, or profits interest in the partnership. $20,000.
3) Is a nondeductible, noncapital expense • Two S corporations or an S corporation
of the partnership. and a C corporation if the same persons Limited partner. A limited partner gen-
own 80% or more in value of the out- erally has no obligation to contribute addi-
The term “assets” in (1) includes capitalized standing stock of each corporation. tional capital to the partnership and therefore
items allocable to future periods, such as or- does not have an economic risk of loss in
ganization expenses. • For tax years beginning after August 5, partnership recourse liabilities. Thus, absent
A partner's share of accrued but unpaid 1997, an executor and a beneficiary of some other factor, such as the guarantee of
expenses or accounts payable of a cash ba- an estate. a partnership liability by the limited partner
sis partnership are not included in the ad- • A partnership and a person owning, di- or the limited partner making the loan to the
justed basis of the partner's interest in the rectly or indirectly, 80% or more of the partnership, a limited partner generally does
partnership. capital or profits interest in the partner- not have a share of partnership recourse li-
ship. abilities.
Partner's basis increased. If a partner's
share of partnership liabilities increases, or a • Two partnerships in which the same per- Partner's share of nonrecourse liabilities.
partner's individual liabilities increase be- sons own, directly or indirectly, 80% or A partnership liability is a nonrecourse liability
cause he or she assumes partnership liabil- more of the capital or profits interests. if no partner or related person has an eco-
ities, this increase is treated as a contribution nomic risk of loss for that liability. A partner's
Property subject to a liability. If prop- share of nonrecourse liabilities is generally
of money by the partner to the partnership.
erty contributed to a partnership by a partner proportionate to his or her share of partner-
or distributed by the partnership to a partner ship profits. However, this rule may not apply
Partner's basis decreased. If a partner's is subject to a liability, the transferee is
share of partnership liabilities decreases, or if the partnership has taken deductions at-
treated as having assumed the liability to the tributable to nonrecourse liabilities or the
a partner's individual liabilities decrease be- extent it does not exceed the fair market value
cause the partnership assumes his or her in- partnership holds property that was contrib-
of the property. uted by a partner. See section 1.752–3 of the
dividual liabilities, this decrease is treated as
a distribution of money to the partner by the regulations for more information.
partnership. Partner's share of recourse liabilities. A
partnership liability is a recourse liability to the More information. For more information on
extent that any partner or related person, de- the effect of partnership liabilities, including
Assumption of liability. A partner or related
fined earlier, has an economic risk of loss for rules for limited partners and examples, see
person is considered to assume a partnership
that liability. A partner's share of a recourse sections 1.752–1 through 1.752–5 of the
liability only to the extent that:
liability equals his or her economic risk of loss regulations.
1) He or she is personally liable for it, for that liability. A partner has an economic
risk of loss if that partner or related person
2) The creditor knows that the liability was would be obligated (whether by agreement
assumed by the partner or related per- or law) to make a net payment to the creditor
son, or a contribution to the partnership with re- Disposition of
spect to the liability if the partnership were
3) The creditor can demand payment from
the partner or related person, and constructively liquidated. A partner who is the Partner's Interest
creditor for a liability that would otherwise be The following discussions explain the treat-
4) No other partner or person related to a nonrecourse liability of the partnership has ment of gain or loss from the disposition of
another partner will bear the economic an economic risk of loss in that liability. an interest in a partnership.
Page 14
Abandoned or worthless partnership in- as an interest in each of the partnership as- binding on January 4, 1993, and at all times
terest. A loss incurred from the abandon- sets and not as a partnership interest. See thereafter).
ment or worthlessness of a partnership inter- Exclusion From Partnership Rules, earlier.
est is an ordinary loss only if both of the Unrealized receivables are defined later
following tests are met. Installment reporting for sale of partner- under Payments for Unrealized Receivables
ship interest. A partner who sells a part- and Inventory Items. However, for this pur-
• The transaction is not a sale or exchange. nership interest at a gain may be able to re- pose, they do not include the items listed in
• The partner has not received an actual port the sale on the installment method. For that discussion under Other items treated as
or deemed distribution from the partner- requirements and other information on an in- unrealized receivables.
ship. stallment sale, see Publication 537, Install- Partners' valuation. Generally, the part-
ment Sales. ners' valuation of a partner's interest in part-
If the partner receives even a de minimis ac- The gain from the installment sale is nership property in an arm's-length agree-
tual or deemed distribution, the entire loss is treated as part capital gain and part ordinary ment will be treated as correct. If the valuation
a capital loss. income if the partnership's assets included reflects only the partner's net interest in the
unrealized receivables or inventory items. property (total assets less liabilities), it must
See Payments for Unrealized Receivables be adjusted so that both the value of and the
Sale, Exchange, and Inventory Items, later. basis for the partner's interest include the
or Other Transfer An allocation must be made to ensure that partner's share of partnership liabilities.
the income is correctly reported. The gain al- Gain or loss on distribution. Upon the
The sale or exchange of a partner's interest located to unrealized receivables and inven- receipt of the distribution, the retiring partner
in a partnership usually results in capital gain tory items is generally ordinary income and or successor in interest of a deceased partner
or loss. However, see Payments for Unreal- must be reported in the year of sale. The gain will recognize gain only to the extent that any
ized Receivables and Inventory Items, later, allocated to the other assets is capital gain money (and marketable securities treated as
for certain exceptions. Gain or loss is the dif- and can be reported under the installment money) distributed is more than the partner's
ference between the amount realized and the method. adjusted basis in the partnership. The partner
adjusted basis of the partner's interest in the will recognize a loss only if the distribution is
partnership. If the selling partner is relieved in money, unrealized receivables, and inven-
of any partnership liabilities, that partner must Liquidation at Partner's tory items. No loss is recognized if any other
include the liability relief as part of the amount
realized for his or her interest. Retirement or Death property is received.
Payments made by the partnership to a retir-
Example 1. Fred became a limited part- ing partner or successor in interest of a de- Other payments. Payments made by the
ner in the ABC Partnership by contributing ceased partner in return for the partner's en- partnership to a retiring partner or successor
$10,000 in cash on the formation of the part- tire interest in the partnership may have to in interest of a deceased partner that are not
nership. The adjusted basis of his partner- be allocated between payments in liquidation made in exchange for an interest in partner-
ship interest at the end of the current year is of the partner's interest in partnership prop- ship property are treated as distributive
$20,000, which includes his $15,000 share erty and other payments. shares of partnership income or guaranteed
of partnership liabilities. The partnership has For income tax purposes, a retiring partner payments. This rule applies regardless of the
no unrealized receivables or inventory items. or successor in interest of a deceased partner time over which the payments are to be
Fred sells his interest in the partnership for is treated as a partner until his or her interest made. It applies to payments made for the
$10,000 in cash. He had been paid his share in the partnership has been completely liqui- partner's share of unrealized receivables and
of the partnership income for the tax year. dated. goodwill not treated as a distribution.
Fred realizes $25,000 from the sale of his Payments made in liquidation of the inter- If the amount is based on partnership in-
partnership interest ($10,000 cash payment est of a retiring or deceased partner in ex- come, the payment is taxable as a distributive
+ $15,000 liability relief). He reports $5,000 change for his or her interest in partnership share of partnership income. The payment
($25,000 realized − $20,000 basis) as a cap- property are considered a distribution, not a retains the same character when reported by
ital gain. distributive share or guaranteed payment that the recipient that it would have had if reported
could give rise to a deduction (or its equiv- by the partnership. For more information, see
Example 2. The facts are the same as alent) for the partnership. For information on Partner's Distributive Share, earlier.
Example 1, except that Fred withdraws from the treatment of gain or loss on the distribu- If the amount is not based on partnership
the partnership when the adjusted basis of tion by the retiring partner or deceased part- income, it is treated as a guaranteed pay-
his interest in the partnership is zero. He is ner's successor in interest, see Partner's Gain ment. The recipient reports guaranteed pay-
considered to have received a distribution of or Loss under Partnership Distributions, ear- ments as ordinary income. For additional in-
$15,000, his relief of liability. He reports a lier. formation on guaranteed payments, see
capital gain of $15,000. Unrealized receivables and goodwill. Transactions Between Partnership and Part-
Payments made for the retiring or deceased ners, earlier.
Partnership election to adjust basis of partner's share of the partnership's unrealized These payments are included in income
partnership property. Generally, a partner- receivables or goodwill are not treated as by the recipient for his or her tax year that
ship's basis in its assets is not affected by a made in exchange for partnership property if includes the end of the partnership tax year
transfer of an interest in the partnership, both of the following tests are met. for which the payments are a distributive
whether by sale or exchange or because of share or in which the partnership is entitled
the death of a partner. However, the part- • Capital is not a material income- to deduct them as guaranteed payments.
nership can elect to make an optional adjust- producing factor for the partnership. Former partners who continue to make
ment to basis in the year of transfer. See (Whether capital is a material income- guaranteed periodic payments to satisfy the
Adjusting the Basis of Partnership Property, producing factor is explained in the dis- partnership's liability to a retired partner after
later, for information on making the election. cussion under Family Partnership near the partnership is terminated can deduct the
the beginning of this publication.) payments as a business expense in the year
Exchange of partnership interests. An ex- paid.
change of partnership interests generally • The retiring or deceased partner was a
does not qualify as a nontaxable exchange general partner in the partnership.
of like-kind property. This applies regardless However, this rule does not apply to pay-
Payments for Unrealized
of whether they are general or limited part- ments for goodwill to the extent that the part- Receivables and Inventory
nership interests or interests in the same or nership agreement provides for a reasonable
different partnerships. However, under certain payment to a retiring partner for goodwill.
Items
circumstances, such an exchange may be If a partner receives money or property in
treated as a tax-free contribution of property Payments for unrealized receivables exchange for any part of a partnership inter-
to a partnership. See Contribution of Property,
earlier.
! or goodwill are not treated as made
CAUTION in exchange for partnership property
est, the amount due to his or her share of the
partnership's unrealized receivables or in-
An interest in a partnership that has a valid under any circumstance if the partner retired ventory items results in ordinary income or
election in effect under section 761(a) of the or died before January 5, 1993 (or retired on loss. This amount is treated as if it were re-
Internal Revenue Code to be excluded from or after that date if a written contract to buy ceived for the sale or exchange of property
the partnership rules of the Code is treated the partner's interest in the partnership was that is not a capital asset.
Page 15
This treatment applies to the unrealized length agreement between the buyer and the same information) to each transferee and
receivables part of payments to a retiring seller (or between the partnership and the transferor by the later of January 31 following
partner or successor in interest of a deceased partner receiving the distribution). the end of the calendar year or 30 days after
partner only if that part is not treated as paid If no agreement exists, the price or value it receives notice of the exchange.
in exchange for partnership property. See must be determined by taking into account The partnership may be subject to a pen-
Liquidation at Partner's Retirement or Death, both the estimated cost to complete perform- alty of up to $50 for each failure to timely file
earlier. ance of the contract or agreement and the Form 8308 and a $50 penalty for each failure
time between the sale or distribution and the to furnish a copy of Form 8308 to a transferor
For a sale or exchange of a partner- time of payment. or transferee, unless the failure is due to
! ship interest before August 6, 1997,
CAUTION inventory must be substantially ap-
reasonable cause and not willful neglect. If
Example. You are a partner in ABC the failure is intentional, a higher penalty may
preciated before it generates ordinary income Partnership. The adjusted basis of your part- be imposed. See the form instructions for
(rather than capital gain). This also applies to nership interest at the end of the current year details.
any sale or exchange under a written contract is zero. Your share of potential ordinary in-
that is in effect on June 8, 1997, and at all come from partnership depreciable property Statement required of partner. If a partner
times thereafter before the sale or exchange. is $5,000. The partnership has no other un- sells or exchanges any part of an interest in
For the definition of “substantially appreci- realized receivables or inventory items. You a partnership having unrealized receivables
ated,” see Certain distributions treated as a sell your interest in the partnership for or inventory, he or she must file a statement
sale or exchange under Partnership Distribu- $10,000 in cash and you report the entire with his or her tax return for the year in which
tions, earlier. amount as a gain since your adjusted basis the sale or exchange occurs. The statement
in the partnership is zero. You report as ordi- must contain the following information.
Unrealized receivables. Unrealized receiv- nary income your $5,000 share of potential
ables include any rights to payment not al- ordinary income from the partnership's • The date of the sale or exchange, the
ready included in income for the following depreciable property. The remaining $5,000 partner's adjusted basis for the partner-
items. gain is a capital gain. ship interest, and the part of the basis
that represents the unrealized receiv-
• Goods delivered or to be delivered to the Inventory items. Inventory items are not just ables or inventory items.
extent the payment would be treated as
stock-in-trade of the partnership. They also • The money and fair market value of any
received for property other than a capital
include the following property. other property the partner received or will
asset.
receive for the interest in the partnership,
• Services rendered or to be rendered. • Property that would properly be included and the part for the unrealized receiv-
in the partnership's inventory if on hand ables or inventory items.
These rights must have arisen under a at the end of the tax year or that is held
contract or agreement that existed at the time primarily for sale to customers in the • The statement described earlier in Spe-
of sale or distribution, even though the part- normal course of business. cial adjustment to basis of property re-
nership may not be able to enforce payment ceived under Partner's Basis for Distrib-
until a later date. For example, unrealized • Property that, if sold or exchanged by the uted Property, if the partner computes the
receivables include accounts receivable of a partnership, would not be a capital asset basis for the unrealized receivables or
cash method partnership and rights to pay- or section 1231 property (real or depre- inventory items under that provision.
ment for work or goods begun but incomplete ciable business property held more than
at the time of the sale or distribution of the one year). For example, accounts • If the partnership used the optional basis
receivable acquired for services or from adjustment, the computation described
partner's share.
the sale of inventory and unrealized later under Adjusting the Basis of Part-
The basis for any unrealized receivables
receivables are inventory items. nership Property and a list of the part-
includes all costs or expenses for the receiv-
nership properties to which the adjust-
ables that were paid or accrued but not pre- • Property held by the partnership that ment has been allocated.
viously taken into account under the partner- would be considered inventory if held by
ship's method of accounting. the partner selling the partnership interest Partner's disposition of distributed unre-
Other items treated as unrealized or receiving the distribution. alized receivables or inventory items. In
receivables. Unrealized receivables include
general, any gain or loss on a sale or ex-
potential gain that would be ordinary income Notification of partnership. If a partner ex- change of unrealized receivables or inventory
if the following partnership property were sold changes a partnership interest attributable to items a partner receives in a distribution is
at its fair market value on the date of the unrealized receivables or inventory for money an ordinary gain or loss. For this purpose,
payment. or property, he or she must notify the part- inventory items do not include real or depre-
• Mining property for which exploration ex- nership in writing. This must be done within ciable business property, even if they are not
penses were deducted. 30 days of the transaction or, if earlier, by held more than 1 year.
January 15 of the calendar year following the
• Stock in a Domestic International Sales calendar year of the exchange. A partner may Example. Mike, a distributee partner, re-
Corporation (DISC). be subject to a $50 penalty for each failure to ceived his share of accounts receivable when
notify the partnership about such a trans- his law firm dissolved. The partnership used
• Certain farm land for which expenses for the cash method of accounting, so the
soil and water conservation or land action, unless the failure was due to reason-
able cause and not willful neglect. receivables had a basis of zero to Mike. If the
clearing were deducted.
receivables are later collected, or if Mike sells
• Franchises, trademarks, or trade names. Information return required of partnership. them, the amount received will be ordinary
• Oil, gas, or geothermal property for which When a partnership is notified of an exchange income.
intangible drilling and development costs of partnership interests involving unrealized Exception for inventory items held
were deducted. receivables or inventory items, the partner- more than 5 years. If a distributee partner
• Stock of certain controlled foreign corpo- ship must file Form 8308, Report of a Sale sells inventory items held for more than 5
rations. or Exchange of Certain Partnership Interests. years after the distribution, the type of gain
Form 8308 is filed with Form 1065 for the tax or loss depends on how they are being used
• Market discount bonds and short-term year that includes the last day of the calendar on the date sold. The gain or loss is capital
obligations. year in which the exchange took place. If no- gain or loss if the property is a capital asset
• Property subject to recapture of depreci- tified of an exchange after filing Form 1065, in the partner's hands at the time sold.
ation under sections 1245 and 1250 of the partnership must file Form 8308 sepa-
the Internal Revenue Code. Depreciation rately, within 30 days of the notification. Example. Ann receives, through dissol-
recapture is discussed in chapter 3 of On Form 8308, the partnership states the ution, inventory that has a basis of $19,000.
Publication 544. date of the exchange and the names, ad- Within 5 years, she sells the inventory for
dresses, and taxpayer identification numbers $24,000. The $5,000 gain is taxed as ordinary
Determining value. Generally, the sales of the partnership filing the return and the income. If she had held the inventory for
price of unrealized receivables, or their value transferee and transferor in the exchange. more than 5 years, her gain would have been
if received in a distribution treated as a sale The partnership must also provide a copy of capital gain, provided the inventory was a
or exchange, is determined by any arm's- Form 8308 (or a written statement with the capital asset in her hands at the time of sale.
Page 16
Substituted basis property. If a partnership tax year during which Alan re-
distributee partner disposes of unrealized cognizes gain with respect to the payments.
receivables or inventory items in a nonrecog- Form 1065
nition transaction, ordinary gain or loss treat-
ment applies to a later disposition of any Transfers. When there is a transfer of a
partnership interest because of a sale or ex-
Example
substituted basis property resulting from the This filled-in Form 1065 is for the AbleBaker
transaction. change or a partner's death, the partnership
makes the optional adjustment by: Book Store, a partnership composed of Frank
Able and Susan Baker. The partnership uses
an accrual method of accounting and a cal-
1) Increasing the adjusted basis of the
endar year for reporting income and loss.
partnership property by the excess of:
Frank works full time in the business, while
Adjusting the Basis of a) The transferee's basis for his or her Susan works approximately 25% of her time
in it. Both partners are general partners.
Partnership Property partnership interest, over
The partnership agreement states that
Generally, a partnership cannot adjust the b) The transferee's share of the ad- Frank will receive a yearly guaranteed pay-
basis of its property because of a distribution justed basis of all partnership prop- ment of $20,000 and Susan will receive
of property to a partner or because of a erty, or $5,000. Any profit or loss will be shared
transfer of an interest in the partnership, equally by the partners. The partners are
whether by sale or exchange or because of 2) Decreasing the adjusted basis of part- personally liable for all partnership liabilities.
the death of a partner. The partnership can nership property by the excess of: Both partners materially participate in the op-
adjust the basis only if it files an election to eration of the business.
a) The transferee partner's share of In addition to income and expenses from
make an optional adjustment to the basis of
the adjusted basis of all partnership partnership operations, AbleBaker made a
its property upon all distributions and trans-
property, over $650 cash charitable contribution, received
fers. A partnership does not adjust the basis
of partnership property for a contribution of b) The transferee's basis for his or her $150 from dividends, and received $50 tax-
property, including money, to the partnership. partnership interest. exempt interest from municipal bonds.
Frank completes the partnership's Form
1065 as explained next.
Distributions. When there is a distribution These adjustments affect the basis of
of partnership property to a partner, the part- partnership property for the transferee partner
nership makes the optional adjustment by: only. They become part of his or her share
of the common partnership basis. Page 1
1) Increasing the adjusted basis of the re- The IRS sent Frank a postcard with his pre-
tained partnership property by: addressed label, asking if he needed a Form
Making the election. The optional adjust-
1065 package. He returned the postcard and
ment to basis is made by filing a written
a) Any gain recognized by the the IRS sent him the package. When Frank
statement with Form 1065 for the tax year in
distributee partner on the distribu- completes the return, he places the label in
which the distribution or transfer occurs. For
tion, plus the address area on page 1.
the election to be valid, the return must be
Frank supplies all the information re-
b) The excess, if any, of the partner- filed on time, including extensions. The
quested at the top of the page.
ship's adjusted basis for the distrib- statement must include the name and ad-
uted property (immediately before dress of the partnership, be signed by one of
the distribution) over the basis of the partners, and state that the partnership Income
the property to the distributee, or elects under section 754 to apply sections
734(b) and 743(b) of the Internal Revenue The partnership's ordinary income from the
2) Decreasing the adjusted basis of the re- Code. Once a valid election has been made, trade or business activity is shown on lines
tained partnership property by: it applies in succeeding years until it is re- 1a through 8.
voked. Line 1. Gross sales of $409,465 are en-
a) Any loss recognized by the If the election cannot be made with the tered on line 1a. Returns and allowances of
distributee partner on the distribu- return, a partner or the partnership can re- $3,365 are entered on line 1b, resulting in net
tion, plus quest an automatic extension of 12 months sales of $406,100, entered on line 1c.
to make the election. See section 301.9100–2 Line 2. Cost of goods sold, $267,641,
b) The excess, if any, of the distributee of the regulations for more information. from Schedule A, line 8, is entered here.
partner's basis for the distributed Line 3. Gross profit of $138,459 is shown
property over the partnership's ad- on this line.
justed basis for the property (im- Revoking the election. The election can be Line 7. Interest income on accounts
mediately before the distribution). revoked only with the approval of the IRS. An receivable, $559, is entered on this line. The
application to revoke the election must be schedule that must be attached for this line
Timing of adjustment. If a partnership filed with the director for the district in which is not shown.
completely liquidates the interest of a partner the partnership return must be filed. This ap- Line 8. Total income, $139,018 (lines 3
by making a series of cash payments treated plication must be filed within 30 days after the through 7), is shown here.
as distributions of the partner's interest in close of the partnership tax year for which the
partnership property, the basis adjustments change is to be effective. The application
to partnership property must correspond in must be signed by one of the partners and Deductions
timing and amount with the recognition of gain state why the partnership wishes to revoke The partnership's allowable deductions are
or loss by the retiring partner, or a deceased the election. shown on lines 9 through 21.
partner's successor in interest, with respect Examples of sufficient grounds for ap- Line 9. All salaries and wages are in-
to those payments. proving the application include the following. cluded here except guaranteed payments to
partners (shown on line 10). Frank enters the
Example. Alan owns a one-third interest • A change in the nature of the business. $29,350 wages paid to the partnership's em-
in the partnership Sylvan Associates. Sylvan ployees. The partnership had no employment
has an optional adjustment to basis election • A substantial increase in assets. credits to reduce that amount.
in effect. When Alan retires, Sylvan continues • A change in the character of the assets. Line 10. Guaranteed payments of
without dissolution and agrees to liquidate $25,000 to partners Frank ($20,000) and
Alan's one-third interest in the partnership • An increased frequency of retirements or Susan ($5,000) are entered here.
property by making a series of cash payments shifts of partnership interests. Line 11. Repairs of $1,125 made to
to Alan that are treated as distributions. The partnership equipment are entered on this
total amount of payments Alan will receive is However, the IRS will not approve an ap- line.
fixed and exceeds the adjusted basis of plication to revoke the election if its primary Line 12. During the year, $250 owed to
Alan's interest in the partnership. purpose is to avoid decreasing the basis of the partnership was determined to be a wholly
Sylvan increases the adjusted basis of its partnership assets upon a transfer or distri- worthless business bad debt. The $250 is
property by Alan's recognized gain in each bution. shown on this line. (If this had been a non-
Page 17
business bad debt, it would have been re- Line 1. As of January 1, the total of the
ported in Part I of Schedule D (Form 1065)
Pages 3 – 4 partners' capital accounts was $27,550
and included separately on Schedules K and Schedule K (Frank — $14,050; Susan — $13,500). This
K–1, line 7, as a stated short-term capital On Schedule K, Frank lists the total of both amount should agree with the beginning bal-
loss.) partners' shares of income, deductions, ance shown on line 21 of Schedule L for the
Line 13. Rent paid for the business credits, etc. Each partner's distributive share partners' capital accounts.
premises, $20,000, is listed on this line. of income, deductions, credits, etc., is re- Line 3. This is the net income per books.
Line 14. Deductible taxes of $3,295 are ported on Schedule K–1. The line items for Line 5. This is the total of lines 1 through
entered on this line. Schedule K are discussed in combination with 4.
Line 15. Interest paid to suppliers during the Schedule K–1 line items, later. Line 6. Each partner withdrew $26,440
the year totaled $1,451. This is business in- (totaling $52,880) from the partnership. These
terest, so it is entered here. withdrawals are shown here and on Schedule
Lines 16a and 16c. Depreciation of Page 4—Analysis of Net Income K, line 22. The partners' guaranteed pay-
$1,174 claimed on assets used in the part- (Loss) ments, which were actually paid, are not in-
nership's business is entered on these lines. An analysis must be made of the distributive cluded because they were deducted when
(Line 16b is left blank because there is no items on Schedule K. This analysis is based figuring the amount shown on line 3.
depreciation listed elsewhere on the return.) on the type of partner. Since the AbleBaker Line 9. This shows the total equity of all
Frank does not need to attach Form 4562 Book Store has two individual partners, both partners as shown in the books of record as
because the partnership did not place prop- of whom are “active” general partners, the of December 31. This amount should agree
erty in service during 1999 or depreciate a car total on line 1, $73,870, is entered on line 2a, with the year-end balance shown on line 21
or other listed property. column ii. of Schedule L for the partners' capital ac-
Line 20. Other allowable deductions of counts.
$8,003 not listed elsewhere on the return and Item J on Schedule K–1 reflects each
for which a separate line is not provided on Page 4 partner's share of the amounts shown on lines
page 1 are included on this line. Frank at- 1 through 9 of Schedule M–2.
taches a schedule that lists each deduction Schedules L, M–1, and M–2
and the amount included on line 20. This Partnerships do not have to complete
schedule is not shown. Schedules L, M–1, or M–2 if all of the tests Schedule K–1
Line 21. The total of all deductions, listed under question 5 of Schedule B are met Schedule K–1 lists each partner's share of
$89,648 (lines 9 through 20), is entered on and question 5 is marked “Yes.” The income, deductions, credits, etc. It also shows
this line. AbleBaker Book Store does not meet all of where to report the items on the partner's in-
Line 22. The amount on line 21 is sub- the tests, so these schedules must be com- dividual income tax return. Illustrated is a
tracted from the amount on line 8. The result, pleted. copy of the Schedule K–1 for Frank W. Able.
$49,370, is entered here and on line 1 of All information asked for at the top of Sched-
Schedule K. The amount allocated to each Schedule L ule K–1 must be supplied for each partner.
partner is listed on line 1 of Schedule K–1.
Schedule L contains the partnership's bal-
ance sheets at the beginning and end of the Allocation of
tax year. All information shown on the bal-
Signatures ance sheets for the AbleBaker Book Store Partnership Items
Frank signs the return as a general partner. should agree with its books of record. The partners' shares of income, deductions,
The AbleBaker Book Store did not have a The entry in column (d) of line 14 for total etc., are shown next.
paid preparer. assets at the end of the year, $45,391, is
carried to item F at the top of page 1 since the
answer to question 5 on Schedule B was Income (Loss)
“No.” Line 1. This line on Schedule K–1 shows
Page 2 Frank's share ($24,685) of the income from
the partnership shown on Form 1065, page
Schedule A Schedule M–1 1, line 22. The total amount of income to both
Schedule A shows the computation of cost Schedule M–1 is the reconciliation of income partners is shown on line 1, Schedule K.
of goods sold. Beginning inventory, $18,125, per the partnership books with income per Line 4b. Dividends must be separately
is entered on line 1 and net purchases, Form 1065. stated. They are not included in the income
$268,741, are entered on line 2. The total, Line 1. This line shows the net income (loss) of the partnership on Form 1065, page
$286,866, is entered on line 6. Ending inven- per books of $48,920. This amount is from the 1, line 22. This line on Schedule K–1 shows
tory, $19,225 (entered on line 7), is sub- profit and loss account (not shown in this ex- Frank's share, $75. This line on Schedule K
tracted from line 6 to arrive at cost of goods ample). shows the total dividends of $150.
sold, $267,641 (entered on line 8 and on page Line 3. This line shows the guaranteed Line 5. This line on Schedule K–1 shows
1, line 2). payments to partners. only the guaranteed payments to Frank of
Frank answers all applicable questions for Line 5. This is the total of lines 1 through $20,000. This line on Schedule K shows the
item 9. 4 of $73,920. total guaranteed payments to both partners
Line 6. Shown here is the $50 tax-exempt of $25,000.
interest income from municipal bonds re-
corded on the books but not included on
Schedule B Schedule K, lines 1 through 7. This interest Deductions
is reported on Schedule K, line 19. Line 8. During the year, the partnership
Schedule B contains 11 questions about the Line 9. This is line 5 less line 8, $73,870. made a $650 cash contribution to the Ameri-
partnership. Frank answers question 1 by This line is the same as line 1 of the Analysis can Lung Association. Each partner may be
marking the “General partnership” box. He of Net Income (Loss) section of Schedule K able to deduct his or her share of the part-
answers questions 2 through 11 by marking at the top of page 4. nership's charitable contribution on his or her
the “No” boxes. individual income tax return if the partner
Question 5 asks if the partnership meets itemizes deductions. Frank's share of the
all the requirements listed in items 5a, b, and Schedule M–2 contribution, $325, is entered on this line of
c. Because the partnership's total receipts Schedule M–2 is an analysis of the partners' Schedule K–1. This line on Schedule K shows
were not less than $250,000, all three of capital accounts. It shows the total equity of the total contribution.
these requirements are not met. Frank must all partners at the beginning and end of the
complete Schedules L, M–1, M–2, and item tax year and the adjustments that caused any
F on page 1 of Form 1065 and item J on increase or decrease. The total of all the Investment Interest
Schedule K–1. partners' capital accounts is the difference Line 14b. The partnership had no interest
between the partnership's assets and liabil- expense on investment debts, but it had in-
ities shown on Schedule L. A partner's capital vestment income (dividends) of $150 as
account does not necessarily represent the shown on line 4b, Schedule K. That amount
tax basis for an interest in the partnership. is also shown on this line of Schedule K, and
Page 18
the partner's share is shown on this line of • Small Business Corner (located under Mail. You can send your order for
Schedule K–1. Tax Info For Business) to get information forms, instructions, and publications
on starting and operating a small busi- to the Distribution Center nearest to
Self-Employment ness. you and receive a response within 10 work-
Line 15a. Net earnings (loss) from self- days after your request is received. Find the
You can also reach us with your computer address that applies to your part of the
employment are figured using the worksheet using File Transfer Protocol at ftp.irs.gov.
in the Form 1065 instructions for Schedule K country.
(not shown). Frank and Susan's net earnings
from self-employment are the total of the • Western part of U.S.:
partnership income shown on line 1 of TaxFax Service. Using the phone Western Area Distribution Center
Schedule K and the guaranteed payments attached to your fax machine, you can Rancho Cordova, CA 95743–0001
shown on line 5. This total, $74,370, is en- receive forms and instructions by
tered on Schedule K, and each individual calling 703–368–9694. Follow the directions • Central part of U.S.:
partner's share is shown on his or her from the prompts. When you order forms, Central Area Distribution Center
Schedule K–1. Each partner uses his or her enter the catalog number for the form you P.O. Box 8903
share to figure his or her self-employment tax need. The items you request will be faxed to Bloomington, IL 61702–8903
on Schedule SE (Form 1040), Self- you.
Employment Tax (not shown). • Eastern part of U.S. and foreign ad-
dresses:
Eastern Area Distribution Center
Other P.O. Box 85074
Line 19. Frank enters the $50 municipal Phone. Many services are available
by phone. Richmond, VA 23261–5074
bond interest received by the partnership on
this line of Schedule K and $25 on this line
of each partner's Schedule K–1. • Ordering forms, instructions, and publi-
Line 22. Frank enters the $52,880 cash cations. Call 1–800–829–3676 to order
withdrawals made by the partners during the current and prior year forms, instructions,
year on this line of Schedule K. He enters the and publications.
amount each partner withdrew on this line of Help with unresolved tax problems. If you
the partner's Schedule K–1. • Asking tax questions. Call the IRS with
your tax questions at 1–800–829–1040. have attempted to deal with an IRS problem
unsuccessfully, you should contact your Tax-
• TTY/TDD equipment. If you have access payer Advocate.
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quick and easy access to tax help. services. To ensure that IRS representatives your case is given a complete and impartial
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Free tax services. To find out what services answers, we evaluate the quality of our tele- To contact your Taxpayer Advocate:
are available, get Publication 910, Guide to phone services in several ways.
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describes other free tax information services, monitors live telephone calls. That person number: 1–877–777–4778.
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• Frequently Asked Tax Questions (located • We value our customers' opinions.
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swers to questions you may have. ing our customers for their opinions on 1546, The Taxpayer Advocate Service of the
• Forms & Pubs to download forms and our service. IRS.
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• Fill-in Forms (located under Forms & Walk-in. You can walk in to many The Small Business and Agricultural Regula-
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• Tax Info For You to view Internal Reve- offices have: federal agency enforcement actions. The
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• Tax Regs in English to search regulations copy from reproducible proofs. to comment on the enforcement actions of the
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ters on hot tax issues and news.

Page 19
Form 1065 U.S. Partnership Return of Income OMB No. 1545-0099

Department of the Treasury


Internal Revenue Service
For calendar year 1999, or tax year beginning

, 1999, and ending
See separate instructions.
, .
1999
A Principal business activity Name of partnership D Employer identification number
Use the
Retail IRS
B Principal product or service label. Number, street, and room or suite no. If a P.O. box, seeDEC9
10-9876543 9of the instructions.
page 10 E Date business started
Other- AbleBaker Book Store
Books wise, 10-1-79
C Business code number
please City or town,334 West
state, and Main Street
ZIP code F Total assets (see page 10 of
print Orange, MD 20904 the instructions)
or type.
451211 $ 45,391

G Check applicable boxes: (1) Initial return (2) Final return (3) Change in address (4) Amended return
H Check accounting method: (1) Cash (2) ⻫ Accrual (3) Other (specify) 䊳

I Number of Schedules K-1. Attach one for each person who was a partner at any time during the tax year 䊳 2

Caution: Include only trade or business income and expenses on lines 1a through 22 below. See the instructions for more information.

1 a Gross receipts or sales 1a 409,465


b Less returns and allowances 1b 3,365 1c 406,100

2 267,641
2 Cost of goods sold (Schedule A, line 8)

f 99
Income

138,459

o
3 Gross profit. Subtract line 2 from line 1c 3
4 Ordinary income (loss) from other partnerships, estates, and trusts (attach schedule) 4
5
6
a s 19
Net farm profit (loss) (attach Schedule F (Form 1040))
Net gain (loss) from Form 4797, Part II, line 18
5
6

o
7 Other income (loss) (attach schedule) f 1, e) 7 559

r o r
8 Total income (loss). Combine lines 3 through 7

P be cha n g 8 139,018
Deductions (see page 11 of the instructions for limitations)

9 Salaries and wages (other than to partners) (less employment credits) 9 29,350
10 Guaranteed payments to partners
m
e ect t o 10
11
25,000
1,125

v
11 Repairs and maintenance
12 250

No ubj
12 Bad debts
13 Rent 13 20,000
14 Taxes and licenses 14 3,295

(s
15 Interest 15 1,451
16a Depreciation (if required, attach Form 4562) 16a 1,174
b Less depreciation reported on Schedule A and elsewhere on return 16b –0– 16c 1,174
17 Depletion (Do not deduct oil and gas depletion.) 17
18 Retirement plans, etc. 18
19 Employee benefit programs 19

20 Other deductions (attach schedule) 20 8,003

21 Total deductions. Add the amounts shown in the far right column for lines 9 through 20 21 89,648

22 Ordinary income (loss) from trade or business activities. Subtract line 21 from line 8 22 49,370
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return, including accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge
and belief, it is true, correct, and complete. Declaration of preparer (other than general partner or limited liability company member) is based on all
information of which preparer has any knowledge.
Please
Sign Frank W. Able
Here 䊳 Signature of general partner or limited liability company member 䊳 Date
3-12-00


Preparer’s Date Preparer’s SSN or PTIN
Check if
Paid signature
self-employed 䊳
Preparer’s
Use Only
Firm’s name (or
yours if self-employed)
and address
䊳 EIN
ZIP code

For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see separate instructions. Cat. No. 11390Z Form 1065 (1999)

Page 20
Form 1065 (1999) Page 2
Schedule A Cost of Goods Sold (see page 14 of the instructions)

1 Inventory at beginning of year 1 18,125


2 Purchases less cost of items withdrawn for personal use 2 268,741
3 Cost of labor 3 –0–
4 4 –0–
5 Other costssection
Additional (attach263A
schedule)
costs (attach schedule) 5 –0–
6 Total. Add lines 1 through 5 6 286,866
7 Inventory at end of year 7 19,225
8 Cost of goods sold. Subtract line 7 from line 6. Enter here and on page 1, line 2 8 267,641
9a Check all methods used for valuing closing inventory:
(i) Cost as described in Regulations section 1.471-3
(ii) ⻫ Lower of cost or market as described in Regulations section 1.471-4
(iii) Other (specify method used and attach explanation) 䊳
b Check this box if there was a writedown of “subnormal” goods as described in Regulations section 1.471-2(c) 䊳

c
d f 99
Check this box if the LIFO inventory method was adopted this tax year for any goods (if checked, attach Form 970)

o
Do the rules of section 263A (for property produced or acquired for resale) apply to the partnership? Yes

⻫ No
⻫ No
e
If “Yes,” attach explanation.
a s 19
Was there any change in determining quantities, cost, or valuations between opening and closing inventory? Yes

Schedule B Other Information


o f 1, e)
1
a
d
⻫ General partnership r o
Limited liability partnership
r nb
e
g
What type of entity is filing this return? Check the applicable box:

P be cha Limited partnership


Other 䊳
c Limited liability company
Yes No


2
3
e m ct to
Are any partners in this partnership also partnerships?
Is this partnership a partner in another partnership?

4

o v bje
Is this partnership subject to the consolidated audit procedures of sections 6221 through 6233? If “Yes,” see
Designation of Tax Matters Partner below

5
a
b
N u
Does this partnership meet ALL THREE of the following requirements?

(s
The partnership’s total receipts for the tax year were less than $250,000;
The partnership’s total assets at the end of the tax year were less than $600,000; AND
c Schedules K-1 are filed with the return and furnished to the partners on or before the due date (including
extensions) for the partnership return.
If “Yes,” the partnership is not required to complete Schedules L, M-1, and M-2; Item F on page 1 of Form 1065;
or Item J on Schedule K-1 ⻫
6 Does this partnership have any foreign partners? ⻫
7 Is this partnership a publicly traded partnership as defined in section 469(k)(2)? ⻫
8 Has this partnership filed, or is it required to file, Form 8264, Application for Registration of a Tax Shelter? ⻫
9 At any time during calendar year 1999, did the partnership have an interest in or a signature or other authority
over a financial account in a foreign country (such as a bank account, securities account, or other financial
account)? See page 14 of the instructions for exceptions and filing requirements for Form TD F 90-22.1. If “Yes,”
enter the name of the foreign country. 䊳 ⻫
10 During the tax year, did the partnership receive a distribution from, or was it the grantor of, or transferor to, a
foreign trust? If “Yes,” the partnership may have to file Form 3520. See page 15 of the instructions ⻫
11 Was there a distribution of property or a transfer (e.g., by sale or death) of a partnership interest during the tax
year? If “Yes,” you may elect to adjust the basis of the partnership’s assets under section 754 by attaching the
statement described under Elections Made By the Partnership on page 6 of the instructions ⻫
Designation of Tax Matters Partner (see page 15 of the instructions)
Enter below the general partner designated as the tax matters partner (TMP) for the tax year of this return:

Name of
designated TMP 䊳 Identifying
number of TMP 䊳
Address of
designated TMP 䊳
Form 1065 (1999)

Page 21
Form 1065 (1999) Page 3
Schedule K Partners’ Shares of Income, Credits, Deductions, etc.
(a) Distributive share items (b) Total amount
1 Ordinary income (loss) from trade or business activities (page 1, line 22) 1 49,370
2 Net income (loss) from rental real estate activities (attach Form 8825) 2
3a Gross income from other rental activities 3a
b Expenses from other rental activities (attach schedule) 3b
cNet income (loss) from other rental activities. Subtract line 3b from line 3a 3c
4 Portfolio income (loss):
Income (Loss)

a Interest income 4a
b Ordinary dividends 4b 150
cRoyalty income 4c
d Net short-term capital gain (loss) (attach Schedule D (Form 1065)) 4d
eNet long-term capital gain (loss) (attach Schedule D (Form 1065)):
(1) 28% rate gain (loss) 䊳 (2) Total for year 䊳 4e(2)
f Other portfolio income (loss) (attach schedule) 4f
5 Guaranteed payments to partners 5 25,000

o
7 Other income (loss) (attach schedule) f 99
6 Net section 1231 gain (loss) (other than due to casualty or theft) (attach Form 4797) 6
7
8
s 19
Charitable contributions (attach schedule) 8 650
Deduc-

9
a
Section 179 expense deduction (attach Form 4562) 9
tions

10
11

o f 1, e)
Deductions related to portfolio income (itemize)
Other deductions (attach schedule)
10
11
12a Low-income housing credit:

r o
P be cha r n g
(1) From partnerships to which section 42(j)(5) applies for property placed in service before 1990
(2) Other than on line 12a(1) for property placed in service before 1990
12a(1)
12a(2)
Credits

(3) From partnerships to which section 42(j)(5) applies for property placed in service after 1989 12a(3)

e m ct to
(4) Other than on line 12a(3) for property placed in service after 1989
b Qualified rehabilitation expenditures related to rental real estate activities (attach Form 3468)
12a(4)
12b

o v bje
c Credits (other than credits shown on lines 12a and 12b) related to rental real estate activities
d Credits related to other rental activities
12c
12d
13 Other credits

N u 13
Interest

(s
14a Interest expense on investment debts 14a
Invest-
Tax Preference Employ- ment

b (1) Investment income included on lines 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4f above 14b(1) 150
(2) Investment expenses included on line 10 above 14b(2)
15a Net earnings (loss) from self-employment 15a 74,370
ment
Adjustments and Self-

b Gross farming or fishing income 15b


c Gross nonfarm income 15c
16a Depreciation adjustment on property placed in service after 1986 16a
b Adjusted gain or loss 16b
Items

c Depletion (other than oil and gas) 16c


d (1) Gross income from oil, gas, and geothermal properties 16d(1)
(2) Deductions allocable to oil, gas, and geothermal properties 16d(2)
e Other adjustments and tax preference items (attach schedule) 16e
17a Type of income 䊳
Foreign Taxes

b Name of foreign country or U.S. possession 䊳


c Total gross income from sources outside the United States (attach schedule) 17c
d Total applicable deductions and losses (attach schedule) 17d
e Total foreign taxes (check one): 䊳 Paid Accrued 17e
f Reduction in taxes available for credit (attach schedule) 17f
g Other foreign tax information (attach schedule) 17g
18 Section 59(e)(2) expenditures: a Type 䊳 b Amount 䊳 18b
19 Tax-exempt interest income 19 50
20
Other

20 Other tax-exempt income


21 Nondeductible expenses 21
22 Distributions of money (cash and marketable securities) 22 52,880
23 Distributions of property other than money 23
24 Other items and amounts required to be reported separately to partners (attach schedule)
Form 1065 (1999)

Page 22
Form 1065 (1999) Page 4
Analysis of Net Income (Loss)
1 Net income (loss). Combine Schedule K, lines 1 through 7 in column (b). From the result, subtract the
sum of Schedule K, lines 8 through 11, 14a, 17e, and 18b 1 73,870
2 Analysis by (i) Corporate (ii) Individual (iii) Individual (iv) Partnership (v) Exempt (vi) Nominee/Other
partner type: (active) (passive) organization
a General partners 73,870
b Limited partners
Schedule L Balance Sheets per Books (Not required if Question 5 on Schedule B is answered “Yes.”)
Beginning of tax year End of tax year
Assets (a) (b) (c) (d)
1 Cash 3,455 3,350
2a Trade notes and accounts receivable 7,150 10,990
b Less allowance for bad debts 7,150 10,990
3 Inventories 18,125 19,225
4 U.S. government obligations
5 Tax-exempt securities 1,000 1,000
6 Other current assets (attach schedule)
7 Mortgage and real estate loans
8
9a
o f 99
Other investments (attach schedule)
Buildings and other depreciable assets 15,000
1,000
15,000
1,000

10a
b
s 19
Less accumulated depreciation

a
Depletable assets
4,000 11,000 5,174 9,826

11
b

o f 1, e)
Less accumulated depletion
Land (net of any amortization)
12a

13
14
b
r o
Intangible assets (amortizable only)

r n g
Less accumulated amortization

P be cha
Other assets (attach schedule)
Total assets 41,730 45,391

15 m
e ect t o Liabilities and Capital
Accounts payable 10,180 10,462
16
v
Mortgages, notes, bonds payable in less than 1 year 4,000 3,600

No ubj
17 Other current liabilities (attach schedule)
18 All nonrecourse loans
7,739
(s
19 Mortgages, notes, bonds payable in 1 year or more
20 Other liabilities (attach schedule)
21 Partners’ capital accounts 27,550 23,590
22 Total liabilities and capital 41,730 45,391
Reconciliation of Income (Loss) per Books With Income (Loss) per Return
Schedule M-1
(Not required if Question 5 on Schedule B is answered “Yes.” See page 23 of the instructions.)
1 Net income (loss) per books 48,920 6 Income recorded on books this year not included
2 Income included on Schedule K, lines 1 on Schedule K, lines 1 through 7 (itemize):
through 4, 6, and 7, not recorded on books a Tax-exempt interest $ 50
this year (itemize): 50
3 Guaranteed payments (other than health 7 Deductions included on Schedule K, lines 1
insurance) 25,000 through 11, 14a, 17e, and 18b, not charged
4 Expenses recorded on books this year not against book income this year (itemize):
included on Schedule K, lines 1 through a Depreciation $
11, 14a, 17e, and 18b (itemize):
a Depreciation $
b Travel and entertainment $ Add lines 6 and 7 8 50
9
Income (loss) (Analysis of Net Income (Loss),
5 Add lines 1 through 4 73,920 line 1). Subtract line 8 from line 5 73,870
Schedule M-2 Analysis of Partners’ Capital Accounts (Not required if Question 5 on Schedule B is answered “Yes.”)
1 Balance at beginning of year 27,550 6 Distributions: a Cash 52,880
2 Capital contributed during year b Property
3 Net income (loss) per books 48,920 7 Other decreases (itemize):
4 Other increases (itemize):
8 Add lines 6 and 7 52,880
5 Add lines 1 through 4 76,470 9 Balance at end of year. Subtract line 8 from line 5 23,590
Form 1065 (1999)

Page 23
SCHEDULE K-1 OMB No. 1545-0099
Partner’s Share of Income, Credits, Deductions, etc.
(Form 1065)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service

For calendar year 1999 or tax year beginning


See separate instructions.
, 1999, and ending , 1999
Partner’s identifying number 䊳 123-00-6789 Partnership’s identifying number 䊳 10 9876543
Partner’s name, address, and ZIP code Partnership’s name, address, and ZIP code
Frank W. Able Able Baker Book Store
10 Green Street 334 West Main Street
Orange, MD 20904 Orange, MD 20904

A This partner is a ⻫ general partner limited partner F Partner’s share of liabilities (see instructions):
limited liability company member Nonrecourse $
B What type of entity is this partner? 䊳 Individual Qualified nonrecourse financing $
C Is this partner a ⻫ domestic or a foreign partner? Other $ 10,900
(i) Before change (ii) End of
D Enter partner’s percentage of: G Tax shelter registration number 䊳 N/A
or termination year
Profit sharing % 50 % H Check here if this partnership is a publicly traded
Loss sharing % 50 % partnership as defined in section 469(k)(2)
Ownership of capital % 50 %
E IRS Center where partnership filed return: Philadelphia I Check applicable boxes: (1) Final K-1 (2) Amended K-1
J Analysis of partner’s capital account:
(a) Capital account at

o f 99
(b) Capital contributed
(c) Partner’s share of lines
3, 4, and 7, Form 1065,
(d) Withdrawals and
(e) Capital account at end of
year (combine columns (a)

s 19
beginning of year during year distributions through (d))
Schedule M-2
14,050
a
f 1, e)
(a) Distributive share item
24,460 ( 26,440
(b) Amount
) 12,070
(c) 1040 filers enter the

o
amount in column (b) on:

o g 其
1 Ordinary income (loss) from trade or business activities 1 24,685 See page 6 of Partner’s
2
3
4
r
P be cha r n
Net income (loss) from rental real estate activities
Net income (loss) from other rental activities
Portfolio income (loss):
2
3
Instructions for Schedule K-1
(Form 1065).

a
b
Interest
Ordinary dividends
e m ct to 4a
4b 75
Sch. B, Part I, line 1
Sch. B, Part II, line 5
Income (Loss)

c
d
Royalties

o v bje
Net short-term capital gain (loss)
4c
4d
Sch. E, Part I, line 4
Sch. D, line 5, col. (f)
e

f
(2) Total for year
N u
Net long-term capital gain (loss):
(1) 28% rate gain (loss)

(s
Other portfolio income (loss) (attach schedule)
e(1)
e(2)
4f
Sch. D, line 12, col. (g)
Sch. D, line 12, col. (f)
Enter on applicable line of your return.

5
6
Guaranteed payments to partner
Net section 1231 gain (loss) (other than due to casualty or theft)
5
6
20,000
其 See page 6 of Partner’s
Instructions for Schedule K-1
(Form 1065).
7 Other income (loss) (attach schedule) 7 Enter on applicable line of your return.

8 325 Sch. A, line 15 or 16


8 Charitable contributions (see instructions) (attach schedule)
Deduc-
tions

9 Section 179 expense deduction 9 See pages 7 and 8 of


10 Deductions related to portfolio income (attach schedule) 10 Partner’s Instructions for
Schedule K-1 (Form 1065).
11 Other deductions (attach schedule) 11


12a Low-income housing credit:
(1) From section 42(j)(5) partnerships for property placed in
service before 1990 a(1)
(2) Other than on line 12a(1) for property placed in service before 1990 a(2)
Form 8586, line 5
(3) From section 42(j)(5) partnerships for property placed in
service after 1989 a(3)
Credits

(4) Other than on line 12a(3) for property placed in service after 1989 a(4)


b Qualified rehabilitation expenditures related to rental real estate
activities 12b
c Credits (other than credits shown on lines 12a and 12b) related See page 8 of Partner’s
to rental real estate activities 12c Instructions for Schedule K-1
(Form 1065).
d Credits related to other rental activities 12d
13 Other credits 13
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see Instructions for Form 1065. Cat. No. 11394R Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) 1999

Page 24
Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) 1999 Page 2
(c) 1040 filers enter the
(a) Distributive share item (b) Amount
amount in column (b) on:
Investment
Interest

14a Interest expense on investment debts 14a Form 4952, line 1


b (1) Investment income included on lines 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4f
(2) Investment expenses included on line 10
b(1)
b(2)
75
其 See page 9 of Partner’s
Instructions for Schedule K-1
(Form 1065).
ployment
Adjustments and Tax Self-em-

15a Net earnings (loss) from self-employment 15a 44,685 Sch. SE, Section A or B
b Gross farming or fishing income 15b
其 See page 9 of Partner’s
Instructions for Schedule K-1


c Gross nonfarm income 15c (Form 1065).

16a Depreciation adjustment on property placed in service after 1986 16a


Preference Items

b Adjusted gain or loss 16b See page 9 of Partner’s


16c Instructions
c Depletion (other than oil and gas) for Schedule K-1
d (1) Gross income from oil, gas, and geothermal properties d(1) (Form 1065) and
d(2) Instructions for Form 6251.
(2) Deductions allocable to oil, gas, and geothermal properties
e Other adjustments and tax preference items (attach schedule) 16e
17a Type of income 䊳 Form 1116, check boxes


Foreign Taxes

b Name of foreign country or possession 䊳


c Total gross income from sources outside the United States (attach Form 1116, Part I
schedule) 17c
d Total applicable deductions and losses (attach schedule) 17d
e Total foreign taxes (check one): 䊳 Paid Accrued 17e Form 1116, Part II
f Reduction in taxes available for credit (attach schedule) 17f Form 1116, Part III
g Other foreign tax information (attach schedule) 17g See Instructions for Form 1116.


See page 9 of Partner’s
18 Section 59(e)(2) expenditures: a Type 䊳 Instructions for Schedule K-1
b Amount 18b (Form 1065).
19 Tax-exempt interest income 19 25


Form 1040, line 8b
20 Other tax-exempt income 20
Other

21 See pages 9 and 10 of


21 Nondeductible expenses Partner’s Instructions for
22 Distributions of money (cash and marketable securities) 22 26,440 Schedule K-1 (Form 1065).
23 Distributions of property other than money 23
24 Recapture of low-income housing credit:

b
a From section 42(j)(5) partnerships
Other than on line 24a
24a
24b 其 Form 8611, line 8

25 Supplemental information required to be reported separately to each partner (attach additional schedules if more space is
needed):
Supplemental Information

Page 25
Index

Self-employment income ........ 6 Losses: Transactions with partner ..... 11


A Self-employment tax .............. 6 Limits ...................................... 6 Passive activities ......................... 7
Activity not for profit .................... 7 Year of disposition ................. 8 Sales or exchanges ............. 11 Penalties:
Allocations: Criminal .................................. 5
Built-in gain or loss .............. 12 Failure to file .......................... 4
Installment sale .................... 15 Failure to furnish copy of
Interest expense ..................... 8 E M Schedule K–1 .................... 5
Nonrecourse liability ............... 6 Estimated tax ............................... 6 Marketable securities .................. 9
Other ...................................... 5
Partnership items ................. 18 Expenses paid by partner ........... 8 More information ....................... 19
Trust fund recovery ................ 5
Substantial economic effect ... 6 Precontribution gain .................... 9
Alternative minimum tax .............. 6 Principal partner defined ............. 3
At-risk limits ................................. 7 F N Profits interest ........................... 13
Audit, consolidated ...................... 6 Family partnership ....................... 2 Nonrecourse liability .................... 6 Publications (See More information)
Form 1065: Not-for-profit activity .................... 7
Due date ................................. 4
B Example ............................... 17
R
Schedule K–1 ................... 4, 18
Basis, partnership:
Form:
O Related person .......................... 14
Adjusting ............................... 17 Organization expenses ................ 5
Distributions .......................... 17 982 ......................................... 7
Election, optional adjustment 17 8082 ....................................... 6
Transfer of interest ............... 17 8275 ..................................... 12 S
Built-in gain or loss .................... 12 8308 ..................................... 16 P Section 179 deduction ................. 7
8582 ....................................... 7 Partner's: Self-employed health insurance 11
8832 ....................................... 2 Alternative minimum tax ......... 6 Self-employment income ......... 6, 8
8865 ..................................... 12 Basis, distributed property ..... 9
C Basis, partnership interest ... 13
Self-employment tax .................... 6
Capital interest ...................... 2, 13 Short period return .................. 3, 4
Distributive share ................... 6 Substantial economic effect ........ 6
Contribution: Estimated tax ......................... 6
Basis of property .................. 12 G Interest:
Substantially appreciated inventory
Built-in gain or loss .............. 12 Gross income, partner ................. 6 items ....................................... 9
Acquired by gift ............... 13 Syndication fees .......................... 5
Distribution of property ......... 12 Guaranteed payments ............... 11
Alternative rule, adjusted
Net precontribution gain ......... 9 basis ........................... 14
Property ................................ 12 Basis ............................... 13
Services ................................ 13 H Basis adjustments ........... 13 T
Help (See More information) Book value ...................... 13 Tax help (See More information)
Husband-wife partnership ........... 2 Liquidation of ............... 9, 15 Tax problems, unresolved ......... 19
D Mandatory basis adjust- Tax withholding, foreign person or
Definition, partnership ................. 2 ment ........................... 10 firm ......................................... 1
Determining ownership .............. 11 Sale, exchange, transfer . 15 Tax year:
Distributions:
I Special basis adjustment 10 Business purpose ................... 4
Insurance, self-employed health 11
Gain or loss ............................ 9 Transactions with partnership 11 Exceptions .............................. 4
Inventory items, substantially ap-
Interest expense, loan ............ 8 Partnership: Partner .................................... 3
preciated ................................. 9
Partner's debt ......................... 9 Abandoned or worthless inter- Partnership ............................. 3
Partnership ............................. 8 est ................................... 15 Required ................................. 3
Distributive share: Agreement .............................. 3 Section 444 election ............... 4
Adjusted basis ...................... 13 L Basis, contributed property .. 12 Short period return ................. 4
Canceled qualified real property Liability: Capital interest ....................... 2 Taxpayer Advocate ................... 19
business debt .................... 7 Assumption of ...................... 14 Defined ................................... 2 Terminating a partnership ........... 3
Character of items .................. 6 Nonrecourse ........................... 6 Exclusion from rules ............... 3 TTY/TDD information ................ 19
Determined by interest in part- Partner's assumed by partner- Family ..................................... 2
nership .............................. 6 ship .................................. 13 Forming .................................. 2
Figuring .................................. 6 Partnership's ........................ 14 Husband-wife ......................... 2
Guaranteed payments .......... 11 Liquidation: Income or loss ........................ 5 U
Limits on losses ..................... 6 Constructive ......................... 14 Interest ................................... 6 Unrealized receivables .............. 16
Partner's ................................. 6 Partner's interest .................... 9 Liabilities ............................... 14 䡵
Reporting ................................ 6 Partner's retirement or death 15 Terminating ............................ 3

Page 26
See How To Get More Information for a variety of ways to get publications,
Tax Publications for Business Taxpayers including by computer, phone, and mail.

General Guides 463 Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car 597 Information on the United States-
Expenses Canada Income Tax Treaty
1 Your Rights as a Taxpayer 505 Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax 598 Tax on Unrelated Business Income
17 Your Federal Income Tax (For 510 Excise Taxes for 2000 of Exempt Organizations
Individuals) 515 Withholding of Tax on Nonresident 686 Certification for Reduced Tax Rates
225 Farmer’s Tax Guide Aliens and Foreign Corporations in Tax Treaty Countries
334 Tax Guide for Small Business 517 Social Security and Other 901 U.S. Tax Treaties
509 Tax Calendars for 2000 Information for Members of the 908 Bankruptcy Tax Guide
553 Highlights of 1999 Tax Changes Clergy and Religious Workers 911 Direct Sellers
595 Tax Highlights for Commercial 527 Residential Rental Property 925 Passive Activity and At-Risk Rules
Fishermen 533 Self-Employment Tax 946 How To Depreciate Property
910 Guide to Free Tax Services 534 Depreciating Property Placed in 947 Practice Before the IRS and Power
Service Before 1987 of Attorney
Employer’s Guides 535 Business Expenses 954 Tax Incentives for Empowerment
536 Net Operating Losses Zones and Other Distressed
15 Circular E, Employer’s Tax Guide 537 Installment Sales Communities
15-A Employer’s Supplemental Tax Guide 538 Accounting Periods and Methods 1544 Reporting Cash Payments of Over
51 Circular A, Agricultural Employer’s 541 Partnerships $10,000
Tax Guide 542 Corporations 1546 The Taxpayer Advocate Service of
80 Federal Tax Guide For Employers in 544 Sales and Other Dispositions of the IRS
the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Assets
American Samoa, and the Spanish Language Publications
Commonwealth of the Northern 551 Basis of Assets
Mariana Islands (Circular SS) 556 Examination of Returns, Appeal
Rights, and Claims for Refund 1SP Derechos del Contribuyente
179 Circular PR Guía Contributiva 579SP Cómo Preparar la Declaración de
Federal Para Patronos 560 Retirement Plans for Small Business
(SEP, SIMPLE, and Keogh Plans) Impuesto Federal
Puertorriqueños 594SP Comprendiendo el Proceso de Cobro
926 Household Employer’s Tax Guide 561 Determining the Value of Donated
Property 850 English-Spanish Glossary of Words
583 Starting a Business and Keeping and Phrases Used in Publications
Specialized Publications Records Issued by the Internal Revenue
Service
378 Fuel Tax Credits and Refunds 587 Business Use of Your Home
(Including Use by Day-Care 1544SP Informe de Pagos en Efectivo en
Providers) Exceso de $10,000 (Recibidos en
una Ocupación o Negocio)
594 Understanding the Collection Process

Commonly Used Tax Forms See How To Get More Information for a variety of ways to get forms, including by computer, fax,
phone, and mail. Items with an asterisk are available by fax. For these orders only, use the catalog
numbers when ordering.

Catalog Catalog
Form Number and Title Number Form Number and Title Number
W-2 Wage and Tax Statement 10134 1120S U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation 11510
W-4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate* 10220 Sch D Capital Gains and Losses and Built-In Gains 11516
940 Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment 11234 Sch K-1 Shareholder’s Share of Income, Credits, 11520
(FUTA) Tax Return* Deductions, etc.
940EZ Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment 10983 2106 Employee Business Expenses* 11700
(FUTA) Tax Return* 2106-EZ Unreimbursed Employee Business 20604
941 Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return 17001 Expenses*
1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return* 11320 2210 Underpayment of Estimated Tax by 11744
Sch A & B Itemized Deductions & Interest and 11330 Individuals, Estates, and Trusts*
Ordinary Dividends* 2441 Child and Dependent Care Expenses* 11862
Sch C Profit or Loss From Business* 11334 2848 Power of Attorney and Declaration of 11980
Representative*
Sch C-EZ Net Profit From Business* 14374
Sch D Capital Gains and Losses* 11338 3800 General Business Credit 12392
Sch D-1 Continuation Sheet for Schedule D 10424 3903 Moving Expenses* 12490
Sch E Supplemental Income and Loss* 11344 4562 Depreciation and Amortization* 12906
Sch F Profit or Loss From Farming* 11346 4797 Sales of Business Property* 13086
Sch H Household Employment Taxes* 12187 4868 Application for Automatic Extension of Time To 13141
File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return*
Sch J Farm Income Averaging* 25513
5329 Additional Taxes Attributable to IRAs, Other 13329
Sch R Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled* 11359 Qualified Retirement Plans, Annuities, Modified
Sch SE Self-Employment Tax* 11358 Endowment Contracts, and MSAs*
1040-ES Estimated Tax for Individuals* 11340 6252 Installment Sale Income* 13601
1040X Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return* 11360 8283 Noncash Charitable Contributions* 62299
1065 U.S. Partnership Return of Income 11390 8300 Report of Cash Payments Over $10,000 62133
Sch D Capital Gains and Losses 11393 Received in a Trade or Business*
Sch K-1 Partner’s Share of Income, 11394 8582 Passive Activity Loss Limitations* 63704
Credits, Deductions, etc. 8606 Nondeductible IRAs* 63966
1120 U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return 11450 8822 Change of Address* 12081
1120-A U.S. Corporation Short-Form 11456 8829 Expenses for Business Use of Your Home* 13232
Income Tax Return

Page 27

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