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Answers · Partnerships · Form 1065

What Is a Partner Capital Account?

Partner capital is not the same as outside tax basis.

Reviewed August 2026 · Mint Associates Ltd Co · Houston, Texas

How it works

The rule, and what it turns on.

Outside basis can include the partner’s share of qualifying partnership liabilities and other adjustments not reflected in tax-basis capital.

Example

Tax-basis capital $50,000 plus $80,000 liability share can result in outside basis of $130,000 before other items.

Common mistakes

What we see go wrong, and what we do instead.

  • Using K-1 capital as basis.

A better approach

  • Maintain an outside basis rollforward for each partner.

Authority

Where this comes from, so you can check it.

IRC §§705, 722, 733 and 752; Treas. Reg. §§1.705-1 and 1.752-1 through -5; IRS Publication 541.

Educational information, not individualized tax advice. Treatment depends on your facts, entity classification and tax year, and IRS instructions change. Confirm your own position with us before relying on it. Mint Associates does not provide legal services.

Also asked

The same question, the other ways people put it.

  • Tax Basis vs. Capital Account

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