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Chapter 13. Partnerships: Characteristics, Formation,. and Accounting for Activities. Characteristics of a Partnership. Often governed by the Uniform Partnership Act (UPA) Voluntary association of individuals with a fiduciary relationship
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Chapter 13 Partnerships: Characteristics, Formation, and Accounting for Activities
Characteristics of a Partnership • Often governed by the Uniform Partnership Act (UPA) • Voluntary association of individuals with a fiduciary relationship • Mutual agency - each partner is an agent for other partners and the partnership • Legal liability - general or limited partnerships • Underlying equity theories - proprietary theory is a major influence C13
Characteristics of a Partner, continued • Articles of partnership - a written partnership agreement is advisable • Acceptable accounting principles - GAAP or OCBOA • Not a taxable entity - a conduit to the individual partners C13
Accounts Used for a Partner’s Capital Investment • Drawing account • a temporary account • periodically closed to capital accounts • Capital account • a permanent account C13
The Drawing Account Illustrated Drawing Account Debit Periodic withdrawals of partnership assets up to a specified amount Credit Closing of balance to partner’s capital account C13
The Capital Account Illustrated Capital Account Debit Withdrawals in excess of a specified amount Closing of a net debit balance in the partner’s drawing account Partner’s share of partnership losses Credit Initial and subsequent investments of capital Partner’s share of partnership profits C13
Division of Profits • According to a ratio/percentage - assumed to be equal if not otherwise stated, and/or • According to capital investments of the partners - important to define how capital is measured and/or • According to the labor/service rendered by partners - typically involving a salary and/or bonus C13
Allocation of Profit Deficiencies and Losses • Completely satisfy all provisions of the profit and loss agreement and use the profit and loss ratios to absorb any deficiency or additional loss caused by such action or • Satisfy each of the provisions to whatever extent is possible. • for example, the allocation of salaries would be satisfied to whatever extent possible before the allocation of interest is begun C13
Subsequent Changes in a Partner’s Tax Basis Factors Increasing Basis: • Additional contributions of individual assets • The partner’s share (based on profit and loss ratios) of increases in partnership liabilities resulting from: • assuming partners’ personal liabilities • direct liabilities of the partnership • The partner’s share of partnership taxable income • The partner’s share of separately identified items of income not included in tax income (loss) C13
Subsequent Changes in a Partner’s Tax Basis, continued Factors Decreasing Basis: • Distribution of partnership assets • The portion of the partner’s additional personal liabilities assumed by the partnership • The partner’s share of partnership tax losses • The partner’s share of separately identified items of loss not included in taxable income (loss) C13
Alternative Organizational Forms • Subchapter S Corporations • Limited Liability Corporations • Limited Liability Partnerships C13