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Instructions for Form 8865 2006 Tax Year

Instructions for Form 8865 - Main Contents

This is archived information that pertains only to the 2006 Tax Year. If you
are looking for information for the current tax year, go to the Tax Prep Help Area.

Table of Contents

What's New

The specific instructions for Schedules B, D, K, K-1, M-1, and M-2 were deleted from these instructions. If you are required to complete these schedules for Form 8865, use the instructions for the corresponding schedules of Form 1065 (or Form 1065-B if the foreign partnership is an electing large partnership). See the general instructions for these schedules, on pages 6 and 7, for more information.

If you are completing Form 8865 Then use the instructions for Forms 1065/1065-B:
Schedule B Form 1065, Page 1/ Parts I and II of Form 1065-B
Schedule D Schedule D
Schedules K and K-1 Schedules K and K-1
Schedule M-1 Schedule M-1
Schedule M-2 Schedule M-2

General Instructions

Purpose of Form

Use Form 8865 to report the information required under section 6038 (reporting with respect to controlled foreign partnerships), section 6038B (reporting of transfers to foreign partnerships), or section 6046A (reporting of acquisitions, dispositions, and changes in foreign partnership interests).

Who Must File

A U.S. person qualifying under one or more of the Categories of Filers (see below) must complete and file Form 8865. These instructions and the Filing Requirements for Categories of Filers chart below explain the information, statements, and schedules required for each category of filer. If you qualify under more than one category for a particular foreign partnership, you must submit all the items required for each category under which you qualify.

Example.

If you qualify as a Category 2 and a Category 3 filer, you must submit all the schedules required of Category 2 filers (page 1 of Form 8865, Schedules A, A-2, N, and K-1) plus any additional schedules that Category 3 filers are required to submit (Schedules A-1 and O).

Complete a separate Form 8865 and the applicable schedules for each foreign partnership.

File the 2006 Form 8865 with your income tax return for your tax year beginning in 2006.

Filing Requirements for Categories of Filers Category of Filers
1 2 3 4
Identifying information—(page 1 of Form 8865)
Schedule A—Constructive Ownership of Partnership Interest
Schedule A-1—Certain Partners of Foreign Partnership    
Schedule A-2—Affiliation Schedule
Schedule B—Income Statement—Trade or Business Income      
Schedule D—Capital Gains and Losses      
Schedule K—Partners' Distributive Share Items      
Schedule L—Balance Sheets per Books      
Schedule M—Balance Sheets for Interest Allocation      
Schedule M-1—Reconciliation of Income (Loss) per Books With Income (Loss) per Return      
Schedule M-2—Analysis of Partners' Capital Accounts      
Schedule N—Transactions Between Controlled Foreign Partnership and Partners or Other Related Entities    
Schedule K-1—Partner's Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc. (direct partners only)    
Schedule O—Transfer of Property to a Foreign Partnership      
Schedule P—Acquisitions, Dispositions, and Changes of Interests in a Foreign Partnership      

Categories of Filers

Category 1 filer.   A Category 1 filer is a U.S. person who controlled the foreign partnership at any time during the partnership's tax year. Control of a partnership is ownership of more than a 50% interest in the partnership. See the definition of 50% interest on page 4. There may be more than one Category 1 filer for a partnership for a particular partnership tax year.

Category 2 filer.   A Category 2 filer is a U.S. person who at any time during the tax year of the foreign partnership owned a 10% or greater interest in the partnership while the partnership was controlled by U.S. persons each owning at least 10% interests. However, if the foreign partnership had a Category 1 filer at any time during that tax year, no person will be considered a Category 2 filer. See the definition of a 10% interest on page 4.

Category 3 filer.    A Category 3 filer is a U.S. person who contributed property during that person's tax year to a foreign partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership (a section 721 transfer), if that person either:
  1. Owned directly or constructively at least a 10% interest in the foreign partnership immediately after the contribution, or

  2. The value of the property contributed (when added to the value of any other property contributed to the partnership by such person, or any related person, during the 12-month period ending on the date of transfer) exceeds $100,000.

  If a domestic partnership contributes property to a foreign partnership, the domestic partnership's partners are considered to have transferred a proportionate share of the contributed property to the foreign partnership. However, if the domestic partnership files Form 8865 and properly reports all the required information with respect to the contribution, its partners will not be required to report the transfer.

  Category 3 also includes a U.S. person that previously transferred appreciated property to the partnership and was required to report that transfer under section 6038B, if the foreign partnership disposed of such property while the U.S. person remained a direct or indirect partner in the partnership.

Category 4 filer.    A Category 4 filer is a U.S. person that had a reportable event under section 6046A during that person's tax year. There are three categories of reportable events under section 6046A: acquisitions, dispositions, and changes in proportional interests.

Acquisitions.    A U.S. person that acquires a foreign partnership interest has a reportable event if:
  • The person did not own a 10% or greater direct interest in the partnership and as a result of the acquisition, the person owns a 10% or greater direct interest in the partnership (for example, from 9% to 10%). For purposes of this rule, an acquisition includes an increase in a person's direct proportional interest (see definition of change in proportional interest on page 4); or

  • Compared to the person's direct interest when the person last had a reportable event, after the acquisition the person's direct interest has increased by at least a 10% interest (for example, from 11% to 21%).

Dispositions.    A U.S. person that disposes of a foreign partnership interest has a reportable event if:
  • The person owned a 10% or greater direct interest in the partnership before the disposition and as a result of the disposition the person owns less than a 10% direct interest (for example, from 10% to 8%). For purposes of this rule, a disposition includes a decrease in a person's direct proportional interest; or

  • Compared to the person's direct interest when the person last had a reportable event, after the disposition the person's direct interest has decreased by at least a 10% interest (for example, from 21% to 11%).

Changes in proportional interests.   A U.S. person has a reportable event if compared to the person's direct proportional interest the last time the person had a reportable event, the person's direct proportional interest has increased or decreased by at least the equivalent of a 10% interest in the partnership.

Special rule for a partnership interest owned on December 31, 1999.   If the U.S. person owned at least a 10% direct interest in the foreign partnership on December 31, 1999, then comparisons should be made to the person's direct interest on December 31, 1999. Once the person has a reportable event after December 31, 1999, future comparisons should be made by reference to the last reportable event.

Exceptions to Filing

Multiple Category 1 filers.   If during the tax year of the partnership more than one U.S. person qualifies as a Category 1 filer, only one of these Category 1 partners is required to file Form 8865. A U.S. person with a controlling interest in the losses or deductions of the partnership is not permitted to be the filer of Form 8865 if another U.S. person has a controlling interest in capital or profits; only the latter may file the return. The U.S. person that files the Form 8865 must complete Item E on page 1.

  The single Form 8865 to be filed must contain all of the information that would be required if each Category 1 filer filed a separate Form 8865. Specifically, a separate Schedule N and Schedule K-1 must be attached to the Form 8865 for each Category 1 filer. Also, Items B, C, and D on page 1 and Schedule A on page 2 of Form 8865 must be completed for each Category 1 filer not filing the form. Attach a separate statement listing this information to the single Form 8865.

  A Category 1 filer not filing Form 8865 must attach a statement entitled “Controlled Foreign Partnership Reporting” to that person's income tax return.

  The statement must include the following information:
  • A statement that the person qualified as a Category 1 filer, but is not submitting Form 8865 under the multiple Category 1 filers exception.

  • The name, address, and identifying number (if any) of the foreign partnership of which the person qualified as a Category 1 filer.

  • A statement that the filing requirement has been or will be satisfied.

  • The name and address of the person filing Form 8865 for this partnership.

  • The Internal Revenue Service Center where the Form 8865 must be filed.

Caution
A U.S. person who qualifies for this exception to the Category 1 filing requirement would still have to file a separate Form 8865 if that person is also subject to the filing requirements of Category 3 or 4. This separate Form 8865 would include all the information required for a Category 3 or 4 filer in addition to the Controlled Foreign Partnership Reporting statement.

Constructive owners.   See the definition of constructive ownership on page 4. A Category 1 or 2 filer that does not own a direct interest in the partnership and that is required to file this form solely because of constructive ownership from a U.S. person(s) is not required to file Form 8865 if:
  1. Form 8865 is filed by the U.S. person(s) through which the indirect partner constructively owns an interest in the foreign partnership,

  2. The U.S. person through which the indirect partner constructively owns an interest in the foreign partnership is also a constructive owner and meets all the requirements of this constructive ownership filing exception, or

  3. Form 8865 is filed for the foreign partnership by another Category 1 filer under the multiple Category 1 filers exception.

  To qualify for the constructive ownership filing exception, the indirect partner must file with its income tax return a statement entitled “Controlled Foreign Partnership Reporting.

  This statement must contain the following information:
  1. A statement that the indirect partner was required to file Form 8865, but is not doing so under the constructive owners exception;

  2. The names and addresses of the U.S. persons whose interests the indirect partner constructively owns; and

  3. The name and address of the foreign partnership for which the indirect partner would have had to have filed Form 8865, but for this exception.

Members of an affiliated group of corporations filing a consolidated return.   If one or more members of an affiliated group of corporations filing a consolidated return qualify as Category 1 or 2 filers for a particular foreign partnership, the common parent corporation may file one Form 8865 on behalf of all of the members of the group required to report. Except for group members who also qualify under the constructive owners exception, the Form 8865 must contain all the information that would have been required to be submitted if each group member filed its own Form 8865.

Exception for certain trusts.   Trusts relating to state and local government employee retirement plans are not required to file Form 8865.

Exception for certain Category 4 filers.   If you qualify as a Category 3 and 4 filer because you contributed property to a foreign partnership in exchange for a 10% or greater interest in that partnership, you are not required to report this transaction under both Category 3 and 4 filing requirements. If you properly report the contribution of property under the Category 3 rules, you are not required to report it as a Category 4 filer. However, the acquisition will count as a reportable event to determine if a later change in your partnership interest qualifies as a reportable event under Category 4.

Example.

Partner A does not own an interest in FPS, a foreign partnership. Partner A transfers property to FPS in exchange for a 15% direct interest. Partner A qualifies as a Category 3 filer because he transferred property to a foreign partnership and owned at least a 10% interest in FPS immediately after the contribution. Partner A is also a Category 4 filer because he did not own a 10% or greater direct interest in FPS and as a result of the acquisition now owns a 10% or greater direct interest in FPS. If Partner A properly reports the contribution on Form 8865 as a Category 3 filer, Partner A is not required to report his acquisition of the 15% interest in FPS as a Category 4 filer.

Relief for Category 1 and 2 Filers When the Foreign Partnership Files Form 1065 or Form 1065-B

If a foreign partnership files Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income, or Form 1065-B, U.S. Return of Income for Electing Large Partnerships, for its tax year, Category 1 and 2 filers may use a copy of the completed Form 1065 or 1065-B schedules in place of the equivalent schedules of Form 8865.

If you file Form 8865 with an electronically filed income tax return, see the electronic filing publications identified in the instructions for your income tax return for more information.

The following Form 1065/1065-B schedules are equivalent to the following Form 8865 schedules:

  Forms 1065/1065-B Form 8865
  Page 1 (Parts I and II of Form 1065-B) Schedule B
  Schedule D Schedule D
  Schedule K Schedule K
  Schedule L Schedule L
  Schedule M-1 Schedule M-1
  Schedule M-2 Schedule M-2
  Schedule K-1 Schedule K-1

Example.

Partner A is a Category 1 filer with respect to FPS, a foreign partnership during the 2006 tax year. FPS completes and files a Form 1065 for its 2006 tax year. Instead of completing Schedules B, D, K, L, M-1, M-2, and K-1 of Form 8865, Partner A may attach to its Form 8865 page 1 of Form 1065 and Form 1065 Schedules D, K, L, M-1, M-2, and K-1 (including the Schedules K-1 for Partner A and all other U.S. persons owning 10% or greater direct interests in FPS). Partner A must complete the following items and schedules on Form 8865:

  • The first page,

  • Schedule A,

  • Schedule A-1,

  • Schedule A-2,

  • Schedule M, and

  • Schedule N.

Example.

Partner A is a Category 2 filer with respect to FPS, a foreign partnership. If FPS completes and files a Form 1065 for its 2006 tax year, Partner A may file with Form 8865 the Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) that it receives from the partnership instead of Schedule K-1 (Form 8865). Partner A must complete the following items and schedules on Form 8865:

  • The first page,

  • Schedule A,

  • Schedule A-2, and

  • Schedule N.

When To File

Attach Form 8865 to your income tax return (or, if applicable, partnership or exempt organization return) and file both by the due date (including extensions) for that return. If you do not have to file an income tax return, you must file Form 8865 separately with the IRS at the time and place you would be required to file an income tax return (or, if applicable, a partnership or exempt organization return). See below for penalties that may apply if you do not file Form 8865 on time.

Definitions

Partnership.   A partnership is the relationship between two or more persons who join to carry on a trade or business, with each person contributing money, property, labor, or skill and each expecting to share in the profits and losses of the business whether or not a formal partnership agreement is made.

  The term “partnership” includes a limited partnership, syndicate, group, pool, joint venture, or other unincorporated organization, through or by which any business, financial operation, or venture is carried on, that is not, within the meaning of the regulations under section 7701, a corporation, trust, estate, or sole proprietorship.

  A joint undertaking merely to share expenses is not a partnership. Mere co-ownership of property that is maintained and leased or rented is not a partnership. However, if the co-owners provide services to the tenants, a partnership exists.

Foreign partnership.   A foreign partnership is a partnership that is not created or organized in the United States or under the law of the United States or of any state.

50% interest.   A 50% interest in a partnership is an interest equal to:
  • 50% of the capital,

  • 50% of the profits, or

  • 50% of the deductions or losses.

For purposes of determining a 50% interest, the constructive ownership rules described below apply.

10% interest.   A 10% interest in a partnership is an interest equal to:
  • 10% of the capital,

  • 10% of the profits, or

  • 10% of the deductions or losses.

For purposes of determining a 10% interest, the constructive ownership rules described below apply.

Constructive ownership.   For purposes of determining an interest in a partnership, the constructive ownership rules of section 267(c) (excluding section 267(c)(3)) apply, taking into account that such rules refer to corporations and not to partnerships. Generally, an interest owned directly or indirectly by or for a corporation, partnership, estate, or trust shall be considered as being owned proportionately by its owners, partners or beneficiaries.

Also, an individual is considered to own an interest owned directly or indirectly by or for his or her family. The family of an individual includes only that individual's spouse, brothers, sisters, ancestors, and lineal descendants. An interest will be attributed from a nonresident alien individual under the family attribution rules only if the person to whom the interest is attributed owns a direct or indirect interest in the foreign partnership under section 267(c)(1) or (5).

U.S. person.   A U.S. person is a citizen or resident of the United States, a domestic partnership, a domestic corporation, and any estate or trust that is not foreign.

Control of a corporation.   Control of a corporation is ownership of stock possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power, or more than 50% of the total value of shares of all classes of stock of the corporation. For rules concerning indirect ownership and attribution, see Regulations section 1.6038-2(c).

Change in a proportional interest.   A partner's proportional interest in a foreign partnership can change as a result of changes in other partners' interests, for example, when another partner withdraws from the partnership. A partner's proportional interest can also change, for example, by operation of the partnership agreement (for example, if the partnership agreement provides that a partner's interest in profits will change on a set date or when the partnership has earned a specified amount of profits, then the partner's proportional interest changes when the set date or specified amount of profits is reached).

Penalties

Failure to timely submit all information required of Category 1 and 2 filers.   
  • A $10,000 penalty is imposed for each tax year of each foreign partnership for failure to furnish the required information within the time prescribed. If the information is not filed within 90 days after the IRS has mailed a notice of the failure to the U.S. person, an additional $10,000 penalty (per foreign partnership) is charged for each 30-day period, or fraction thereof, during which the failure continues after the 90-day period has expired. The additional penalty is limited to a maximum of $50,000 for each failure.

  • Any person who fails to furnish all of the information required within the time prescribed, will be subject to a reduction of 10% of the foreign taxes available for credit under sections 901, 902, and 960. If the failure continues 90 days or more after the date the IRS mails notice of the failure, an additional 5% reduction is made for each 3-month period, or fraction thereof, during which the failure continues after the 90-day period has expired. See section 6038(c)(2) for limits on the amount of this penalty.

  • Criminal penalties under sections 7203, 7206, and 7207 may apply for failure to file or for filing false or fraudulent information.

  Additionally, any person that files under the constructive owners exception may be subject to these penalties if all the requirements of the exception are not met. Any person required to file Form 8865 who does not file under the multiple Category 1 filers exception, may be subject to the above penalties if the other person does not file a correctly completed form and schedules. See Exceptions to Filing on page 2.

Failure to file information required of Category 3 filers.   Any person that fails to properly report a contribution to a foreign partnership that is required to be reported under section 6038B and the regulations under that section is subject to a penalty equal to 10% of the fair market value (FMV) of the property at the time of the contribution. This penalty is subject to a $100,000 limit, unless the failure is due to intentional disregard. In addition, the transferor must recognize gain on the contribution as if the contributed property had been sold for its FMV.

Failure to file information required of Category 4 filers.   Any person who fails to properly report all the information requested by section 6046A is subject to a $10,000 penalty. If the failure continues for more than 90 days after the IRS mails notice of the failure, an additional $10,000 penalty will apply for each 30-day period (or fraction thereof) during which the failure continues after the 90-day period has expired. The additional penalty shall not exceed $50,000.

Treaty-based return positions.   File Form 8833, Treaty-Based Return Position Disclosure Under Section 6114 or 7701(b), to report a return position that a treaty of the United States (such as an income tax treaty, an estate and gift tax treaty, or a friendship, commerce, and navigation treaty):
  • Overrides or modifies any provision of the Internal Revenue Code and

  • Causes (or potentially causes) a reduction of any tax incurred at any time.

  Failure to make such a report may result in a $1,000 penalty ($10,000 in the case of a C corporation). See section 6712.

Corrections to Form 8865

If you file a Form 8865 you later determine is incomplete or incorrect, file a corrected Form 8865 with an amended tax return following the instructions for the return with which you originally filed Form 8865. Write “corrected” at the top of the form and attach a statement identifying and explaining the changes.

Specific Instructions

All information must be in English. All amounts must be stated in U.S. dollars.

If the information required in a given section exceeds the space provided within that section, attach separate sheets to provide the remaining information, using the same size and format as the printed forms.

Fill in all applicable lines and schedules.   All categories of filers must complete all items on page 1, with three exceptions. Complete Item E only if, in addition to filing the form on your own behalf, you are reporting information about other Category 1 filers under the multiple Category 1 filing exception, or you are reporting information about members of your affiliated group of corporations under the consolidated return exception. Only Category 1 and 2 filers are required to complete Item G6. See Exceptions to Filing on page 2. Answer Items G8 and G9 only if you are a Category 1 filer.

Tax Year

Enter in the space below the title of Form 8865 the tax year of the foreign partnership that ended with or within the tax year of the person filing this form. Category 1 or 2 filers must report information for the tax year of the foreign partnership that ends with or within their tax years. A Category 3 or 4 filer must report on Schedules O or P, respectively, transactions that occurred during that filer's tax year (rather than during the partnership's tax year).

Identifying Numbers and Addresses

Enter the identifying number of the person filing this return. Use an employer identification number (EIN) to identify partnerships, corporations, and estates or trusts. For individuals, use a social security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN).

Include the suite, room, or other unit number after the street address. If the Post Office does not deliver mail to the street address and the U.S. person has a P.O. box, show the box number instead.

Foreign address.   Enter the information in the following order: city, province or state, and country. Follow the country's practice for entering the postal code, if any. Do not abbreviate the country name.

Item A—Category of Filer

Check the box for each category that describes the person filing the form. If more than one category applies, check all boxes that apply. See Categories of Filers beginning on page 1.

Item C

Enter the filer's share of nonrecourse liabilities, partnership-level qualified nonrecourse financing, and other liabilities. Nonrecourse liabilities are those liabilities of the partnership for which no partner bears the economic risk of loss. The extent to which a partner bears the economic risk is determined under the rules of Regulations section 1.752-2.

"Qualified nonrecourse financing" generally includes financing:

  • For which no one is personally liable for repayment,

  • That is borrowed for use in an activity of holding real property, and

  • That is borrowed from a qualified person (defined in section 49(a)(1)(D)(iv)) or is lent or guaranteed by a federal, state, or local government.

See section 465(b)(6) for more information on qualified nonrecourse financing.

Item D—Identification of Common Parent

If the person filing the form is a member of a consolidated group, but not the parent, list the name, address, and EIN of the filer's common parent.

Item E

Information about certain partners.    If you are reporting information about other persons under the multiple Category 1 filers exception, or are reporting information about members of your affiliated group of corporations under the consolidated return exception (see Exceptions to Filing on page 2), identify each such person in Item E. List their names, addresses, and identifying numbers. Also, indicate whether each person is a Category 1 filer or Category 2 filer, and whether such person constructively owned an interest in the foreign partnership during the tax year of the partnership listed at the top of page 1 of Form 8865. See Constructive ownership on page 4.

Item F1

For the foreign partnership's address, enter the city, province or state, and the foreign country in that order. Follow the foreign country's practice in placing the postal code in the address. Do not abbreviate the country name. If the partnership receives its mail in care of a third party (such as an accountant or attorney), enter “C/O” followed by the third-party's name and street address or P.O. box.

Item F6—Principal Business Activity Code

If the foreign partnership filed Form 1065 or 1065-B.   Enter the business code shown in Item C of the Form 1065 or 1065-B filed by the partnership.

If the foreign partnership did not file Form 1065 or 1065-B.   Enter the applicable business code from the list beginning on page 10. If the information necessary to apply the total receipts test is not available, pick a principal business activity code using the information you have about the partnership.

Item F8a—Functional Currency

Enter the foreign partnership's functional currency. See sections 985 through 989 and the regulations thereunder. If the partnership had more than one qualified business unit (QBU), attach a statement identifying each QBU, its country of operation, and its functional currency. A QBU is any separate and clearly identified unit of a trade or business of the partnership which maintains separate books and records.

Hyperinflationary exception.   A partnership that has a hyperinflationary currency as its functional currency is subject to special rules set forth in Regulations section 1.985-3. Under these rules, a partnership must use the U.S. dollar as its functional currency.

Item F8b—Exchange Rate

When translating functional currency to U.S. dollars, you must use the method specified in sections 985 through 989 and the regulations thereunder. But, regardless of the specific method required, all exchange rates must be reported using a “divide-by convention” rounded to at least 4 places. That is, the exchange rate must be reported in terms of the amount by which the functional currency amount must be divided in order to reflect an equivalent amount of U.S. dollars. As such, the exchange rate must be reported as the units of foreign currency that equal one U.S. dollar, rounded to at least 4 places. Do not report the exchange rate as the number of U.S. dollars that equal one unit of foreign currency.

You must round the result to more than 4 places if failure to do so would materially distort the exchange rate or the equivalent amount of U.S. dollars.

Item G2

If the foreign partnership was required to file Form 1065 or Form 1065-B for the partnership's tax year listed at the top of page 1 (Form 8865), check the applicable box and enter the IRS Service Center where the form was or will be filed. Also, check the applicable box(es) if the foreign partnership was required to file Form 8804, Annual Return for Partnership Withholding Tax (Section 1446), or Form 1042, Annual Withholding Tax Return for U.S. Source Income of Foreign Persons (for the calendar year ending with or within the foreign partnership's tax year).

Item G6

Only Category 1 and 2 filers are required to complete Item G6.

Enter the number of Forms 8858, Information Return of U.S. Persons With Respect To Foreign Disregarded Entities, attached to Form 8865. A disregarded entity is an entity that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner under Regulations section 301.7701-3. The partnership is the tax owner of the foreign disregarded entity if it owns the assets and liabilities of the foreign disregarded entity for purposes of U.S. income tax law.

If the foreign partnership is the tax owner of a foreign disregarded entity and you are a Category 1 or 2 filer of Form 8865, complete and attach Form 8858 to Form 8865. For more information, see the instructions for Form 8858.

Item G8—Separate Units

Only Category 1 filers are required to answer Item G8.

Indicate whether the partnership owned any interest in a separate unit. In general, a separate unit is:

  1. A foreign branch that is owned either directly by a domestic corporation or indirectly by a domestic corporation through ownership of a partnership or trust interest,

  2. An interest in a partnership, or

  3. An interest in a trust.

See Regulations section 1.1503-2(c)(3) and (4) for more information on separate units. Attach a statement identifying each separate unit and its country of operation.

Item G9

Only Category 1 filers are required to answer Item G9.

Answer “Yes” to Item G9 if the partnership meets both of the requirements shown on the form. Total receipts is defined as the sum of gross receipts or sales (Schedule B, line 1a); all other income reported on Schedule B (lines 4 through 7); income reported on Schedule K, lines 3a, 5, 6a, and 7; income or net gain reported on Schedule K, lines 8, 9a, 10 and 11; and income or net gain reported on Form 8825, lines 2, 19, and 20a.

Signature

Filer.   Do not sign Form 8865 if you are filing it as an attachment to your income tax return. Sign the return only if you are filing Form 8865 separately because you are not required to file a U.S. income tax return. See When To File on page 3 for more information.

Paid preparer.   Do not sign Form 8865 or complete the paid preparer section at the bottom of the form if Form 8865 is filed as an attachment to an income tax return. Sign Form 8865 and complete the paid preparer section only if Form 8865 is filed separately.

Schedule A—Constructive Ownership of Partnership Interest

All filers must complete Schedule A. Check box a if the person filing the return owns a direct interest in the foreign partnership. Check box b if the person filing the return constructively owns an interest in the foreign partnership. See Constructive ownership on page 4.

Category 1 and 2 filers.   Category 1 and 2 filers must list the persons (U.S. and foreign) whose interests in the foreign partnership they constructively owned during the partnership tax year.

Category 3 and 4 filers.   Category 3 and 4 filers must list the persons (U.S. and foreign) whose interests in the foreign partnership they constructively owned during the filer's tax year that the reportable transfer or “reportable event” occurred.

Schedule A-1—Certain Partners of Foreign Partnership

All Category 1 and certain Category 3 filers must complete Schedule A-1. Any person already listed on Schedule A is not required to be listed again on Schedule A-1.

Category 1 filers.   Category 1 filers must list all U.S. persons who owned at least a 10% direct interest in the foreign partnership during the partnership's tax year listed at the top of page 1 of Form 8865.

Category 3 filers.   Category 3 filers must list:
  • each U.S. person that owned a 10% or greater direct interest in the foreign partnership during the Category 3 filer's tax year, and

  • any other person related to the Category 3 filer that was a direct partner in the foreign partnership during that tax year.

See Regulations section 1.6038B-2(i)(4) for the definition of a related person.

Exception.   Category 3 filers who only transferred cash and did not own a 10% or greater interest in the transferee partnership after the transfer are not required to complete Schedule A-1.

Schedule A-2—Affiliation Schedule

All filers must complete Schedule A-2. List on Schedule A-2 all partnerships (foreign or domestic) in which the foreign partnership owned a direct interest, or a 10% indirect interest (under the rules of section 267(c)(1) and (5)) during the partnership tax year listed at the top of page 1, Form 8865.

Category 1 filers.   Only Category 1 filers must complete the ordinary income or loss column. In that column, report the foreign partnership's share of ordinary income (even if not received) or loss from partnerships in which the foreign partnership owns a direct interest. The total amount of ordinary income or loss from each partnership must also be included on line 4 of Schedule B.

Schedule B—Income Statement—Trade or Business Income

You do not need to complete Schedule B if you have attached a copy of page 1 from Form 1065, or Parts I and II of Form 1065-B, filed by the foreign partnership.

All Category 1 filers must complete Schedule B.

Specific Instructions for Schedule B

For specific instructions for Schedule B, see the Instructions for Form 1065. Use the specific instructions for Page 1 of Form 1065, Income and Deductions. If the foreign partnership files Form 1065-B, use the specific instructions for Parts I and II of Form 1065-B in the Instructions for Form 1065-B.

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You can view or download the instructions for Form 1065 or Form 1065-B at www.irs.gov/formspubs. Also, these instructions can be ordered by calling 1-800-829-3676.

Schedule D—Capital Gains and Losses

You do not need to complete Schedule D if you have attached to Form 8865 a copy of the Schedule D from Form 1065 or Form 1065-B filed by the foreign partnership.

All Category 1 filers must complete Schedule D to report sales or exchanges of capital assets, capital gain distributions, and nonbusiness bad debts.

Specific Instructions for Schedule D

For the specific instructions for Schedule D, see Schedule D (Form 1065), Capital Gains and Losses. Schedule D and its instructions are a separate product for Form 1065. If the foreign partnership files Form 1065-B, use the instructions for Schedule D in the Instructions for Form 1065-B.

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You can view or download the instructions for Schedule D (Form 1065) (the instructions are provided with the schedule) or the Instructions for Form 1065-B at www.irs.gov/formspubs. Also, these instructions can be ordered by calling 1-800-829-3676.

Schedules K and K-1—Partners' Distributive Share Items

You do not need to complete Schedules K or K-1 if you have attached to Form 8865 a copy of the Schedules K or K-1 from Form 1065 or Form 1065-B filed by the foreign partnership.

Schedule K

Schedule K is a summary schedule of all of the partners' shares of the partnership income, credits, deductions, etc. Only Category 1 filers must complete Schedule K.

Schedule K-1

Schedule K-1 is used to report a specific partner's share of the partnership income, deductions, credits, etc.

All Category 1 and 2 filers must complete Schedule K-1 for any direct interest they hold in the partnership. A Category 1 or 2 filer that does not own a direct interest is not required to complete Schedule K-1.

Category 1 filers must also complete Schedule K-1 for each U.S. person that directly owns a 10% or greater direct interest in the partnership.

Provide the partner's beginning and year-end percentage interest in partnership profits, losses, capital, or deductions. These percentages should include any interest constructively owned by the filer.

Complete boxes 1 through 20 for any direct interest that the partner owns in the partnership.

Example.

Partner A owns a 45% direct interest in foreign partnership (FPS). Partner A also owns 100% of the stock of a domestic corporation (DC), which owns a 10% direct interest in FPS. Therefore, Partner A is considered to own a 55% interest in FPS and is thus a Category 1 filer. When Partner A completes Schedule K-1 for itself, Partner A must report the distributive share of items allocated to Partner A's direct interest of 45% but not any items allocated to DC's 10% interest. When Partner A completes Schedule K-1 for DC (which Partner A must do because DC owns a direct 10% interest), Partner A must report on DC's Schedule K-1 only items allocated to DC's direct 10% interest.

Although the partnership is not subject to income tax, the partners are liable for tax on their shares of the partnership income, whether or not distributed, and must include their share of such items on their tax returns.

Allocations of income, gains, losses, deductions, or credits among the partners generally should be made according to the partnership agreement. See section 704 and the regulations thereunder.

General Reporting Instructions for Schedule K-1

On each Schedule K-1, enter the information about the partnership and the partner in Parts I and II of the schedule (Items A through F). For items E and F in Part II of Schedule K-1, see the instructions for the corresponding items L and N of Schedule K-1(Form 1065) in the instructions for Form 1065 under the heading Specific Instructions (Schedule K-1 Only). In Part III, enter the partner's distributive share of each item of income, deduction, and credit and any other information the partner needs to prepare the partner's tax return.

Codes.   In box 11 and boxes 13 through 20, identify each item by entering a code in the column to the left of the dollar amount entry space. These codes are identified on the back of Schedule K-1.

Attached statements.   Enter an asterisk (*) after the code, if any, in the column to the left of the dollar amount entry space for each item for which you have attached a statement providing additional information. For those informational items that cannot be reported as a single dollar amount, enter the code and asterisk in the left column and write “STMT” in the dollar amount entry space to indicate the information is provided on an attached statement.

  More than one attached statement can be placed on the same sheet of paper and should be identified in alphanumeric order by box number followed by the letter code (if any). For example: “Box 20, Code T—Information Needed to Figure Depletion—Oil and Gas” (followed by the information the partner needs).

Too few entry spaces on Schedule K-1?   If there are more coded items than the number of spaces in box 11 or boxes 13 through 20, do not enter a code or dollar amount in the last entry space of the box. In the last entry space, enter an asterisk in the left column and enter “STMT” in the entry space to the right. Report the additional items on an attached statement and provide the box number, the code, description, and dollar amount or information for each additional item. For example: “Box 15, Code H—Work Opportunity Credit—$1,000.

Specific Instructions for Schedules K and K-1

For the specific instructions for Schedules K and K-1, see the Instructions for Form 1065. If the foreign partnership files Form 1065-B, use the specific instructions for Schedules K and K-1 of Form 1065-B in the Instructions for Form 1065-B.

Schedule L—Balance Sheets per Books

You do not need to complete Schedule L if you have attached to Form 8865 a copy of the Schedule L from Form 1065 or Form 1065-B filed by the foreign partnership.

The balance sheets should agree with the partnership's books and records. Attach a statement explaining any differences.

Only Category 1 filers are required to complete Schedule L.

If you answered "Yes" to Item G9 on page 1 of Form 8865, you do not have to complete Schedule L.

Schedule L requires balance sheets prepared and translated into U.S. dollars in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

Exception.   If the partnership or any qualified business unit of the partnership uses the dollar approximate separate transactions method (DASTM), Schedule L should reflect the tax balance sheets prepared and translated into U.S. dollars according to Regulations section 1.985-3(d).

Schedule M—Balance Sheets for Interest Allocation

All Category 1 filers must complete Schedule M. Schedule M should reflect the book values of the partnership's assets, as described in Temporary Regulations sections 1.861-9T(g)(2) and 1.861-12T. Assets should be characterized as U.S. assets or foreign assets in one or more separate limitation categories as provided in Temporary Regulations sections 1.861-9T(g)(3) and 1.861-12T. The balance sheets should be prepared in U.S. dollars under Temporary Regulations section 1.861-9T(g)(2)(ii).

Exception.    If the partnership or any qualified business unit of the partnership uses DASTM, Schedule M should reflect the tax balance sheet prepared in U.S. dollars under Regulations section 1.985-3(d). See Temporary Regulations section 1.861-9T(g)(2)(ii)(A)(2) for more information on DASTM.

Line 2.   Enter the partnership's foreign assets according to the following income limitation categories:
  • Passive income category.

  • Listed categories (attach a statement classifying foreign assets by the categories listed in the instructions for Form 1065, line 16e).

  • General limitation income category.

  See the instructions for line 16 of Schedule K and section 904(d) for more information.

Schedule M-1—Reconciliation of Income (Loss) per Books With Income (Loss) per Return

You do not need to complete Schedule M-1 if you have attached to Form 8865 a copy of the Schedule M-1 from Form 1065 or Form 1065-B filed by the foreign partnership.

Form 8865 filers are not required to complete Schedule M-3, Net Income (Loss) Reconciliation for Certain Partnerships.

Only Category 1 filers are required to complete Schedule M-1. If you answered "Yes" to Item G9 on page 1 of Form 8865, you do not have to complete Schedule M-1.

Specific Instructions for Schedule M-1

For the specific instructions for Schedule M-1, see the Instructions for Form 1065. If the foreign partnership files Form 1065-B, use the specific instructions for Schedule M-1 of Form 1065-B in the Instructions for Form 1065-B.

Schedule M-2—Analysis of Partners' Capital Accounts

You do not need to complete Schedule M-2 if you have attached to Form 8865 a copy of the Schedule M-2 from Form 1065 or Form 1065-B filed by the foreign partnership.

Only Category 1 filers are required to complete Schedule M-2. If you answered "Yes" to Item G9 on page 1 of Form 8865, you do not have to complete Schedule M-2.

Specific Instructions for Schedule M-2

For the specific instructions for Schedule M-2, see the Instructions for Form 1065. If the foreign partnership files Form 1065-B, use the specific instructions for Schedule M-2 of Form 1065-B in the Instructions for Form 1065-B.

Schedule N—Transactions Between Controlled Foreign Partnership and Partners or Other Related Entities

All Category 1 filers must complete Schedule N and report all transactions of the foreign partnership during the tax year of the partnership listed on the top of page 1 of Form 8865. A Category 1 filer filing a Form 8865 for other Category 1 filers under the multiple Category 1 filers exception must complete a Schedule N for itself and a separate Schedule N for each Category 1 filer not filing Form 8865.

Category 2 filers are required to complete columns (a), (b), and (c) of Schedule N. Category 2 filers do not have to complete column (d).

Column (a).   Use column (a) to report transactions between the foreign partnership and the person filing the Form 8865.

Column (d).   Use column (d) to report transactions between the foreign partnership and any U.S. person with a 10% or more direct interest in the foreign partnership. If such person also qualifies under column (b), do not report transactions between the foreign partnership and that person under column (d). Report the transactions only under column (b).

Lines 6 and 16.   Enter distributions received from other partnerships and distributions from the foreign partnership for which this form is being completed.

Lines 20 and 21.   Enter the largest outstanding balances during the year of gross amounts borrowed from, and gross amounts lent to, the related parties described in columns (a) through (d). Do not enter aggregate cash flows, year-end loan balances, average balances, or net balances. Do not include open account balances resulting from sales and purchases reported under other items listed on Schedule N that arise and are collected in full in the ordinary course of business.

Schedule O—Transfer of Property to a Foreign Partnership

Category 3 filers must complete Schedule O.

Part I—Transfers Reportable Under Section 6038B

Part I is used to report the transfer of property to a foreign partnership. Provide the information required in columns (a) through (g) with respect to each contribution of property to the foreign partnership that must be reported. If you contributed property with a FMV greater than its tax basis (appreciated property), or intangible property, provide the information required in columns (a) through (g) separately with respect to each item of property transferred (except to the extent you are allowed to aggregate the property under Regulations section 1.704-3(e)(2), (3), and (4)). Provide a general description of each item of property in the Supplemental Information Required To Be Reported section. For all other property contributed, aggregate by the categories listed in Part I.

Column (a).   Enter the date of the transfer. If the transfer was composed of a series of transactions over multiple dates, enter the date the transfer was completed.

Column (b).   Enter the number of items of property transferred.

Column (c).   Enter the FMV of the property contributed (measured as of the date of the transfer).

Column (d).   Enter your adjusted basis in the property contributed on the date of the transfer. See sections 1011 through 1016 for more information on the determination of adjusted basis.

Column (e).   If you contributed appreciated property, enter the method (traditional, traditional with curative allocations, or remedial) used by the partnership to make section 704(c) allocations with respect to each item of property. See Regulations section 1.704-3(b), (c), and (d) for more information on these allocation methods.

Column (f).   Enter the amount of gain, if any, recognized on the transfer. See sections 721(b) and 904(f)(3).

Column (g).   Enter your percentage interest in the partnership immediately after the transfer. To the extent your percentage interest in the partnership differs among capital, profits, losses, or deductions, enter “See Below” and state the different percentages.

Supplemental information required to be reported.   Enter any information from Part I that is required to be reported in greater detail. Identify the applicable column number next to the information entered in this section. In addition, if you contributed property to a foreign partnership as part of a wider transaction, briefly describe the entire transaction.

Part II—Dispositions Reportable Under Section 6038B

Use Part II to report certain dispositions by a foreign partnership. If you were required to report a transfer of appreciated property to the partnership, and the partnership disposes of the property while you are still a direct or constructive partner, you must report that disposition in Part II. If the partnership disposes of the property in a nonrecognition transaction and receives in exchange substituted basis property, report the subsequent disposition of the substituted basis property in the same manner as provided for the contributed property. See section 7701(a)(42) for the definition of substituted basis property and Regulations section 1.704-3(a)(8) for more information.

Column (a).   Provide a brief description of the property disposed of by the partnership. If you are reporting the disposition of substituted basis property received by the partnership in a nonrecognition transaction in exchange for appreciated property contributed by you, enter “See Attached.” Attach a statement providing brief descriptions of both the property contributed by you to the partnership and the substituted basis property received by the partnership in exchange for that property.

Column (b).   Enter the date that you transferred this property to the partnership. If you are reporting the disposition of substituted basis property received by the partnership in a nonrecognition transaction in exchange for property previously contributed by you, enter “See Attached.” Attach a statement showing both the date you transferred the appreciated property to the partnership and the date the partnership exchanged the property for substituted basis property in a nonrecognition transaction. See Regulations section 1.6038B-2.

Column (c).   Enter the date that the partnership disposed of the property.

Column (d).   Briefly describe how the partnership disposed of the property (for example, by sale or exchange).

Column (e).   Enter the amount of gain, if any, recognized by the partnership on the disposition of property.

Column (f).   Enter the amount of depreciation recapture, if any, recognized by the partnership on the disposition of property. See Regulations section 1.1245-1(e) and 1.1250-1(f).

Column (g).   Enter the amount of gain from column (e) allocated to you.

Column (h).   Enter the amount of depreciation recapture from column (f) allocated to you. See Regulations sections 1.1245-1(e) and 1.1250-1(f). If you recognize any section 1254 recapture on the partnership's disposition of natural resource recapture property, enter “See Attached” and attach a statement calculating the amount of recapture. See Regulations section 1.1254-5.

Part III—Gain Recognition Under Section 904(f)(3) or (f)(5)(F)

If gain recognition was required with respect to any transfer reported in Part I under section 904(f)(3) and (f)(5)(F), attach a statement identifying the transfer and the amount of gain recognized.

Schedule P—Acquisitions, Dispositions, and Changes of Interests in a Foreign Partnership

Use Schedule P to report the acquisition, disposition, and change of interest in a foreign partnership.

Every Category 4 filer must complete Schedule P.

Part I—Acquisitions

Part I is completed by Category 4 filers required to report an acquisition of an interest in a foreign partnership. See Categories of Filers beginning on page 1 for more details about which types of acquisitions must be reported.

Column (a).   If you acquired the interest in the foreign partnership by purchase, gift, inheritance, or in a distribution from a trust, estate, partnership, or corporation, enter the name, address, and identifying number (if any), of the person from whom you acquired the interest.

Column (b).   Enter the date of the acquisition. If the acquisition was composed of a series of transactions over multiple dates, enter the date the acquisition was completed.

Column (c).    Enter the FMV of the interest you acquired in the partnership (measured as of the date of acquisition).

Column (d).   Enter your basis in the acquired partnership interest (measured as of the date of acquisition). See sections 722 and 742.

Columns (e) and (f).   Enter your total direct percentage interest in the partnership both before and immediately after the acquisition. To the extent your direct percentage interest in the partnership differs among capital, profits, losses, or deductions, enter “See Below” and state the different percentages in Part IV.

Part II—Dispositions

This section is completed by U.S. persons who are Category 4 filers because they disposed of an interest in a foreign partnership. See Categories of Filers beginning on page 1 for more details about what types of dispositions must be reported. For each disposition reported in Part II, indicate in Part IV whether a statement is required by Regulations section 1.751-1(a)(3) to be filed with respect to the disposition.

Column (a).   Unless you disposed of the interest by withdrawing, in whole or in part, from the partnership, enter the name, address, and identifying number (if any) of the person to whom you transferred the interest in the foreign partnership.

Column (b).   Enter the date of the disposition. If the disposition was composed of a series of transactions over multiple dates, enter the date the disposition was completed.

Column (c).   Enter the FMV of the interest you disposed of in the partnership (measured as of the date of disposition). If you recognized gain or loss on the disposition, state the amount of gain or loss in Part IV. See section 741.

Column (d).   Enter your adjusted basis in the partnership interest disposed of immediately before the disposition. See section 705.

Columns (e) and (f).   Enter your total direct percentage interest in the partnership both before and immediately after the disposition. To the extent your percentage interest in the partnership differs among capital, profits, losses, or deductions, enter “See Below” and state the different percentages in Part IV.

Part III—Change in Proportional Interest

This section is completed by U.S. persons who are Category 4 filers because their direct proportional interest in the foreign partnership changed. See Categories of Filers beginning on page 1 for more details about which changes in proportional interest must be reported.

Column (a).   Briefly describe the event that caused your interest in the partnership to change (for example, the admission of a new partner).

Column (b).   Enter the date of the change. If the change resulted from a series of transactions over multiple dates, enter the date the change was completed.

Column (c).   Enter the FMV of your interest in the partnership immediately before the change.

Column (d).   Enter your basis in your partnership interest immediately before the change.

Columns (e) and (f).    Enter your direct percentage interest in the partnership both before and immediately after the change. To the extent your percentage interest in the partnership differs among capital, profits, losses, or deductions, enter “See Below” and state the different percentages in Part IV.

Part IV—Supplemental Information Required To Be Reported

Enter any information asked for in Part I, Part II, or Part III that must be reported in detail. Identify the applicable part number and column next to the information entered in Part IV.

We ask for the information on this form to carry out the Internal Revenue laws of the United States. Sections 6038, 6038B, and 6046A require you to provide this information. Section 6109 requires you to provide your identifying number (SSN, EIN, or PTIN). We need this information to ensure that you are complying with the revenue laws and to allow us to figure and collect the right amount of tax.

You are not required to provide the information requested on a form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records relating to a form or its instructions must be retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax returns and return information are confidential, as required by section 6103.

The time needed to complete and file this form and related schedule will vary depending on individual circumstances. The estimated burden for individual taxpayers filing this form is approved under OMB control number 1545-0074 and is included in the estimates shown in the instructions for their individual income tax return. The estimated burden for all other taxpayers who file this form is shown below.

Form Recordkeeping Learning about the
law or the form
Preparing, copying, assembling and sending the form to the IRS
8865 89 hr., 21 min. 23 hr., 16 min. 36 hr., 26 min.
Schedule K-1 (Form 8865) 10 hr., 31 min. 35 min. 48 min.
Schedule O (Form 8865) 12 hr., 12 min. 2 hr., 22 min. 2 hr., 41 min.
Schedule P (Form 8865) 5 hr., 15 min. 35 min. 42 min.

If you have comments concerning the accuracy of these time estimates or suggestions for making this form and related schedules simpler, we would be happy to hear from you. See the instructions for the tax return with which this form is filed. If you do not have to file a tax return, see the instructions for the return you would be required to file.

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