What Is a Schedule K-1?

Schedule K-1 Explained

Woman in her 30s filling out tax information online
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A Schedule K-1 is used by partners in a business, LLC members, and S corporation shareholders to report their income, deductions, and credits for the tax year.

If you're required to file a Schedule K-1 with the IRS, it's important to understand what it is, when it's due, how it works, and how to include it with your personal tax return.

What Is a Schedule K-1? 

A Schedule K-1 form is used to report individual partner or shareholder share of income for a partnership or S corporation. S corporations, partnerships, and LLCs are considered pass-through business types because the business's income passes through to the owners on their personal tax returns. In these businesses, income tax returns are prepared by the business, and then the profit or losses are distributed to the owners according to their share.

Schedule K-1 Form
 Internal Revenue Service

Who Uses a Schedule K-1?

A Schedule K-1 is required for partners in a general partnership, limited partnership, LLP, LLC members, and shareholders of S corporations. Single-owner LLC's don't use a Schedule K-1 to report the business income; they use a Schedule C-Profit or Loss from Business.

Partners and shareholders of S corporations must file a Schedule K-1 to report income, losses, dividend receipts, and capital gains. The partnership Schedule K-1 is used to show income distribution to members in a multiple-member LLC, which is taxed as a partnership.

Types of Schedule K-1 Forms

The type of Schedule K-1 form you fill out depends on the business type. The business or estate files the appropriate form, and then the individual fills out the corresponding Schedule K-1.

Form Who Uses It
1065 Partnerships
1120-S S corporations
1041 Beneficiaries of trusts and estates

Schedule K-1 (Form 1065)

Form 1065 is the most common Schedule K-1 form and is used by partners in a partnership. This includes general partnerships, limited partnerships, LLPs, and LLCs.

Schedule K-1(Form 1120-S)

Form 1120-S is used by shareholders of an S corporation.

Schedule K-1 (Form 1041)

Form 1041 is used by people who are beneficiaries of an estate or trust.

Where to Get a Schedule K-1

All Schedule K-1 forms can be found on the IRS website, but you should receive a copy from the person responsible for filing your company's Form 1065, 1120-S, or 1041.

Note

March 15 is the deadline for partnerships and S corporations to send Schedule K-1s to partners and shareholders.

What to Do If You Don't Receive a Schedule K-1

The Schedule K-1 is important for your personal tax return, so you must have it before filing. If you don't receive it by March 15, reach out to your company's accountant or person responsible for filing the business's taxes.

How to Fill Out and Read a Schedule K-1

Outside of a business's income or losses, a Schedule K-1 will include sections to record dividends, capital gains, rental real estate income, deductions, and credits, so have that information handy before beginning.

If you're involved in a partnership, you will need to include the employer identification number, what type of partner you are, your share of profit and losses at the beginning and end of the tax year, and your share of liabilities at the beginning and end of the tax year. If you have any deductions or credits, you will enter those into boxes 12, 13, and 15. The form also includes sections to record the following:

  • Foreign transactions
  • Alternative minimum tax items
  • Tax-exempt income and nondeductible expenses
  • Distributions (money paid to partners or members during the year)

If you're a shareholder of an S corporation, you won't need to include information about your share of profit or losses; you will only need to note what percentage of stock you owned for the tax year. Do so in box F.

Can a Schedule K-1 be E-Filed?

A Schedule K-1 can be filed electronically with your personal tax return.

Where to Mail a Schedule K-1

Where you mail your Schedule K-1 depends on your state.

State If no payment is included with return If payment is included with return
Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0002
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 931000
Louisville, KY 40293-1000
Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maryland, Rhode Island, West Virginia Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Ogden, UT 84201-0002
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 931000
Louisville, KY 40293-1000
Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Austin, TX 73301-0002
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 1214
Charlotte, NC 28201-1214
Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0002
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 1214
Charlotte, NC 28201-1214
Alaska, California, Hawaii, Washington Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888-0002
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 7704
San Francisco, CA 94120-7704
Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888-0002
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 802501
Cincinnati, OH 45280-2501
Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Ogden, UT 84201-0002
Internal Revenue Service
P O Box 802501
Cincinnati, OH 45280-2501
Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0002
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 37008
Hartford, CT 06176-7008
Pennsylvania Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Ogden, UT 84201-0002
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 37008
Hartford, CT 06176-7008

How to File a Schedule K-1

By March 15, the partnership or S corporation should have sent you a Schedule K-1. How you file your tax returns, electronically or paper, is how you should file the Schedule K-1. You should not file your personal tax return without the Schedule K-1 included.

Criticism of Schedule K-1

Over time, Schedule K-1 forms have been revised to force partners to disclose more information about business activity and not just strictly financials. The new forms include checkboxes where you must indicate if the business was involved in more than one activity for at-risk or passive activity purposes. Ever-changing regulations mean the form is subject to frequent changes.

Key Takeaways

  • A Schedule K-1 is required for partners in partnerships and shareholders of an S corporation.
  • Partnerships and S corporations file Forms 1065 and 1120-S, respectively, while individuals file a Schedule K-1 with their personal tax returns.
  • Personal tax returns should not be filed without the Schedule K-1 included.
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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. IRS. "About Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), Partner's Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc." Accessed July 11, 2020.

  2. IRS. "About Form 1120-S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation." Accessed July 11, 2020.

  3. IRS. "About Form 1041, U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts." Accessed July 11, 2020.

  4. IRS. "Where to File Addresses for Taxpayers and Tax Professionals Filing Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR." Accessed July 11, 2020.

  5. IRS. "Partner's Instructions for Schedule K-1 (Form 1065)," Page 1. July 11, 2020.

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