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If your business is a partnership with foreign partners, you have no doubt faced having to file Form 8804 to determine your tax liability. This form can look ominous at first glance, but you’ll find that, in some ways, its structure and function are very similar to Form 1040, which you file annually. Before getting into important details concerning Form 8804, let’s first establish what this form is and for whom it’s required.
Table of Contents
Form 8804 is a tax form used by partnerships with foreign partners to report and pay their share of effectively connected taxable income (ECTI). ECTI is income derived from a trade or business within the United States. Partnerships with foreign partners are required to file form 8804 if they have ECTI to report or if they made certain distributions to foreign partners during the tax year.
Filing Form 8804 is a simple process. All partnerships with US ECTI that can be allocated to a foreign partner must file this form, regardless of whether they had any effectively connected taxable income. In other words, Form 8804 needs to be filed even if the partnership has recorded a loss in that year.
Along with Form 8804, the partnership must provide each foreign partner with a Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), which reports the partner’s share of income, deductions, and credits. The foreign partner will use this information to report their share of ECTI on their individual tax return.
Similar to your personal tax return Form 1040, there is a Form 8804 deadline, as well as penalties for not filing on time. If you can’t meet the deadline, you can file a Form 8804 extension with the IRS.
Form 8804 must be filed annually by the due date, which is generally the 15th day of the third month following the close of the partnership’s tax year. For example, if the partnership operates on a calendar year basis, the due date for Form 8804 would typically be March 15th.
To request an extension for filing Form 8804, you will need to complete and submit IRS Form 7004*, which can be submitted electronically or by mail.
*Requesting an extension does not absolve you of any taxes due on the original deadline. You’ll need to calculate any estimated tax due and include it with your extension request. Failure to make the required payment may result in penalties and interest.
For filing Form 8804, you’ll need to gather specific information, supporting documentation, and attachments to complete the form accurately. Here is some of the required information for Form 8804 and the documents you’ll need:
Partnership Information: Partnership name, address, and employer identification number (EIN)
Partner Information: Identification of foreign partners, including their names, addresses, and taxpayer identification numbers (TINs)
Effectively Connected Taxable Income (ECTI): Calculation of the partnership’s effectively connected taxable income
Schedule K-1 (Form 1065): A separate Schedule K-1 for each foreign partner, providing their respective share of income, deductions, and credits, must also be filed by the partnership.
Supporting Documentation: Documents substantiating the partnership’s income, deductions, and credits. These would include sales and expense receipts, and documentation of any taxes withheld or paid on behalf of foreign partners.
It’s important to carefully review the instructions provided by the IRS for the specific tax year in question. The instructions will outline the required information, documentation, and any specific attachments or schedules that need to be included with Form 8804.
Completing Form 8804 accurately is critical to ensuring compliance with tax regulations. Here are some common mistakes made when completing Form 8804 and the steps you can take to avoid them:
Common Mistakes | Potential Consequences | How to Avoid |
Not Reviewing the Instructions | Could result in misunderstanding of the requirements | Read IRS instructions for Form 8804 carefully, ensuring the correct version for your tax year. |
Submitting Incorrect Partnership and Partner Information | Could lead to issues with processing the form | Enter accurate partnership details including name, address, and EIN. Provide up-to-date and correct information for each foreign partner. |
Calculating ECTI and Partner Allocations Inaccurately | Could result in inaccurate reporting of taxable income | Accurately calculate ECTI and allocate it among partners based on ownership percentages or agreed methods. |
Not Paying Attention to Specific Line Item Instructions | May lead to incomplete or inaccurate filing | Carefully follow instructions for accurate completion, including necessary supporting documentation. |
Not Double-Checking for Accuracy and Completeness | May lead to delays, penalties, or IRS inquiries | Review Form 8804 for accuracy, completeness, typos, errors, and missing information before submission. |
Filing and submitting Form 8804 can be accomplished in two ways: electronically or on paper.
If you don’t file Form 8804 on time, the penalty is usually 5% of the unpaid tax for each month that the return is late (upto a max of 25% of the unpaid tax). The penalty won’t apply if the partnership can show reasonable cause for filing late.
Understanding and complying with the Form 8804 submission process is essential for any partnership with foreign partners. Non-compliance can result in costly penalties and the needless loss of hard-earned profits. More information concerning Form 8804 can be found on the IRS website.
Jamie Stadtmauer is the Vice President of Business Development at Agora and has over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate investing.