What Is Schedule K-1?
Schedule K-1 is a federal tax document used to report the income, losses, and dividends for a business' or financial entity's partners or an S corporation's shareholders. The K-1 form is also used to report income distributions from trusts and estates to beneficiaries.
A Schedule K-1 document is prepared for each relevant individual (partner, shareholder, or beneficiary). A partnership then files Form 1065, the partnership tax return that contains the activity on each partner's K-1. An S corporation reports activity on Form 1120-S. Trusts and estates report the K-1 form activity on Form 1041.
Key Takeaways
- Business partners, S corporation shareholders, and investors in limited partnerships and certain ETFs use Schedule K-1 to report their earnings, losses, and dividends.
- Schedule K-1s are usually issued by pass-through businesses or financial entities that don't directly pay corporate tax on their income but shift the tax liability (along with most of their income) to their stakeholders.
- Schedule K-1 requires the business entity to track each participant’s basis or ownership stake in the enterprise.
- Several different types of income can be reported on Schedule K-1.
- Schedule K-1s should be issued to taxpayers no later than Mar. 15 or the third month after the end of the entity's fiscal year.
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Understanding Schedule K-1
The U.S. federal tax code allows the use of a pass-through strategy in certain instances, which shifts tax liability from the entity (such as a trust or a partnership) to the individuals who have an interest in it.
The entity itself pays no taxes on earnings or income. Rather, any payouts—along with any tax due on them—pass through directly to the stakeholders. This is where Schedule K-1 comes in.
The purpose of the K-1 form is to report each participant's share of the business entity's gains, losses, deductions, credits, and other distributions (whether or not they're actually distributed).
In the case of a partnership, while not filed with an individual partner’s tax return, the financial information posted to each partner’s K-1 form is sent to the IRS with Form 1065. Income generated from partnerships is added to the partner’s other sources of income and entered on Form 1040.
Schedule K-1 is similar to Form 1099, in that it reports dividends, interest, and other annual returns from an investment. Whether you receive a K-1 or a Form 1099 depends on the investment. Master limited partnerships (MLPs), real estate limited partnerships (RELPS) and certain exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are all types of investments that routinely issue K-1s.
Aspects of Schedule K-1
Factoring in Partnership Agreements
A partnership is defined as a contract between two or more people who decide to work together as partners. The rules of this business arrangement are stated in a partnership agreement. The partnership has at least one general partner (GP) who operates the partnership.
GPs are liable for their actions as partners and for the activities of other GPs in the partnership. Limited partners, on the other hand, are liable for the debts and obligations of the partnership based only on the amount of capital they contribute. The partnership agreement dictates how the partners share profits, which impacts the information on Schedule K-1.
Basis Calculation
Schedule K-1 requires the partnership to track each partner’s basis in the partnership. In this context, basis refers to a partner’s investment or ownership stake in the enterprise. A partner’s basis is increased by capital contributions and their share of income. It's reduced by a partner’s share of losses and any withdrawals.
Assume, for example, that a partner contributes $50,000 in cash and $30,000 in equipment to a partnership, and the partner’s share of income is $10,000 for the year. That partner's total basis is $90,000, less any withdrawals they've made.
The basis calculation is important because when the basis balance is zero, any additional payments to the partner are taxed as ordinary income. The basis calculation is reported on Schedule K-1 in the partner’s capital account analysis section.
Income Reporting
A partner can earn several types of income on Schedule K-1, including rental income from a partnership’s real estate holdings and income from bond interest and stock dividends.
Many partnership agreements provide guaranteed payments to general partners who invest the time to operate the business venture and those guaranteed payments are reported on Schedule K-1. The guaranteed payments are put in place to compensate the partner for the large time investment.
A partnership may generate royalty income and capital gains or losses, and those items are allocated to each partner’s Schedule K-1, based on the partnership agreement.
Those receiving K-1-reported income should consult with a tax professional to determine if their proceeds trigger the alternative minimum tax.
Types of Schedule K-1s
The K-1 forms used by the three entities (partnerships, S-corporations, and trusts) vary slightly in the way they look but they all have the same purpose. They report to the IRS, and individual partners, shareholders, and beneficiaries, the amounts of income, losses, deductions, credits, and other distributions they may have received.
K-1 Form for Partnerships
K-1s are sent to the IRS with the partnership’s tax return (Form 1065) and also to each partner so that they can add the information to their own tax returns.
K-1 Form for S-Corporations
S-corporations file an annual tax return using Form 1120-S. They include Schedule K-1 information about each shareholder’s share of income, losses, deductions, and credits.
K-1 Form for Trusts and Estates
Trusts and estates useForm 1041to file their tax returns.Beneficiaries receive a K-1 that shows the income that they need to report on their own tax returns.
If you spot an error on the Schedule K-1 you receive, ask the issuer to correct it, and send the revised version to the IRS.
Who Files a Schedule K-1?
There are four main types of entities required to file a K-1:
- Business partnerships
- Limited liability corporations (LLCs) that have at least two partners or elect to be taxed as corporations
- S corporations
- Trusts and estates
Individual taxpayers typically don’t file K-1 forms. Instead, they transfer the information provided in the K-1 to their personal, individual tax return.For example:
If you're a partner, use the information on Schedule K-1 to prepare your income tax return(s). You typically aren't required to attach the K-1 form (unless specifically required per the form instructions) but be sure to keep it in your records. The partnership files a copy of Schedule K-1/Form 1065, the U.S. Return of Partnership Income, with the IRS.
If you're a shareholder, use the information on Schedule K-1 (Form 1120-S) to prepare your income tax return(s). Again, you usually aren't meant to include the K-1 form with them but file it with your records. The corporation files Form 1120-S, the U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation, with the IRS.
If you're a beneficiary of a trust or estate, use the information on Schedule K-1 (Form 1041) to prepare your income tax return(s). The K-1 isn't filed with your tax return, unless backup withholding was reported in box 13, code B. Keep it with your records. The trust or estate files a copy of Schedule K-1/Form 1041 with the IRS.
What Is IRS Schedule K-1?
Schedule K-1 is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax form that's issued annually. It reports the gains, losses, interest, dividends, earnings, and other distributions from certain investments or business entities for the previous tax year. These are usually pass-through entities that don't pay corporate tax themselves because they directly pass profits on to their stakeholders or investors. Participants in these investments or enterprises use the figures on the K-1 to compute their income, and the tax due on it.
Who Gets an IRS Schedule K-1?
Among those likely to receive a Schedule K-1 are:
- S corporation shareholders
- Partners in limited liability corporations (LLCs), limited liability partnerships (LLPs), or other business partnerships
- Investors in limited partnerships (LPs) or master limited partnerships (MLPs)
- Investors in certain exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
- Trust or estate beneficiaries
Is IRS Schedule K-1 Income Considered Earned Income?
That depends on the individual's participation and status. For trust and estate beneficiaries, limited partners, and passive investors, Schedule K-1 income is more akin to unearned income. For general partners and active owners in a business or pass-through business entity, the income can be considered earned income, and they may owe self-employment tax on it.
When Should I Receive My IRS Schedule K-1?
Schedule K-1 forms are notorious for arriving late. The IRS says they are due by March 15 (or the 15th day of the third month after the entity's tax year ends). Whether that means they need to be issued by then, or to actually be in taxpayers' hands by that date, seems open to interpretation. Most authorities agree you should receive one by March 15, or the closest business day to that.
The Bottom Line
A Schedule K-1 is a federal tax form that pass through entities like partnerships and S corporations and sometimes trusts and estates send to their partners, shareholders, or beneficiaries. The form reports the income, losses, and gains passed to each party with an interest in the entity. This information is then used by the recipient to prepare their own tax returns.
