Entities
Question: Must a partnership or corporation file a tax form even though it had no income for the year?
Answer:
Partnerships and corporations have different standards for filing an income tax return.
- A domestic partnership must file an income tax form unless it neither receives gross income nor pays or incurs any amount treated as a deduction or credit for federal tax purposes.
- A domestic corporation (including a Subchapter S corporation) must file an income tax form whether it has taxable income or not.
- A foreign corporation which is engaged in a trade or business in the United States at any time during the taxable year or which has income which is subject to taxation under subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code (relating to income taxes) generally must file an income tax form, even if the foreign corporation (a) has no income which is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, (b) has no income from sources within the United States, or (c) has income which is exempt from income tax by reason of an income tax convention or any section of the Internal Revenue Code.
Additional Information:
- Publication 542, Corporations
- Instructions for Form 1120-F (PDF), U.S. Income Tax Return of a Foreign Corporation
- Instructions for Form 1120-S (PDF), U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation
- Instructions for Form 1065 (PDF), U.S. Return of Partnership Income
- Publication 541, Partnerships
- Instructions for Form 1120 (PDF), U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return
Category: Small Business, Self Employed, Other Business
Subcategory: Entities
