Section 1061 reporting. Section 1061 recharacterizes certain long-term capital gains of a partner that holds one or more applicable partnership interests as short-term capital gains. An applicable partnership interest is an interest in a partnership that is transferred to or held by a taxpayer, directly or indirectly, in connection with the performance of substantial services by the taxpayer or any other related person, in an applicable trade or business. See Section 1061 Reporting Instructions for more information.
Schedules K-2 and K-3 (Form 1065). New Schedules K-2 and K-3 replace the reporting of certain international transactions on Schedules K and K-1. The new schedules are designed to provide greater clarity for partners on how to compute their U.S. income tax liability with respect to items of international tax relevance, including claiming deductions and credits. See the Instructions for Schedules K-2 and K-3 for more information.
Photographs of missing children. The Internal Revenue Service is a proud partner with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC). Photographs of missing children selected by the Center may appear in this publication on pages that would otherwise be blank. You can help bring these children home by looking at the photographs and calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) if you recognize a child.
This publication provides supplemental federal income tax information for partnerships and partners. It supplements the information provided in the Instructions for Form 1065, U. S. Return of Partnership Income; the Partner's Instructions for Schedule K-1 (Form 1065); and Instructions for Schedule K-2 and Schedule K-3 (Form 1065). Generally, a partnership doesn't 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 Pub. 535, Business Expenses. Members of oil and gas partnerships should read about the deduction for depletion in chapter 9 of that publication.
For tax years beginning before 2018, certain partnerships must have a tax matters partner (TMP) who is also a general partner.
The TMP has been replaced with partnership representative for partnership tax years beginning after 2017. Each partnership must designate a partnership representative unless the partnership has made a valid election out of the centralized partnership audit regime. See Designated partnership representative in the Form 1065 instructions and Regulations section 301.6223-1.
Withholding on foreign partner or firm.
A partnership that has foreign partners or engages in certain transactions with foreign persons may have one (or more) of the following obligations.
Fixed or determinable annual or periodical (FDAP) income.
A partnership may have to withhold tax on distributions to a foreign partner or a foreign partner’s distributive share when it earns income not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. A partnership may also have to withhold on payments to a foreign person of FDAP income not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. See section 1441 or 1442 for more information.
Withholding under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA).
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 (FMV) of other property, and any assumed liability). See section 1445 for more information.
Withholding on foreign partner’s effectively connected taxable income (ECTI).
If a partnership has income effectively connected with a trade or business in the United States (including gain on the disposition of a U.S. real property interest), it must withhold on the ECTI allocable to its foreign partners. See section 1446(a) for more information.
Withholding on foreign partner’s sale of a partnership interest.
A purchaser of a partnership interest, which may include the partnership itself, may have to withhold tax on the amount realized by a foreign partner on the sale for that partnership interest if the partnership is engaged in a trade or business in the United States. See section 1446(f) for more information.
Withholding under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
A partnership may have to withhold tax on distributions to a foreign partner of a foreign partner’s distributive share when it earns withholdable payments. A partnership may also have to withhold on withholdable payments that it makes to a foreign entity. See sections 1471 through 1474 for more information. A partnership that has a duty to withhold but fails to withhold may be held liable for the tax, applicable penalties, and interest. See section 1461 for more information.
For more information on withholding on nonresident aliens and foreign entities, see Pub. 515.
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The following sections contain general information about partnerships.
An unincorporated organization with two or more members is generally classified as a partnership for federal tax purposes if its members carry on a trade, business, financial operation, or venture and divide its profits. However, a joint undertaking merely to share expenses is not a partnership. For example, co-ownership of property maintained and rented or leased is not a partnership unless the co-owners provide services to the tenants.
The rules you must use to determine whether an organization is classified as a partnership changed for organizations formed after 1996.
Organizations formed after 1996.
An organization formed after 1996 is classified as a partnership for federal tax purposes if it has two or more members and it is none of the following.
Limited liability company (LLC).
An LLC is an entity formed under state law by filing articles of organization as an LLC. Unlike a partnership, none of the members of an LLC are personally liable for its debts. However, if the LLC is an employer, an LLC member may be liable for employer-related penalties. See Pub. 15, Employer’s Tax Guide (Circular E), and Pub. 3402, Taxation of Limited Liability Companies. An LLC may be classified for federal income tax purposes as either a partnership, a corporation, or an entity disregarded as an entity separate from its owner by applying the rules in Regulations section 301.7701-3. See Form 8832 and Regulations section 301.7701-3 for more details.
. A domestic LLC with at least two members that doesn't file Form 8832 is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. .
Organizations formed before 1997.
An organization formed before 1997 and classified as a partnership under the old rules will generally continue to be classified as a partnership as long as the organization has at least two members and doesn't elect to be classified as a corporation by filing Form 8832.
Community property.
Spouses who own a qualified entity (defined below) can choose to classify the entity as a partnership for federal tax purposes by filing the appropriate partnership tax returns. They can choose to classify the entity as a sole proprietorship by filing a Schedule C (Form 1040) listing one spouse as the sole proprietor. A change in reporting position will be treated for federal tax purposes as a conversion of the entity.
A qualified entity is a business entity that meets all the following requirements.
For more information about community property, see Pub. 555, Community Property. Pub. 555 discusses the community property laws of Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Gift of capital interest.
If a family member (or any other person) receives a gift of a capital interest in a partnership in which capital is a material income-producing factor, the donee's distributive share of partnership income is subject to both of the following restrictions.
Purchase considered gift.
For purposes of determining a partner's distributive share, an interest purchased by one family member from another family member is considered a gift from the seller. The FMV of the purchased interest is considered donated capital. For this purpose, members of a family include only spouses, ancestors, and lineal descendants (or a trust for the primary benefit of those persons).
Section 1061 recharacterizes certain net long-term capital gains of a partner that holds one or more applicable partnership interests as short-term capital gains. The provision generally requires that a capital asset be held for more than 3 years for capital gain and loss allocated with respect to any applicable partnership interest (API) to be treated as long-term capital gain or loss. Proposed Regulations (REG-107213-18) were published in the Federal Register on August 14, 2020. Final regulations (Treasury Decision (T.D.) 9945) were published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2021. T.D. 9945, 2021-5 I.R.B. 627, is available at IRS.gov/irb/2021-5_IRB#TD-9945. Owner taxpayers and pass-through entities may rely on the proposed regulations for tax years beginning before January 19, 2021, (the date final regulations were published in the Federal Register) provided they follow the proposed regulations in their entirety and in a consistent manner. An owner taxpayer or pass-through entity may choose to apply the final regulations to a tax year beginning after December 31, 2017, provided that they consistently apply the final section 1061 regulations in their entirety to that year and all subsequent years. Owner taxpayers and pass-through entities must apply the final regulations to tax years beginning on or after January 19, 2021. See Section 1061 Reporting Instructions , later.
Applicable partnership interest (API).
An API is any interest in a partnership that, directly or indirectly, is transferred to (or is held by) the taxpayer in connection with the performance of substantial services by the taxpayer, or any other related person, in any “applicable trade or business.” The special recharacterization rule applies to:
Applicable trade or business.
An applicable trade or business means any activity conducted on a regular, continuous, and substantial basis (regardless of whether the activity is conducted through one or more entities) which consists in whole or in part of raising and returning capital, and either :
Specified assets.
Specified assets are:
Security.
A security for this purpose means any of the following.
If spouses carry on a business together and share in the profits and losses, they may be partners whether or not they have a formal partnership agreement. If so, they should report income or loss from the business on Form 1065. They should not report the income on a Schedule C (Form 1040) in the name of one spouse as a sole proprietor. However, the spouses can elect not to treat the joint venture as a partnership by making a qualified joint venture election.
A "qualified joint venture," whose only members are spouses filing a joint return, can elect not to be treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes. A qualified joint venture conducts a trade or business where the only members of the joint venture are spouses filing jointly; both spouses elect not to be treated as a partnership; both spouses materially participate in the trade or business (see Passive Activity Limitations in the Instructions for Form 1065 for a definition of material participation); and the business is co-owned by both spouses and is not held in the name of a state law entity such as a partnership or an LLC.
Under this election, a qualified joint venture conducted by spouses who file a joint return is not treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes and therefore doesn't have a Form 1065 filing requirement. All items of income, gain, deduction, loss, and credit are divided between the spouses based on their respective interests in the venture. Each spouse takes into account their respective share of these items as a sole proprietor. Each spouse would account for their respective share on the appropriate form, such as Schedule C (Form 1040). For purposes of determining net earnings from self-employment, each spouse's share of income or loss from a qualified joint venture is taken into account just as it is for federal income tax purposes (that is, based on their respective interests in the venture).
If the spouses do not make the election to treat their respective interests in the joint venture as sole proprietorships, each spouse should carry their share of the partnership income or loss from Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) to their joint or separate Form(s) 1040. Each spouse should include their respective share of self-employment income on a separate Schedule SE (Form 1040), Self-Employment Tax.
This generally doesn't increase the total tax on the return, but it does give each spouse credit for social security earnings on which retirement benefits are based. However, this may not be true if either spouse exceeds the social security tax limitation.
For more information on qualified joint ventures, go to IRS.gov/QJV.
The partnership agreement includes the original agreement and any modifications. The modifications must be agreed to by all partners or adopted in any other manner provided by the partnership agreement. The agreement or modifications can be oral or written.
Partners can modify the partnership agreement for a particular tax year after the close of the year but not later than the date for filing the partnership return for that year. This filing date doesn't include any extension of time.
If the partnership agreement or any modification is silent on any matter, the provisions of local law are treated as part of the agreement.
A partnership terminates when all its operations are discontinued and no part of any business, financial operation, or venture is continued by any of its partners in a partnership.
See Regulations section 1.708-1(b)(1) for more information on the termination of a partnership. For special rules that apply to a merger, consolidation, or division of a partnership, see Regulations sections 1.708-1(c) and 1.708-1(d).
Date of termination.
The partnership's tax year ends on the date of termination. The date of termination is the date the partnership completes the winding up of its affairs.
Short period return.
If a partnership is terminated before the end of what would otherwise be its tax year, Form 1065 must be filed for the short period, which is the period from the beginning of the tax year through the date of termination. The return is due the 15 th day of the 3 rd month following the date of termination. See Partnership Return (Form 1065) , later, for information about filing Form 1065.
Conversion of partnership into LLC.
The conversion of a partnership into an LLC classified as a partnership for federal tax purposes doesn't terminate the partnership. The conversion is not a sale, exchange, or liquidation of any partnership interest; the partnership's tax year doesn't close; and the LLC can continue to use the partnership's taxpayer identification number (TIN).
However, the conversion may change some of the partners' bases in their partnership interests if the partnership has recourse liabilities that become nonrecourse liabilities. Because the partners share recourse and nonrecourse liabilities differently, their bases must be adjusted to reflect the new sharing ratios. If a decrease in a partner's share of liabilities exceeds the partner's basis, they must recognize gain on the excess. For more information, see Effect of Partnership Liabilities under Basis of Partner's Interest , later.
The same rules apply if an LLC classified as a partnership is converted into a partnership.
Certain partnerships with more than 100 partners are required to file Form 1065; Schedule K-1; and related forms and schedules electronically. For tax years beginning after July 1, 2019, a religious or apostolic organization exempt from income tax under section 501(d) must file Form 1065 electronically. Other partnerships generally have the option to file electronically. For details about electronic filing, see the Instructions for Form 1065.
Certain partnerships that do not actively conduct a business can choose to be completely or partially excluded from being treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. All the partners must agree to make the choice, and the partners must be able to figure their own taxable income without figuring the partnership's income. However, the partners are not exempt from the rule that limits a partner's distributive share of partnership loss to the adjusted basis of the partner's partnership interest. Nor are they exempt from the requirement of a business purpose for adopting a tax year for the partnership that differs from its required tax year.
Investing partnership.
An investing partnership can be excluded if the participants in the joint purchase, retention, sale, or exchange of investment property meet all the following requirements.
Operating agreement partnership.
An operating agreement partnership group can be excluded if the participants in the joint production, extraction, or use of property meet all the following requirements.
However, this exclusion doesn't apply to an unincorporated organization one of whose principal purposes is cycling, manufacturing, or processing for persons who are not members of the organization.
Electing the exclusion.
An eligible organization that wishes to be excluded from the partnership rules must make the election not later than the time for filing the partnership return for the first tax year for which exclusion is desired. This filing date includes any extension of time. See Regulations section 1.761-2(b) for the procedures to follow.
Every partnership that engages in a trade or business or has gross income must file an information return on Form 1065 showing its income, deductions, and other required information. The partnership return must show the names and addresses of each partner and each partner's distributive share of taxable income. The return must be signed by a partner. If an LLC is treated as a partnership, it must file Form 1065 and one of its members must sign the return.
A partnership is not considered to engage in a trade or business, and is not required to file a Form 1065, for any tax year in which it neither receives income nor pays or incurs any expenses treated as deductions or credits for federal income tax purposes.
See the Instructions for Form 1065 for more information about who must file Form 1065.
Partnership distributions include the following.
A partnership distribution is not taken into account in determining the partner's distributive share of partnership income or loss. If any gain or loss from the distribution is recognized by the partner, it must be reported on their return for the tax year in which the distribution is received. Money or property withdrawn by a partner in anticipation of the current year's earnings is treated as a distribution received on the last day of the partnership's tax year.
Effect on partner's basis.
A partner's adjusted basis in their partnership interest is decreased (but not below zero) by the money and adjusted basis of property distributed to the partner. See Adjusted Basis under Basis of Partner's Interest , later.
Effect on partnership.
A partnership generally doesn't recognize any gain or loss because of distributions it makes to partners. The partnership may be able to elect to adjust the basis of its undistributed property.
Certain distributions treated as a sale or exchange.
When a partnership distributes the following items, the distribution may be treated as a sale or exchange of property rather than a distribution.
This treatment doesn't apply to the following distributions.
Substantially appreciated inventory items.
Inventory items of the partnership are considered to have appreciated substantially in value if, at the time of the distribution, their total FMV is more than 120% of the partnership's adjusted basis for the property. However, if a principal purpose for acquiring inventory property is to avoid ordinary income treatment by reducing the appreciation to less than 120%, that property is excluded.
A partner generally recognizes gain on a partnership distribution only to the extent any money (and marketable securities treated as money) included in the distribution exceeds the adjusted basis of the partner's interest in the partnership. Any gain recognized is generally treated as capital gain from the sale of the partnership interest on the date of the distribution. If partnership property (other than marketable securities treated as money) is distributed to a partner, they generally don't recognize any gain until the sale or other disposition of the property.
Example.
The adjusted basis of Jo's partnership interest is $14,000. She receives a distribution of $8,000 cash and land that has an adjusted basis of $2,000 and an FMV of $3,000. Because the cash received doesn't exceed the basis of her partnership interest, Jo doesn't recognize any gain on the distribution. Any gain on the land will be recognized when she sells or otherwise disposes of it. The distribution decreases the adjusted basis of Jo's partnership interest to $4,000 [$14,000 − ($8,000 + $2,000)].
Qualified opportunity investment.
If you held a qualified investment in a qualified opportunity fund (QOF) at any time during the year, you must file your return with Form 8997, Initial and Annual Statement of Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) Investments, attached. See the Form 8997 instructions.
Marketable securities treated as money.
Generally, a marketable security distributed to a partner is treated as money in determining whether gain is recognized on the distribution. This treatment, however, doesn't generally apply if that partner contributed the security to the partnership or an investment partnership made the distribution to an eligible partner.
The amount treated as money is the security's FMV when distributed, reduced (but not below zero) by the excess (if any) of:
For more information, including the definition of marketable securities, see section 731(c).
Loss on distribution.
A partner doesn't recognize loss on a partnership distribution unless all the following requirements are met.
There are exceptions to these general rules. See the following discussions. Also, see Liquidation at Partner's Retirement or Death under Disposition of Partner's Interest , later.
Distribution of partner's debt.
If a partnership acquires a partner's debt and extinguishes the debt by distributing it to the partner, the partner will recognize capital gain or loss to the extent the FMV of the debt differs from the basis of the debt (determined under the rules discussed under Partner's Basis for Distributed Property , later).
The partner is treated as having satisfied the debt for its FMV. If the issue price (adjusted for any premium or discount) of the debt exceeds its FMV when distributed, the partner may have to include the excess amount in income as canceled debt.
Similarly, a deduction may be available to a corporate partner if the FMV of the debt at the time of distribution exceeds its adjusted issue price.
Net precontribution gain.
A partner generally must recognize gain on the distribution of property (other than money) if the partner contributed appreciated property to the partnership during the 7-year period before the distribution.
The gain recognized is the lesser of the following amounts.
The character of the gain is determined by reference to the character of the net precontribution gain. This gain is in addition to any gain the partner must recognize if the money distributed is more than their basis in the partnership.
For these rules, the term “money” includes marketable securities treated as money, as discussed earlier under Marketable securities treated as money .
Effect on basis.
The adjusted basis of the partner's interest in the partnership is increased by any net precontribution gain recognized by the partner. Other than for purposes of determining the gain, the increase is treated as occurring immediately before the distribution. See Basis of Partner's Interest , later.
The partnership must adjust its basis in any property the partner contributed within 7 years of the distribution to reflect any gain that partner recognizes under this rule.
Exceptions.
Any part of a distribution that is property the partner previously contributed to the partnership is not taken into account in determining the amount of the excess distribution or the partner's net precontribution gain. For this purpose, the partner's previously contributed property doesn't include a contributed interest in an entity to the extent its value is due to property contributed to the entity after the interest was contributed to the partnership.
Recognition of gain under this rule also doesn't apply to a distribution of unrealized receivables or substantially appreciated inventory items if the distribution is treated as a sale or exchange, as discussed earlier under Certain distributions treated as a sale or exchange .
Unless there is a complete liquidation of a partner's interest, the basis of property (other than money) distributed to the partner by a partnership is its adjusted basis to the partnership immediately before the distribution. However, the basis of the property to the partner cannot be more than the adjusted basis of their interest in the partnership reduced by any money received in the same transaction.
Example 1.
The adjusted basis of Emily's partnership interest is $30,000. She receives a distribution of property that has an adjusted basis of $20,000 to the partnership and $4,000 in cash. Her basis for the property is $20,000.
Example 2.
The adjusted basis of Steve's partnership interest is $10,000. He receives a distribution of $4,000 cash and property that has an adjusted basis to the partnership of $8,000. His basis for the distributed property is limited to $6,000 ($10,000 − $4,000, the cash he receives).
Complete liquidation of partner's interest.
The basis of property received in complete liquidation of a partner's interest is the adjusted basis of the partner's interest in the partnership reduced by any money distributed to the partner in the same transaction.
Partner's holding period.
A partner's holding period for property distributed to the partner includes the period the property was held by the partnership. If the property was contributed to the partnership by a partner, then the period it was held by that partner is also included.
Basis divided among properties.
If the basis of property received is the adjusted basis of the partner's interest in the partnership (reduced by money received in the same transaction), it must be divided among the properties distributed to the partner. For property distributed after August 5, 1997, allocate the basis using the following rules.
Allocating a basis increase.
Allocate any basis increase required in rule (2) above first to properties with unrealized appreciation to the extent of the unrealized appreciation. If the basis increase is less than the total unrealized appreciation, allocate it among those properties in proportion to their respective amounts of unrealized appreciation. Allocate any remaining basis increase among all the properties in proportion to their respective FMVs.
Example.
Eun's basis in her partnership interest is $55,000. In a distribution in liquidation of her entire interest, she receives properties A and B, neither of which is inventory or unrealized receivables. Property A has an adjusted basis to the partnership of $5,000 and an FMV of $40,000. Property B has an adjusted basis to the partnership of $10,000 and an FMV of $10,000.
To figure her basis in each property, Eun first assigns bases of $5,000 to property A and $10,000 to property B (their adjusted bases to the partnership). This leaves a $40,000 basis increase (the $55,000 allocable basis minus the $15,000 total of the assigned bases). She first allocates $35,000 to property A (its unrealized appreciation). The remaining $5,000 is allocated between the properties based on their FMVs. $4,000 ($40,000/$50,000) is allocated to property A and $1,000 ($10,000/$50,000) is allocated to property B. Eun's basis in property A is $44,000 ($5,000 + $35,000 + $4,000) and her basis in property B is $11,000 ($10,000 + $1,000).
Allocating a basis decrease.
Use the following rules to allocate any basis decrease required in rule (1) or rule (2), earlier.
Example.
Armando's basis in his partnership interest is $20,000. In a distribution in liquidation of his entire interest, he receives properties C and D, neither of which is inventory or unrealized receivables. Property C has an adjusted basis to the partnership of $15,000 and an FMV of $15,000. Property D has an adjusted basis to the partnership of $15,000 and an FMV of $5,000.
To figure his basis in each property, Armando first assigns bases of $15,000 to property C and $15,000 to property D (their adjusted bases to the partnership). This leaves a $10,000 basis decrease (the $30,000 total of the assigned bases minus the $20,000 allocable basis). He allocates the entire $10,000 to property D (its unrealized depreciation). Armando's basis in property C is $15,000 and his basis in property D is $5,000 ($15,000 − $10,000).
Distributions before August 6, 1997.
For property distributed before August 6, 1997, allocate the basis using the following rules.
Partner's interest more than partnership basis.
If the basis of a partner's interest to be divided in a complete liquidation of the partner's interest is more than the partnership's adjusted basis for the unrealized receivables and inventory items distributed, and if no other property is distributed to which the partner can apply the remaining basis, the partner has a capital loss to the extent of the remaining basis of the partnership interest.
Special adjustment to basis.
A partner who acquired any part of their partnership interest in a sale or exchange or upon the death of another partner may be able to choose a special basis adjustment for property distributed by the partnership. To choose the special adjustment, the partner must have received the distribution within 2 years after acquiring the partnership interest. Also, the partnership must not have chosen the optional adjustment to basis when the partner acquired the partnership interest.
If a partner chooses this special basis adjustment, the partner's basis for the property distributed is the same as it would have been if the partnership had chosen the optional adjustment to basis. However, this assigned basis is not reduced by any depletion or depreciation that would have been allowed or allowable if the partnership had previously chosen the optional adjustment.
The choice must be made with the partner's tax return for the year of the distribution if the distribution includes any property subject to depreciation, depletion, or amortization. If the choice doesn't have to be made for the distribution year, it must be made with the return for the first year in which the basis of the distributed property is pertinent in determining the partner's income tax.
A partner choosing this special basis adjustment must attach a statement to their tax return that the partner chooses under section 732(d) to adjust the basis of property received in a distribution. The statement must show the computation of the special basis adjustment for the property distributed and list the properties to which the adjustment has been allocated.
Example.
Chin Ho purchased a 25% interest in X partnership for $17,000 cash. At the time of the purchase, the partnership owned inventory having a basis to the partnership of $14,000 and an FMV of $16,000. Thus, $4,000 of the $17,000 he paid was attributable to his share of inventory with a basis to the partnership of $3,500.
Within 2 years after acquiring his interest, Chin Ho withdrew from the partnership and for his entire interest received cash of $1,500, inventory with a basis to the partnership of $3,500, and other property with a basis of $6,000. The value of the inventory received was 25% of the value of all partnership inventory. (It is immaterial whether the inventory he received was on hand when he acquired his interest.)
Because the partnership from which Chin Ho withdrew didn't make the optional adjustment to basis, he chose to adjust the basis of the inventory received. His share of the partnership's basis for the inventory is increased by $500 (25% of the $2,000 difference between the $16,000 FMV of the inventory and its $14,000 basis to the partnership at the time he acquired his interest). The adjustment applies only for purposes of determining his new basis in the inventory, and not for purposes of partnership gain or loss on disposition.
The total to be allocated among the properties Chin Ho received in the distribution is $15,500 ($17,000 basis of his interest − $1,500 cash received). His basis in the inventory items is $4,000 ($3,500 partnership basis + $500 special adjustment). The remaining $11,500 is allocated to his new basis for the other property he received.
Mandatory adjustment.
A partner doesn't always have a choice of making this special adjustment to basis. The special adjustment to basis must be made for a distribution of property (whether or not within 2 years after the partnership interest was acquired) if all the following conditions existed when the partner received the partnership interest.
Required statement.
Generally, if a partner chooses a special basis adjustment and notifies the partnership, or if the partnership makes a distribution for which the special basis adjustment is mandatory, the partnership must provide a statement to the partner. The statement must provide information necessary for the partner to figure the special basis adjustment.
Marketable securities.
A partner's basis in marketable securities received in a partnership distribution, as determined in the preceding discussions, is increased by any gain recognized by treating the securities as money. See Marketable securities treated as money under Partner’s Gain or Loss , earlier. The basis increase is allocated among the securities in proportion to their respective amounts of unrealized appreciation before the basis increase.
For certain transactions between a partner and their partnership, the partner is treated as not being a member of the partnership. These transactions include the following.
Payments by accrual basis partnership to cash basis partner.
A partnership that uses an accrual method of accounting cannot deduct any business expense owed to a cash basis partner until the amount is paid. However, this rule doesn't apply to guaranteed payments made to a partner, which are generally deductible when accrued.
Guaranteed payments are those made by a partnership to a partner that are determined without regard to the partnership's income. A partnership treats guaranteed payments for services, or for the use of capital, as if they were made to a person who is not a partner. This treatment is for purposes of determining gross income and deductible business expenses only. For other tax purposes, guaranteed payments are treated as a partner's distributive share of ordinary income. Guaranteed payments are not subject to income tax withholding.
The partnership generally deducts guaranteed payments on Form 1065, line 10, as a business expense. They are also listed on Schedules K and K-1 of the partnership return. The individual partner reports guaranteed payments on Schedule E (Form 1040) as ordinary income, along with their distributive share of the partnership's other ordinary income.
Guaranteed payments made to partners for organizing the partnership or syndicating interests in the partnership are capital expenses. Generally, organizational and syndication expenses are not deductible by the partnership. However, a partnership can elect to deduct a portion of its organizational expenses and amortize the remaining expenses (see Business start-up and organizational costs in the Instructions for Form 1065). Organizational expenses (if the election is not made) and syndication expenses paid to partners must be reported on the partners' Schedules K-1 as guaranteed payments.
Minimum payment.
If a partner is to receive a minimum payment from the partnership, the guaranteed payment is the amount by which the minimum payment is more than the partner's distributive share of the partnership income before taking into account the guaranteed payment.
Example.
Under a partnership agreement, Divya is to receive 30% of the partnership income, but not less than $8,000. The partnership has net income of $20,000. Divya's share, without regard to the minimum guarantee, is $6,000 (30% × $20,000). The guaranteed payment that can be deducted by the partnership is $2,000 ($8,000 − $6,000). Divya's income from the partnership is $8,000, and the remaining $12,000 of partnership income will be reported by the other partners in proportion to their shares under the partnership agreement.
If the partnership net income had been $30,000, there would have been no guaranteed payment because her share, without regard to the guarantee, would have been greater than the guarantee.
Self-employed health insurance premiums.
Premiums for health insurance paid by a partnership on behalf of a partner, for services as a partner, are treated as guaranteed payments. The partnership can deduct the payments as a business expense, and the partner must include them in gross income. However, if the partnership accounts for insurance paid for a partner as a reduction in distributions to the partner, the partnership cannot deduct the premiums.
A partner who qualifies can deduct 100% of the health insurance premiums paid by the partnership on their behalf as an adjustment to income. The partner cannot deduct the premiums for any calendar month, or part of a month, in which the partner is eligible to participate in any subsidized health plan maintained by any employer of the partner, the partner's spouse, the partner's dependents, or any children under age 27 who are not dependents. For more information on the self-employed health insurance deduction, see chapter 6 of Pub. 535.
Including payments in partner's income.
Guaranteed payments are included in income in the partner's tax year in which the partnership's tax year ends.
Example 1.
Under the terms of a partnership agreement, Erica is entitled to a fixed annual payment of $10,000 without regard to the income of the partnership. Her distributive share of the partnership income is 10%. The partnership has $50,000 of ordinary income after deducting the guaranteed payment. She must include ordinary income of $15,000 ($10,000 guaranteed payment + $5,000 ($50,000 × 10%) distributive share) on her individual income tax return for her tax year in which the partnership's tax year ends.
Example 2.
Lamont is a calendar year taxpayer who is a partner in a partnership. The partnership uses a fiscal year that ended January 31, 2021. Lamont received guaranteed payments from the partnership from February 1, 2020, until December 31, 2020. He must include these guaranteed payments in income for 2021 and report them on his 2021 income tax return.
Payments resulting in loss.
If guaranteed payments to a partner result in a partnership loss in which the partner shares, the partner must report the full amount of the guaranteed payments as ordinary income. The partner separately takes into account their distributive share of the partnership loss, to the extent of the adjusted basis of the partner's partnership interest.
Special rules apply to a sale or exchange of property between a partnership and certain persons.
Losses.
Losses will not be allowed from a sale or exchange of property (other than an interest in the partnership) directly or indirectly between a partnership and a person whose direct or indirect interest in the capital or profits of the partnership is more than 50%.
If the sale or exchange is between two partnerships in which the same persons directly or indirectly own more than 50% of the capital or profits interests in each partnership, no deduction of a loss is allowed.
The basis of each partner's interest in the partnership is decreased (but not below zero) by the partner's share of the disallowed loss.
If the purchaser later sells the property, only the gain realized that is greater than the loss not allowed will be taxable. If any gain from the sale of the property is not recognized because of this rule, the basis of each partner's interest in the partnership is increased by the partner's share of that gain.
Gains.
Gains are treated as ordinary income in a sale or exchange of property directly or indirectly between a person and a partnership, or between two partnerships, if both of the following tests are met.
More than 50% ownership.
To determine if there is more than 50% ownership in partnership capital or profits, the following rules apply.
Example.
Individuals A and B and Trust T are equal partners in Partnership ABT. A's husband, AH, is the sole beneficiary of Trust T. Trust T's partnership interest will be attributed to AH only for the purpose of further attributing the interest to A. As a result, A is a more-than-50% partner. This means that any deduction for losses on transactions between her and ABT will not be allowed, and gain from property that in the hands of the transferee is not a capital asset is treated as ordinary, rather than capital, gain.
More information.
For more information on these special rules, see Sales and Exchanges Between Related Persons in chapter 2 of Pub. 544.
Usually, neither the partner nor the partnership recognizes a gain or loss when property is contributed to the partnership in exchange for a partnership interest. This applies whether a partnership is being formed or is already operating. The partnership's holding period for the property includes the partner's holding period.
The contribution of limited partnership interests in one partnership for limited partnership interests in another partnership qualifies as a tax-free contribution of property to the second partnership if the transaction is made for business purposes. The exchange is not subject to the rules explained later under Disposition of Partner's Interest .
Disguised sales.
A contribution of money or other property to the partnership followed by a distribution of different property from the partnership to the partner is treated not as a contribution and distribution, but as a sale of property, if both of the following tests are met.
All facts and circumstances are considered in determining if the contribution and distribution are more properly characterized as a sale. However, if the contribution and distribution occur within 2 years of each other, the transfers are presumed to be a sale unless the facts clearly indicate that the transfers are not a sale. If the contribution and distribution occur more than 2 years apart, the transfers are presumed not to be a sale unless the facts clearly indicate that the transfers are a sale.
Form 8275 required.
A partner must attach Form 8275, Disclosure Statement, (or other statement) to their return if the partner contributes property to a partnership and, within 2 years (before or after the contribution), the partnership transfers money or other consideration to the partner. For exceptions to this requirement, see Regulations section 1.707-3(c)(2).
A partnership must attach Form 8275 (or other statement) to its return if it distributes property to a partner, and, within 2 years (before or after the distribution), the partner transfers money or other consideration to the partnership.
Form 8275 must include the following information.
Contribution to partnership treated as investment company.
Gain is recognized when property is contributed (in exchange for an interest in the partnership) to a partnership that would be treated as an investment company if it were incorporated.
A partnership is generally treated as an investment company if over 80% of the value of its assets is held for investment and consists of certain readily marketable items. These items include money, stocks and other equity interests in a corporation, and interests in regulated investment companies (RICs) and REITs. For more information, see section 351(e)(1) and the related regulations. Whether a partnership is treated as an investment company under this test is ordinarily determined immediately after the transfer of property.
This rule applies to limited partnerships and general partnerships, regardless of whether they are privately formed or publicly syndicated.
Contribution to foreign partnership.
A domestic partnership that contributed property after August 5, 1997, to a foreign partnership in exchange for a partnership interest may have to file Form 8865, Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Partnerships, if either of the following applies.
The partnership may also have to file Form 8865, even if no contributions are made during the tax year, if it owns a 10% or more interest in a foreign partnership at any time during the year. See the form instructions for more information.
Basis of contributed property.
If a partner contributes property to a partnership, the partnership's basis for determining depreciation, depletion, gain, or loss for the property is the same as the partner's adjusted basis for the property when it was contributed, increased by any gain recognized by the partner at the time of contribution.
Allocations to account for built-in gain or loss.
The FMV of property at the time it is contributed may be different from the partner's adjusted basis. The partnership must allocate among the partners any income, deduction, gain, or loss on the property in a manner that will account for the difference. This rule also applies to contributions of accounts payable and other accrued but unpaid items of a cash basis partner.
The partnership can use different allocation methods for different items of contributed property. A single reasonable method must be consistently applied to each item, and the overall method or combination of methods must be reasonable. See Regulations section 1.704-3 for allocation methods generally considered reasonable.
If the partnership sells contributed property and recognizes gain or loss, built-in gain or loss is allocated to the contributing partner. If contributed property is subject to depreciation or other cost recovery, the allocation of deductions for these items takes into account built-in gain or loss on the property. However, the total depreciation, depletion, gain, or loss allocated to partners cannot be more than the depreciation or depletion allowable to the partnership or the gain or loss realized by the partnership.
Example.
Areta and Sofia formed an equal partnership. Areta contributed $10,000 in cash to the partnership and Sofia contributed depreciable property with an FMV of $10,000 and an adjusted basis of $4,000. The partnership's basis for depreciation is limited to the adjusted basis of the property in Sofia's hands, $4,000.
In effect, Areta purchased an undivided one-half interest in the depreciable property with her contribution of $10,000. Assuming that the depreciation rate is 10% a year under the General Depreciation System (GDS), she would have been entitled to a depreciation deduction of $500 per year, based on her interest in the partnership, if the adjusted basis of the property equaled its FMV when contributed. To simplify this example, the depreciation deductions are determined without regard to any first-year depreciation conventions.
However, because the partnership is allowed only $400 per year of depreciation (10% of $4,000), no more than $400 can be allocated between the partners. The entire $400 must be allocated to Areta.
Distribution of contributed property to another partner.
If a partner contributes property to a partnership and the partnership distributes the property to another partner within 7 years of the contribution, the contributing partner must recognize gain or loss on the distribution.
The recognized gain or loss is the amount the contributing partner would have recognized if the property had been sold for its FMV when it was distributed. This amount is the difference between the property's basis and its FMV at the time of contribution. The character of the gain or loss will be the same as the character of the gain or loss that would have resulted if the partnership had sold the property to the distributee partner. Appropriate adjustments must be made to the adjusted basis of the contributing partner's partnership interest and to the adjusted basis of the property distributed to reflect the recognized gain or loss.
Disposition of certain contributed property.
The following rules determine the character of the partnership's gain or loss on a disposition of certain types of contributed property.
A partner can acquire an interest in partnership capital or profits as compensation for services performed or to be performed.
Capital interest.
A capital interest is an interest that would give the holder a share of the proceeds if the partnership's assets were sold at FMV and the proceeds were distributed in a complete liquidation of the partnership. This determination is generally made at the time of receipt of the partnership interest. The FMV of such an interest received by a partner as compensation for services must generally be included in the partner's gross income in the first tax year in which the partner can transfer the interest or the interest is not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. The capital interest transferred as compensation for services is subject to the rules for restricted property discussed under Employee Compensation in Pub. 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income.
The FMV of an interest in partnership capital transferred to a partner as payment for services to the partnership is a guaranteed payment, discussed earlier under Guaranteed Payments .
Profits interest.
A profits interest is a partnership interest other than a capital interest. If a person receives a profits interest for providing services to, or for the benefit of, a partnership in a partner capacity or in anticipation of being a partner, the receipt of such an interest is not a taxable event for the partner or the partnership. However, this doesn't apply in the following situations.
A profits interest transferred as compensation for services is not subject to the rules for restricted property that apply to capital interests.
The basis of a partnership interest is the money plus the adjusted basis of any property the partner contributed. If the partner must recognize gain as a result of the contribution, this gain is included in the basis of their interest. Any increase in a partner's individual liabilities because of an assumption of partnership liabilities is considered a contribution of money to the partnership by the partner.
Interest acquired by gift, etc.
If a partner acquires an interest in a partnership by gift, inheritance, or under any circumstance other than by a contribution of money or property to the partnership, the partner's basis must be determined using the basis rules described in Pub. 551.
. There is a worksheet for adjusting the basis of a partner's interest in the partnership in the Partner's Instructions for Schedule K-1 (Form 1065). .
The basis of an interest in a partnership is increased or decreased by certain items.
Increases.
A partner's basis is increased by the following items.
Decreases.
The partner's basis is decreased (but never below zero) by the following items.
If the property’s FMV exceeds its adjusted basis, a special rule provides that the basis limitation on partner losses does not apply to the extent of the partner’s distributive share of the excess for tax years beginning after 2017.
Partner's liabilities assumed by partnership.
If contributed property is subject to a debt or if a partner's liabilities are assumed by the partnership, the basis of that partner's interest is reduced (but not below zero) by the liability assumed by the other partners. This partner must reduce their basis because the assumption of the liability is treated as a distribution of money to that partner. The other partners' assumption of the liability is treated as a contribution by them of money to the partnership. See Effect of Partnership Liabilities , later.
Example 1.
Ivan acquired a 20% interest in a partnership by contributing property that had an adjusted basis to him of $8,000 and a $4,000 mortgage. The partnership assumed payment of the mortgage. The basis of Ivan's interest is:
| Adjusted basis of contributed property | $8,000 | |
| Minus: Part of mortgage assumed by other partners (80% (0.80) × $4,000) | 3,200 | |
| Basis of Ivan's partnership interest | $4,800 | |
Example 2.
If, in Example 1 , the contributed property had a $12,000 mortgage, the basis of Ivan's partnership interest would be zero. The $1,600 difference between the mortgage assumed by the other partners, $9,600 (80% × $12,000), and his basis of $8,000 would be treated as capital gain from the sale or exchange of a partnership interest. However, this gain wouldn't increase the basis of his partnership interest.
Book value of partner's interest.
The adjusted basis of a partner's interest is determined without considering any amount shown in the partnership books as a capital, equity, or similar account.
Example.
Enzo contributes to his partnership property that has an adjusted basis of $400 and an FMV of $1,000. His partner contributes $1,000 cash. While each partner has increased his capital account by $1,000, which will be reflected in the partnership’s books, the adjusted basis of Enzo's interest is only $400 and the adjusted basis of his partner's interest is $1,000.
When determined.
The adjusted basis of a partner's partnership interest is ordinarily determined at the end of the partnership's tax year. However, if there has been a sale or exchange of all or part of the partner's interest or a liquidation of their entire interest in a partnership, the adjusted basis is determined on the date of sale, exchange, or liquidation.
Alternative rule for figuring adjusted basis.
In certain cases, the adjusted basis of a partnership interest can be figured by using the partner's share of the adjusted basis of partnership property that would be distributed if the partnership terminated.
This alternative rule can be used in either of the following situations.
Adjustments may be necessary in figuring the adjusted basis of a partnership interest under the alternative rule. For example, adjustments would be required to include in the partner's share of the adjusted basis of partnership property any significant discrepancies that resulted from contributed property, transfers of partnership interests, or distributions of property to the partners.
A partner's basis in a partnership interest includes the partner's share of a partnership liability only if, and to the extent that, the liability:
The term “assets” in (1) includes capitalized items allocable to future periods, such as organization expenses.
A partner's share of accrued but unpaid expenses or accounts payable of a cash basis partnership is not included in the adjusted basis of the partner's interest in the partnership.
Partner's basis increased.
If a partner's share of partnership liabilities increases, or a partner's individual liabilities increase because they assume partnership liabilities, this increase is treated as a contribution of money by the partner to the partnership.
Partner's basis decreased.
If a partner's share of partnership liabilities decreases, or a partner's individual liabilities decrease because the partnership assumes their individual liabilities, this decrease is treated as a distribution of money to the partner by the partnership.
Assumption of liability.
Generally, a partner or related person is considered to assume a partnership liability only to the extent that:
Related person.
Related persons, for these purposes, includes all the following.
Property subject to a liability.
If property contributed to a partnership by a partner or distributed by the partnership to a partner is subject to a liability, the transferee is treated as having assumed the liability to the extent it doesn't exceed the FMV of the property.
Partner's share of recourse liabilities.
A partnership liability is a recourse liability to the extent that any partner or a related person, defined earlier under Related person , has an economic risk of loss for that liability. A partner's share of a recourse liability equals their economic risk of loss for that liability. A partner has an economic risk of loss if that partner or a related person would be obligated (whether by agreement or law) to make a net payment to the creditor or a contribution to the partnership with respect to the liability if the partnership were constructively liquidated. A partner who is the creditor for a liability that would otherwise be a nonrecourse liability of the partnership has an economic risk of loss in that liability.
Constructive liquidation.
Generally, in a constructive liquidation, the following events are treated as occurring at the same time.
Example.
Juan and Teresa form a cash basis general partnership with cash contributions of $20,000 each. Under the partnership agreement, they share all partnership profits and losses equally. The partnership borrows $60,000 and purchases depreciable business equipment. This debt is included in the partners' basis in the partnership because incurring it creates an additional $60,000 of basis in the partnership's depreciable property.
If neither partner has an economic risk of loss in the liability, it is a nonrecourse liability. Each partner's basis would include their share of the liability, $30,000.
If Teresa is required to pay the creditor if the partnership defaults, she has an economic risk of loss in the liability. Her basis in the partnership would be $80,000 ($20,000 + $60,000), while Juan's basis would be $20,000.
Limited partner.
A limited partner generally has no obligation to contribute additional capital to the partnership and therefore doesn't have an economic risk of loss in partnership recourse liabilities. Thus, absent some other factor, such as the guarantee of a partnership liability by the limited partner or the limited partner making the loan to the partnership, a limited partner generally doesn't have a share of partnership recourse liabilities.
Partner's share of nonrecourse liabilities.
A partnership liability is a nonrecourse liability if no partner or related person has an economic risk of loss for that liability. A partner's share of nonrecourse liabilities is generally proportionate to their share of partnership profits. However, this rule may not apply if the partnership has taken deductions attributable to nonrecourse liabilities or the partnership holds property that was contributed by a partner.
More information.
For more information on the effect of partnership liabilities, including rules for limited partners and examples, see Regulations sections 1.752-1 through 1.752-5.
The following discussions explain the treatment of gain or loss from the disposition of an interest in a partnership.
Abandoned or worthless partnership interest.
A loss incurred from the abandonment or worthlessness of a partnership interest is an ordinary loss only if both of the following tests are met.
If the partner receives even a de minimis actual or deemed distribution, the entire loss is generally a capital loss. However, see Payments for Unrealized Receivables and Inventory Items , later.
For information on how to report an abandonment loss, see the Instructions for Form 4797. See Revenue Ruling 93-80 for more information on determining if a loss incurred on the abandonment or worthlessness of a partnership interest is a capital or an ordinary loss.
Partnership election to adjust basis of partnership property.
Generally, a partnership's basis in its assets is not affected by a transfer of an interest in the partnership, whether by sale or exchange or because of the death of a partner. However, the partnership can elect to make an optional adjustment to basis in the year of transfer.
The sale or exchange of a partner's interest in a partnership usually results in capital gain or loss. However, see Payments for Unrealized Receivables and Inventory Items , later, for certain exceptions. Gain or loss is the difference between the amount realized and the adjusted basis of the partner's interest in the partnership. If the selling partner is relieved of any partnership liabilities, that partner must include the liability relief as part of the amount realized for their interest.
Example 1.
Kumar became a limited partner in the ABC Partnership by contributing $10,000 in cash on the formation of the partnership. The adjusted basis of his partnership interest at the end of the current year is $20,000, which includes his $15,000 share of partnership liabilities. The partnership has no unrealized receivables or inventory items. Kumar sells his interest in the partnership for $10,000 in cash. He had been paid his share of the partnership income for the tax year.
Kumar realizes $25,000 from the sale of his partnership interest ($10,000 cash payment + $15,000 liability relief). He reports $5,000 ($25,000 realized − $20,000 basis) as a capital gain.
Example 2.
The facts are the same as in Example 1 , except that Kumar withdraws from the partnership when the adjusted basis of his interest in the partnership is zero. He is considered to have received a distribution of $15,000, his relief of liability. He reports a capital gain of $15,000.
Installment reporting for sale of partnership interest.
A partner who sells a partnership interest at a gain may be able to report the sale on the installment method. For requirements and other information on installment sales, see Pub. 537.
Part of the gain from the installment sale may be allocable to unrealized receivables or inventory items. See Payments for Unrealized Receivables and Inventory Items next. The gain allocable to unrealized receivables and inventory items must be reported in the year of sale. The gain allocable to the other assets can be reported under the installment method.
If a partner receives money or property in exchange for any part of a partnership interest, the amount due to their share of the partnership's unrealized receivables or inventory items results in ordinary income or loss. This amount is treated as if it were received for the sale or exchange of property that is not a capital asset.
This treatment applies to the unrealized receivables part of payments to a retiring partner or successor in interest of a deceased partner only if that part is not treated as paid in exchange for partnership property. See Liquidation at Partner's Retirement or Death , later.
Unrealized receivables.
Unrealized receivables include any rights to payment not already included in income for the following items.
These rights must have arisen under a contract or agreement that existed at the time of sale or distribution, even though the partnership may not be able to enforce payment until a later date. For example, unrealized receivables include accounts receivable of a cash method partnership and rights to payment for work or goods begun but incomplete at the time of the sale or distribution of the partner's share.
The basis for any unrealized receivables includes all costs or expenses for the receivables that were paid or accrued but not previously taken into account under the partnership's method of accounting.
Other items treated as unrealized receivables.
Unrealized receivables include potential gain that would be ordinary income if the following partnership property were sold at its FMV on the date of the payment.
Determining gain or loss.
The income or loss realized by a partner upon the sale or exchange of its interest in unrealized receivables and inventory items, discussed below, is the amount that would have been allocated to the partner if the partnership had sold all of its property for cash at FMV, in a fully taxable transaction, immediately prior to the partner's transfer of interest in the partnership. Any gain or loss recognized that is attributable to the unrealized receivables and inventory items will be ordinary gain or loss.
Example.
You are a partner in ABC Partnership. The adjusted basis of your partnership interest at the end of the current year is zero. Your share of potential ordinary income from partnership depreciable property is $5,000. The partnership has no other unrealized receivables or inventory items. You sell your interest in the partnership for $10,000 in cash and you report the entire amount as a gain because your adjusted basis in the partnership is zero. You report as ordinary income your $5,000 share of potential ordinary income from the partnership's depreciable property. The remaining $5,000 gain is a capital gain.
Inventory items.
Inventory items are not limited to stock-in-trade of the partnership. They also include the following property.
Notification required of partner.
If a partner exchanges a partnership interest attributable to unrealized receivables or inventory for money or property, they must notify the partnership in writing. This must be done within 30 days of the transaction or, if earlier, by January 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year of the exchange. A partner may be subject to a $50 penalty for each failure to notify the partnership about such a transaction, unless the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect.
Information return required of partnership.
When a partnership is notified of an exchange of partnership interests involving unrealized receivables or inventory items, the partnership must file Form 8308, Report of a Sale or Exchange of Certain Partnership Interests. Form 8308 is filed with Form 1065 for the tax year that includes the last day of the calendar year in which the exchange took place. If notified of an exchange after filing Form 1065, the partnership must file Form 8308 separately, within 30 days of the notification.
On Form 8308, the partnership provides its telephone number and states the date of the exchange and the names, addresses, and TINs of the partnership filing the return and the transferee and transferor in the exchange. The partnership must provide a copy of Form 8308 (or a written statement with the same information) to each transferee and transferor by the later of January 31 following the end of the calendar year or 30 days after it receives notice of the exchange.
The partnership may be subject to a penalty for each failure to timely file Form 8308 and a penalty for each failure to furnish a copy of Form 8308 to a transferor or transferee, unless the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect. If the failure is intentional, a higher penalty may be imposed. See sections 6722, 6723, and 6724 for details.
Statement required of partner.
If a partner sells or exchanges any part of an interest in a partnership having unrealized receivables or inventory, they must file a statement with their tax return for the year in which the sale or exchange occurs. The statement must contain the following information.
Partner's disposition of distributed unrealized receivables or inventory items.
In general, any gain or loss on a sale or exchange of unrealized receivables or inventory items a partner received in a distribution is an ordinary gain or loss. For this purpose, inventory items do not include real or depreciable business property, even if they are not held more than 1 year.
Example.
Oscar, a distributee partner, received his share of accounts receivable when his law firm dissolved. The partnership used the cash method of accounting, so the receivables had a basis of zero. If Oscar later collects the receivables or sells them, the amount he receives will be ordinary income.
Exception for inventory items held more than 5 years.
If a distributee partner sells inventory items held for more than 5 years after the distribution, the type of gain or loss depends on how they are being used on the date sold. The gain or loss is capital gain or loss if the property is a capital asset in the partner's hands at the time sold.
Example.
Marucia receives, through dissolution of her partnership, inventory that has a basis of $19,000. Within 5 years, she sells the inventory for $24,000. The $5,000 gain is taxed as ordinary income. If she had held the inventory for more than 5 years, her gain would have been capital gain, provided the inventory was a capital asset in her hands at the time of sale.
Substituted basis property.
If a distributee partner disposes of unrealized receivables or inventory items in a nonrecognition transaction, ordinary gain or loss treatment applies to a later disposition of any substituted basis property resulting from the transaction.
Foreign partner's transfer of an interest in a partnership engaged in the conduct of a U.S. trade or business.
Section 864(c)(8) requires a foreign partner that transfers part or all of an interest in a partnership engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the United States (U.S. trade or business) to include in income the effectively connected gain or loss from the transfer. A partnership distribution is considered a transfer when it results in recognition of gain or loss. See Regulations section 1.731-1(a).
In general, any foreign person, any domestic partnership that has a foreign person as a direct partner, and any domestic partnership that has actual knowledge that a foreign person indirectly holds, through one or more partnerships, an interest in the domestic partnership that transfers an interest in a partnership engaged in a U.S. trade or business must notify the partnership of the transfer in writing within 30 days after the transfer. The notification must include:
This notification requirement does not apply to the transfer of an interest in a publicly traded partnership if the interest is publicly traded on an established securities market or is readily tradable on a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof). It also does not apply to a notifying transferor that is treated as transferring an interest in the partnership because it received a distribution from the partnership. This notification may be combined with or provided at the same time as the statement required of a partner that sells or exchanges any part of an interest in a partnership having unrealized receivables or inventory, provided that it satisfies the requirements of both sections. For more information, see Regulations section 1.864(c)(8)-2.
To determine the amount of gain or loss described in section 864(c)(8), generally, a foreign transferor must first determine its outside gain or loss on the transfer of a partnership interest. For this purpose, outside gain or loss is determined under all relevant provisions of the Code and regulations thereunder. A foreign transferor may recognize outside capital gain or loss and outside ordinary gain or loss on the transfer of its partnership interest and must separately apply section 864(c)(8) with respect to its capital gain or loss and its ordinary gain or loss.
The foreign transferor must compare the outside gain or loss amounts with the relevant aggregate deemed sale effectively connected gain or loss that the partnership calculates based on the foreign transferor's distributive share of gain or loss that would have been effectively connected if the partnership had sold all of its assets at FMV. This information will be provided to the notifying transferor on or before the due date (with extensions) for issuing Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), Partner’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc. The foreign transferor only includes in income the lower of the outside amount and the deemed sale effectively connected amount. This determination is made separately with respect to capital gain or loss and ordinary gain or loss. For example, a foreign transferor would compare its outside ordinary gain to its aggregate deemed sale effectively connected ordinary gain, treating the former as effectively connected gain only to the extent it does not exceed the latter. For more information, see Regulations section 1.864(c)(8)-1.
Payments made by the partnership to a retiring partner or successor in interest of a deceased partner in return for the partner's entire interest in the partnership may have to be allocated between payments in liquidation of the partner's interest in partnership property and other payments. The partnership's payments include an assumption of the partner's share of partnership liabilities treated as a distribution of money.
For income tax purposes, a retiring partner or successor in interest of a deceased partner is treated as a partner until their interest in the partnership has been completely liquidated.
Liquidating payments.
Payments made in liquidation of the interest of a retiring or deceased partner in exchange for their interest in partnership property are considered a distribution, not a distributive share or guaranteed payment that could give rise to a deduction (or its equivalent) for the partnership.
Unrealized receivables and goodwill.
Payments made for the retiring or deceased partner's share of the partnership's unrealized receivables or goodwill are not treated as made in exchange for partnership property if both of the following tests are met.
However, this rule doesn't apply to payments for goodwill to the extent that the partnership agreement provides for a reasonable payment to a retiring partner for goodwill.
Unrealized receivables include, to the extent not previously includible in income under the method of accounting used by the partnership, any rights (contractual or otherwise) to payment for (1) goods delivered, or to be delivered, to the extent the proceeds therefrom would be treated as amounts received from the sale or exchange of property other than a capital asset; or (2) services rendered, or to be rendered.
Partners' valuation.
Generally, the partners' valuation of a partner's interest in partnership property in an arm's-length agreement will be treated as correct. If the valuation reflects only the partner's net interest in the property (total assets less liabilities), it must be adjusted so that both the value of, and the basis for, the partner's interest include the partner's share of partnership liabilities.
Gain or loss on distribution.
Upon the receipt of the distribution, the retiring partner or successor in interest of a deceased partner will recognize gain only to the extent that any money (and marketable securities treated as money) distributed is more than the partner's adjusted basis in the partnership. The partner will recognize a loss only if the distribution is in money, unrealized receivables, and inventory items. No loss is recognized if any other property is received. See Partner's Gain or Loss under Partnership Distributions , earlier.
Other payments.
Payments made by the partnership to a retiring partner or successor in interest of a deceased partner that are not made in exchange for an interest in partnership property are treated as distributive shares of partnership income or guaranteed payments. This rule applies regardless of the time over which the payments are to be made. It applies to payments made for the partner's share of unrealized receivables and goodwill not treated as a distribution.
If the amount is based on partnership income, the payment is taxable as a distributive share of partnership income. The payment retains the same character when reported by the recipient that it would have had if reported by the partnership.
If the amount is not based on partnership income, it is treated as a guaranteed payment. The recipient reports guaranteed payments as ordinary income. For additional information on guaranteed payments, see Transactions Between Partnership and Partners , earlier.
These payments are included in income by the recipient for their tax year that includes the end of the partnership tax year for which the payments are a distributive share or in which the partnership is entitled to deduct them as guaranteed payments.
Former partners who continue to make guaranteed periodic payments to satisfy the partnership's liability to a retired partner after the partnership is terminated can deduct the payments as a business expense in the year paid.
The instructions for owner taxpayer filing requirements and pass-through entity filing and reporting requirements are in accordance with Regulations section 1.1061-6. For more information, see T.D. 9945, 2021-5, I.R.B. 627, available at IRS.gov/irb/2021-5_IRB#TD-9945, for specific rules and definitions.
A pass-through entity is required to attach Worksheet A to the API holder’s Schedule K-1 for tax returns filed after December 31, 2021, in which a pass-through entity applies the final regulations under T.D. 9945. A pass-through entity means a partnership, trust, estate, S corporation described in Regulations section 1.1061-3(b)(2)(i), or a passive foreign investment company (PFIC) described in Regulations section 1.1061-3(b)(2)(ii). The pass-through entity must provide the information in Worksheet A to each API holder, including owner taxpayer, as an attachment to the Schedule K-1 for the applicable form, noting the proper box and code. For the 2021 Form 1065, it’s box 20, code AH. For the 2021 Form 1120-S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation, it’s box 17, code AD. For the 2021 Form 1041, U.S. Income Tax Return for Estate and Trusts, it’s box 14, code Z
See Regulations section 1.1061-6(c) for the section 1061 reporting rules of a RIC and a REIT. In the case of RICs and REITs, the information will be furnished in connection with the Form 1099-DIV, Dividends and Distributions.
Regulations section 1.1061-6(d) permits a PFIC with respect to which the shareholder is an API holder who has a qualified electing fund election (as described in section 1295(a)) in effect for the tax year to provide additional information to the shareholder to determine the amount of the shareholder's inclusion that would be included in the Section 1061 Worksheet A: API 1-Year Distributive Share Amount and API 3-Year Distributive Share Amount. If the PFIC furnishes this information to the shareholder, the shareholder must retain a copy of this information along with the other information required to be retained under Regulations section 1.1295-1(f)(2)(ii).
A pass-through entity that is not required to and does not choose to apply the final regulations to tax returns filed after December 31, 2021, for a tax year beginning before January 19, 2021, must attach a worksheet to the API holder's Schedule K-1 that contains similar information as Worksheet A, and must disclose whether the information was determined under the proposed regulations or another method.
An owner taxpayer is the person who is subject to federal income tax on the recharacterization amount, and could be an individual, estate, or trust. An owner taxpayer uses information provided by all the pass-through entities in which it holds an API, directly or indirectly, to determine the amount that is recharacterized as short-term capital gain under sections 1061(a) and (d) for a tax year. For tax returns filed after December 31, 2021, in which an owner taxpayer applies the final regulations under T.D. 9945, Worksheet B must be used to determine the amount of the owner taxpayer’s recharacterization amount. Worksheet B, along with Table 1 and Table 2, are to be attached to the owner taxpayer’s tax return.
An owner taxpayer that is not required to and does not choose to apply the final regulations to tax returns filed after December 21, 2021, for a tax year beginning before January 19, 2021, must attach worksheets to its return that contain similar information as Worksheet B, Table 1, and Table 2; and must disclose whether the information was determined under proposed regulations or another method.
An owner taxpayer reports long- and short-term API gains and losses on Schedule D (Form 1040) or Schedule D (Form 1041) and on Form 8949, Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets, as if section 1061 does not apply. In addition, if the owner taxpayer has a recharacterization amount as computed on line 7 of Worksheet B, and/or any amounts resulting from the application of section 1061(d) (transfer of an API to a related person) on line 8 of Worksheet B (see Regulations section 1.1061-5(c)), the owner taxpayer will increase the reported short-term capital gain by listing as a transaction identified as "Section 1061 Adjustment" on Form 8949, Part I, line 1, column (a), and entering the amount from line 9 of Worksheet B as proceeds (column (d) of the Form 8949) and zero as basis (column (e) of the Form 8949). The owner taxpayer will make corresponding entries on Form 8949, Part II, line 1, to reduce the reported long-term capital gain by listing as a transaction identified as "Section 1061 Adjustment" in column (a) of the Form 8949 and entering zero as proceeds (column (d) of the Form 8949) and the amount from line 9 of Worksheet B as basis (column (e) of the Form 8949).
Pending further guidance, if the owner taxpayer sells an API and recognizes collectibles gain or loss or unrecaptured section 1250 gain, or if a pass-through entity reports that collectibles gain or loss or unrecaptured section 1250 gain is treated as API gain or loss, the owner taxpayer must use a reasonable method to compute the amount of the inclusion of collectibles gain and/or unrecaptured section 1250 gain in the recharacterization amount that is calculated in Worksheet B. If the owner taxpayer has received an API 1-year distributive share amount and an API 3-year distributive share amount that includes collectibles gain or loss and/or unrecaptured section 1250 gain from a pass-through entity, the owner taxpayer should include those amounts on lines 1 and 4, respectively, of Worksheet B. If the owner taxpayer has received an API 1-year distributive share amount and an API 3-year distributive share amount that includes collectibles gain or loss and/or unrecaptured section 1250 gain from a pass-through entity, the owner taxpayer should include those amounts on lines 1 and 4, respectively, of Worksheet B.
On line 10 of Worksheet B, the owner taxpayer must report the total amount of collectibles gains for the tax year that the owner taxpayer has with respect to any interest in a pass-through entity (pass-through interests) that it owns. It must also report the amount of collectibles gain that is recharacterized as short-term capital gain under section 1061 and the amount of collectibles gain that is not recharacterized and that is included in the 28% Rate Gain Worksheet (see line 18 of the Schedule D (Form 1040), or line 18c of the Schedule D (Form 1041)). Collectibles gain or loss that is API gain or loss and is included in the calculation of the recharacterization amount, but not recharacterized, must be included in the 28% Rate Gain Worksheet. Collectibles gain or loss with respect to a pass-through interest that is treated as capital interest gain or loss must also be included in the 28% Rate Gain Worksheet.
Similarly, on line 11 of Worksheet B, the owner taxpayer must report the total amount of unrecaptured section 1250 gain for the tax year that the owner taxpayer has with respect to any pass-through interests that it owns. It must also report the amount of unrecaptured section 1250 gain that is recharacterized as short-term capital gain under section 1061 and the amount of unrecaptured section 1250 gain that is not recharacterized and that is included in the Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain Worksheet (see line 19 of the Schedule D (Form 1040), or line 18b of the Schedule D (Form 1041)). Unrecaptured section 1250 gain or loss that is API gain or loss and is included in the calculation of the recharacterization amount, but not recharacterized, must be included in the Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain Worksheet. Unrecaptured section 1250 gain or loss with respect to a pass-through interest that is treated as capital interest gain or loss must also be included in the Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain Worksheet.
Reporting example for Worksheets A and B.
Owner Taxpayer M, an individual, holds an API in XYZ Partnership and receives a Schedule K-1 with Worksheet A attached from XYZ Partnership for the tax year 2021, that contains a long-term capital gain of $55,000 in box 9a of the Schedule K-1. Taxpayer M did not dispose of an API in 2021. The following is a summary of Worksheet A that XYZ Partnership attached to Taxpayer M's Schedule K-1: Line 4 has an API 1-year distributive share amount of $55,000 and line 7 has an API 3-year distributive share amount of $20,000.
Taxpayer M reports a $55,000 long-term capital gain from XYZ Partnership on Schedule D (Form 1040), line 12. Taxpayer M chose to follow the final regulations under T.D. 9945 in preparation of their 2021 tax return and prepares and attaches Worksheet B to their Form 1040. Worksheet B has a 1-year gain amount on line 3 of $55,000, a 3-year gain amount of $20,000 on line 6, a recharacterization amount on line 7 of $35,000, and a section 1061 adjustment on line 9 of $35,000. In addition to reporting the long-term capital gain of $55,000 on Schedule D (Form 1040), line 12, Taxpayer M reports on Form 8949, Part I, line 1, a short-term capital gain of $35,000, and on Part II, line 1, a long-term capital loss of ($35,000). Both Form 8949 items are described in column (a) as "Section 1061 Adjustment."
TEFRA is the common acronym used for a set of consolidated examination, processing, and judicial procedures which determine the tax treatment of partnership items at the partnership level for partnerships and LLCs that file as partnerships. TEFRA created the unified partnership audit and litigation procedures (TEFRA partnership procedures) of sections 6221 through 6234 (prior to the amendments by the BBA). For additional information on TEFRA partnership procedures, see the January 2016 revision of Pub. 541.
. The TEFRA partnership audit procedures were repealed and do not apply to tax years beginning after 2017. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (BBA) is effective for partnership tax years beginning after 2017. .
The BBA created a new centralized partnership audit regime effective for partnership tax years beginning after 2017. The new regime replaces the consolidated audit proceedings under TEFRA and the electing large partnership provisions. The new audit regime applies to all partnerships unless the partnership is an eligible partnership and elects out by making a valid election. See the Instructions for Form 1065 and BBA Centralized Partnership Audit Regime.
Under the centralized partnership audit regime, partnerships are required to designate a partnership representative. The partnership representative will have the sole authority to act on behalf of the partnership under the centralized partnership audit regime. The designated partnership representative is a partner or other person with substantial presence in the United States. If the designated partnership representative is an entity, the partnership must also appoint a designated individual to act on behalf of the entity partnership representative. The partnership must include information regarding the partnership representative and designated individual (if applicable) on Form 1065, Schedule B. For more information, see the Instructions for Form 1065.
A partnership can elect out of the centralized partnership audit regime for a tax year if the partnership is an eligible partnership that year. A partnership is an eligible partnership for a tax year if it has 100 or fewer eligible partners. A partner is an eligible partner if it is an individual, a C corporation, a foreign entity that would be treated as a C corporation if it were domestic, an S corporation, or an estate of a deceased partner. The determination as to whether the partnership has 100 or fewer partners is made by adding the number of Schedules K-1 required to be issued by the partnership to the number of Schedules K-1 required to be issued by any partner that is an S corporation to its shareholders for the tax year of the S corporation ending with or within the partnership tax year. A partnership is not an eligible partnership if it is required to issue a Schedule K-1 to any of the following partners.
An annual election out of the centralized partnership audit regime must be made on the eligible partnership’s timely filed return, including extensions, for the tax year to which the election applies. The election is made by including the following information on Schedule B-2 (Form 1065) and filing with the tax return.
This annual election once made may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS. A partnership that elects out of the centralized partnership audit regime must notify each of its partners of the election within 30 days of making the election. By making the election out of the centralized partnership audit regime, you are affirming that all of the partners in the partnership meet the eligibility requirements under section 6221(b)(1)(C) and you have provided all of the required information with the Form 1065.
Rather than filing an amended return, a partnership that is subject to the centralized partnership audit regime must file an Administrative Adjustment Request (AAR) to change the amount or treatment of one or more partnership-related items. If filing electronically, file Form 8082, Notice of Inconsistent Treatment or Administrative Adjustment Request (AAR), with a Form 1065, or Form 1065-X, Amended Return or Administrative Adjustment Request (AAR).
AARs filed under the centralized partnership audit regime.
Partnerships subject to the centralized partnership audit regime and filing an AAR that results in an imputed underpayment and any interest or penalties related to the imputed underpayment should report the imputed underpayment and any related interest and penalties on Form 1065 or 1065-X (as applicable). See the Instructions for Form 1065.
See the instructions for Form 8082 or 1065-X (as applicable) for the following.
Partner amended return filed as part of modification of the imputed underpayment during a BBA examination.
Section 6225(c) allows a BBA partnership under examination to request specific types of modifications of any imputed underpayment proposed by the IRS. One type of modification (under section 6225(c)(2)) that may be requested is when one or more (reviewed year) partners file amended returns for the tax years of the partners which includes the end of the reviewed year of the BBA partnership under examination and for any tax year with respect to which tax attributes are affected. See the Instructions for Form 8980.
| How To Sign Documents on Behalf of the Partnership The following are examples of how a partnership representative (PR) should sign documents on behalf of the partnership. The manner in which the PR signs depends on whether the PR is an entity or an individual. If the PR is an entity, the designated individual (DI) signs in their capacity to act on behalf of that entity PR. | ||
| Designated Partnership Representative (PR) | Signature as Partnership Representative (PR) | Example |
| Individual | Individual's signature | John Smith, PR |
| Entity | Designated individual’s (DI) signature | Entity Name, PR, by John Smith, DI |
If you have questions about a tax issue; need help preparing your tax return; or want to download free publications, forms, or instructions, go to IRS.gov to find resources that can help you right away.
Preparing and filing your tax return.
After receiving all your wage and earnings statements (Forms W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, etc.); unemployment compensation statements (by mail or in a digital format) or other government payment statements (Form 1099-G); and interest, dividend, and retirement statements from banks and investment firms (Forms 1099), you have several options to choose from to prepare and file your tax return. You can prepare the tax return yourself, see if you qualify for free tax preparation, or hire a tax professional to prepare your return.
. For 2021, if you received an Economic Impact Payment (EIP), refer to your Notice 1444-C, Your 2021 Economic Impact Payment. If you received Advance Child Tax Credit payments, refer to your Letter 6419. .
Free options for tax preparation.
Go to IRS.gov to see your options for preparing and filing your return online or in your local community, if you qualify, which include the following.
Using online tools to help prepare your return.
Go to IRS.gov/Tools for the following.
. Getting answers to your tax questions. On IRS.gov, you can get up-to-date information on current events and changes in tax law. .
Need someone to prepare your tax return?
There are various types of tax return preparers, including tax preparers, enrolled agents, certified public accountants (CPAs), attorneys, and many others who don’t have professional credentials. If you choose to have someone prepare your tax return, choose that preparer wisely. A paid tax preparer is:
Although the tax preparer always signs the return, you're ultimately responsible for providing all the information required for the preparer to accurately prepare your return. Anyone paid to prepare tax returns for others should have a thorough understanding of tax matters. For more information on how to choose a tax preparer, go to Tips for Choosing a Tax Preparer on IRS.gov.
Advance child tax credit payments.
From July through December 2021, advance payments were sent automatically to taxpayers with qualifying children who met certain criteria. The advance child tax credit payments were early payments of up to 50% of the estimated child tax credit that taxpayers may properly claim on their 2021 returns. Go to IRS.gov/AdvCTC for more information about these payments and how they can affect your taxes.
Coronavirus.
Go to IRS.gov/Coronavirus for links to information on the impact of the coronavirus, as well as tax relief available for individuals and families, small and large businesses, and tax-exempt organizations.
Employers can register to use Business Services Online.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers online service at SSA.gov/employer for fast, free, and secure online W-2 filing options to CPAs, accountants, enrolled agents, and individuals who process Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, and Form W-2c, Corrected Wage and Tax Statement.
IRS social media.
Go to IRS.gov/SocialMedia to see the various social media tools the IRS uses to share the latest information on tax changes, scam alerts, initiatives, products, and services. At the IRS, privacy and security are our highest priority. We use these tools to share public information with you. Don’t post your social security number (SSN) or other confidential information on social media sites. Always protect your identity when using any social networking site.
The following IRS YouTube channels provide short, informative videos on various tax-related topics in English, Spanish, and ASL.
Watching IRS videos.
The IRS Video portal (IRSVideos.gov) contains video and audio presentations for individuals, small businesses, and tax professionals.
Online tax information in other languages.
You can find information on IRS.gov/MyLanguage if English isn’t your native language.
Free Over-the-Phone Interpreter (OPI) Service.
The IRS is committed to serving our multilingual customers by offering OPI services. The OPI Service is a federally funded program and is available at Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs), other IRS offices, and every VITA/TCE return site. The OPI Service is accessible in more than 350 languages.
Accessibility Helpline available for taxpayers with disabilities.
Taxpayers who need information about accessibility services can call 833-690-0598. The Accessibility Helpline can answer questions related to current and future accessibility products and services available in alternative media formats (for example, braille, large print, audio, etc.).
Getting tax forms and publications.
Go to IRS.gov/Forms to view, download, or print all of the forms, instructions, and publications you may need. Or, you can go to IRS.gov/OrderForms to place an order.
Getting tax publications and instructions in eBook format.
You can also download and view popular tax publications and instructions (including the Instructions for Form 1040) on mobile devices as eBooks at IRS.gov/eBooks.
IRS eBooks have been tested using Apple's iBooks for iPad. Our eBooks haven’t been tested on other dedicated eBook readers, and eBook functionality may not operate as intended.
Access your online account (individual taxpayers only).
Go to IRS.gov/Account to securely access information about your federal tax account.
Tax Pro Account.
This tool lets your tax professional submit an authorization request to access your individual taxpayer IRS online account. For more information, go to IRS.gov/TaxProAccount.
Using direct deposit.
The fastest way to receive a tax refund is to file electronically and choose direct deposit, which securely and electronically transfers your refund directly into your financial account. Direct deposit also avoids the possibility that your check could be lost, stolen, or returned undeliverable to the IRS. Eight in 10 taxpayers use direct deposit to receive their refunds. If you don’t have a bank account, go to IRS.gov/DirectDeposit for more information on where to find a bank or credit union that can open an account online.
Getting a transcript of your return.
The quickest way to get a copy of your tax transcript is to go to IRS.gov/Transcripts. Click on either “Get Transcript Online” or “Get Transcript by Mail” to order a free copy of your transcript. If you prefer, you can order your transcript by calling 800-908-9946.
Reporting and resolving your tax-related identity theft issues.
Ways to check on the status of your refund.
The IRS can’t issue refunds before mid-February 2022 for returns that claimed the EIC or the additional child tax credit (ACTC). This applies to the entire refund, not just the portion associated with these credits.
Making a tax payment.
Go to IRS.gov/Payments for information on how to make a payment using any of the following options.
The IRS uses the latest encryption technology to ensure that the electronic payments you make online, by phone, or from a mobile device using the IRS2Go app are safe and secure. Paying electronically is quick, easy, and faster than mailing in a check or money order.
What if I can’t pay now?
Go to IRS.gov/Payments for more information about your options.
Filing an amended return.
You can now file Form 1040-X electronically with tax filing software to amend 2019 or 2020 Forms 1040 and 1040-SR. To do so, you must have e-filed your original 2019 or 2020 return. Amended returns for all prior years must be mailed. Go to IRS.gov/Form1040X for information and updates.
Checking the status of your amended return.
Go to IRS.gov/WMAR to track the status of Form 1040-X amended returns.
It can take up to 3 weeks from the date you filed your amended return for it to show up in our system, and processing it can take up to 16 weeks.
Understanding an IRS notice or letter you’ve received.
Go to IRS.gov/Notices to find additional information about responding to an IRS notice or letter.
You can use Schedule LEP, Request for Change in Language Preference, to state a preference to receive notices, letters, or other written communications from the IRS in an alternative language, when these are available. Once your Schedule LEP is processed, the IRS will determine your translation needs and provide you translations when available. If you have a disability requiring notices in an accessible format, see Form 9000.
Contacting your local IRS office.
Keep in mind, many questions can be answered on IRS.gov without visiting an IRS TAC. Go to IRS.gov/LetUsHelp for the topics people ask about most. If you still need help, IRS TACs provide tax help when a tax issue can’t be handled online or by phone. All TACs now provide service by appointment, so you’ll know in advance that you can get the service you need without long wait times. Before you visit, go to IRS.gov/TACLocator to find the nearest TAC and to check hours, available services, and appointment options. Or, on the IRS2Go app, under the Stay Connected tab, choose the Contact Us option and click on “Local Offices.”