How to File Partnership AAR Using Form 8082 in CCH Axcess?

Thanks for this explanation! I'm actually in a similar situation but with a larger adjustment (around $95k). Does it matter which partner gets listed first on the 8082? And does CCH Axcess automatically handle the math to ensure the adjustments net to zero across partners, or do we need to manually verify that?

The order of the partners on Form 8082 doesn't matter technically, but I recommend listing them in the same order they appear on the original return for consistency. CCH Axcess doesn't automatically verify that partner adjustments net to zero, so you absolutely need to check this manually. This is a common error point. After entering all adjustments, print a draft and verify that the sum of all partner adjustments equals zero for each line item. The software will do the calculations within each partner's section, but won't cross-check between partners. For your $95k situation, make sure the total positive adjustments equal the total negative adjustments across all partners.

Did it help with the actual technical steps in CCH? That's where I'm struggling. The interface is so confusing when trying to do corrections. Also, does it work for partnerships with foreign partners? We have two non-US partners and that complicates things.

I've seen a few of these AI tax tools but I'm skeptical. Most of them seem to just spit out generic advice. How specifically did it help with Form 8082? Did it actually show you which fields to fill out in CCH Axcess?

Yes, it actually provided screenshots and directional guidance for CCH Axcess specifically. It walked through how to access the AAR functionality, which isn't in the most obvious place in the software. It showed exactly which fields map to which sections of Form 8082 and how to ensure the adjustments flow properly to the K-1s. For partnerships with foreign partners, it was extremely helpful. It flagged the additional reporting requirements and showed exactly how to handle the Section 1446 withholding adjustments in CCH when doing reallocations for foreign partners. This was something our preparer had initially missed completely.

Wait, this actually works? I've been trying to get through to someone at the IRS about partnership audit procedures for literally 3 weeks. How much does it cost? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.

This sounds like BS honestly. I've never heard of a service that can actually get you through to the IRS faster. The IRS phone system is designed to be difficult - no way some third party service can bypass that. Seems like a waste of money to me.

It absolutely works! They use some kind of system that navigates the IRS phone tree and holds your place in line. When they reach an agent, they call you and connect you directly. I don't remember the exact cost since my firm paid for it, but it was reasonable considering how many billable hours I was wasting on hold. I think they have different options based on which IRS department you need to reach. For partnership tax questions specifically, they knew exactly which options to select to reach the right department.

Thank you for mentioning this! I was actually confused about the push-out election vs. partnership payment option. In our case, the partners definitely want to handle any tax impacts individually rather than having the partnership pay. Is there a specific place in CCH where this election is made beyond just creating the statement?

In CCH Axcess, you'll need to check the box on the Form 8082 that indicates you're making the push-out election. It's in the Partnership section under "BBA Elections" - there should be a checkbox for "Section 6226 election to push out adjustments to partners." Additionally, after creating that statement I mentioned, you need to ensure it's properly linked to the return. Sometimes CCH doesn't automatically attach it without manual intervention. Go to the return dashboard, then Electronic Filing > Forms/Schedules To Be Attached, and make sure your push-out election statement is selected for attachment. One more tip since you're having the partners handle it individually: make sure each corrected K-1 clearly indicates it's related to an AAR push-out election. There's a specific box to check on the K-1s to indicate this, and partners' tax preparers often miss it if it's not marked properly.

The diagnostics in CCH Axcess are terrible for AARs! They flag all kinds of "errors" that aren't actually errors because the system doesn't fully understand the AAR process. I've learned to ignore about half of the warnings, but it makes me nervous every time.

Thanks for the detailed breakdown! I'm a newcomer to partnership tax work and this is incredibly helpful. Quick question about the 3-year deadline you mentioned - does that clock start from the original due date (including extensions) or just the original March 15th deadline? Our partnership filed an extension last year and I want to make sure I'm calculating the AAR deadline correctly. Also, when you mention notifying partners about the AAR filing, is there a specific format or timeline for that notification? I want to make sure we're doing everything by the book since this is my first time handling this type of correction.

Great question about the deadline calculation! The 3-year period runs from the later of the return due date (including extensions) or the actual filing date. So if your partnership filed on extension last year, you'd count from the extended due date, not the original March 15th deadline. This gives you more time, which is good news. For partner notification, there's no specific IRS-required format, but best practice is to send written notice (email is fine) explaining: (1) that an AAR is being filed, (2) the nature of the adjustments, (3) how it affects each partner specifically, and (4) that they may need to consider amending their individual returns. I usually send this notification at the same time we file the AAR. Since you're new to partnership tax work, I'd also recommend keeping detailed documentation of everything - the original error discovery, correction calculations, partner communications, and filing confirmations. Partnership audits can happen years later and having a complete paper trail is invaluable. One more tip: double-check that all your partner percentage allocations are correct in CCH before finalizing. I've seen cases where the software had outdated allocation percentages, which would make the whole AAR incorrect.

Welcome to the partnership tax world, Marcus! Yes, you absolutely need to create separate adjustment entries for each type of income being reallocated. In CCH Axcess, each line item that's being adjusted (ordinary business income, capital gains, Section 1231 gains, etc.) gets its own entry in the Form 8082 adjustments section. This is crucial because partners need to see exactly what types of income are being corrected on their amended K-1s. For the "reviewed year" vs "adjustment year" distinction - the reviewed year is the tax year being corrected (the year with the original error), while the adjustment year is the year you're filing the AAR. CCH Axcess should automatically handle this when you select the correct tax year for your AAR return, but double-check that the "reviewed year" field on Form 8082 matches the year you're correcting, not the current year you're filing in. One tip that's saved me headaches: print a draft of the entire AAR package before finalizing and walk through each partner's adjustments line by line. Make sure the total adjustments across all partners net to zero for each income type. CCH won't catch this automatically and it's a common rejection point with the IRS. Good luck with your first AAR - you're asking all the right questions!

This is incredibly helpful advice! I'm just starting out with partnership tax work and the spreadsheet tracking idea is brilliant. I can already see how that would prevent the calculation errors you mentioned. Quick question about the debt basis adjustments you brought up - in CCH Axcess, is there a specific screen or module where you can review these cascading effects, or do you have to calculate them manually outside the software? I'm working on a case where we have suspended losses that need to be reallocated along with the income adjustments, and I want to make sure I'm not missing anything. Also, when you mention keeping a log of the CCH workflow steps, do you mean screenshots of each screen, or more like written notes about which menus and options you selected? I'm trying to figure out the best way to document this process for future reference. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's exactly the kind of practical guidance that helps newcomers avoid costly mistakes!

For debt basis adjustments in CCH Axcess, there isn't a dedicated screen that shows the cascading effects automatically. You'll need to manually track these calculations, which is why that master spreadsheet Steven mentioned is so crucial. I usually create separate tabs for: (1) original allocations, (2) corrected allocations, (3) debt basis impacts, and (4) suspended loss adjustments. In CCH, you can find the partner debt basis information in the K-1 detail screens under "Partner's Capital Account Analysis" and "Partner's Share of Liabilities," but the software won't automatically recalculate how your income reallocations affect these numbers. You'll need to manually verify that partners still have adequate basis to absorb their corrected losses. For documentation, I do both - screenshots of key screens (especially the Form 8082 setup and final K-1 summaries) plus written notes about the menu path and any non-obvious settings. Something like: "Forms Menu > Partnership > Administrative Adj Request > Selected 'Income Reallocation' option > Entered adjustments in Part II, Lines 1-3." The debt basis piece is particularly tricky with AARs because you're essentially unwinding and redoing the basis calculations from the reviewed year. If you have complex suspended losses, you might want to consider getting a second review from someone experienced with partnership basis rules before filing.

Thank you so much for the print options tip! I'm completely new to partnership tax work and just started working on my first AAR case. This kind of practical advice is exactly what I need. I have a question about the multiple versions suggestion - when you save different versions in CCH Axcess, do you just use "Save As" with different filenames, or is there a version control feature built into the software? I want to make sure I'm protecting my work properly as I go through this process. Also, working backwards from the K-1s is a great idea. I've been getting confused trying to make sure all the numbers tie out between Form 8082 and the individual partner adjustments. Does CCH Axcess have any built-in reconciliation reports that show how the Form 8082 adjustments flow to each partner's K-1, or do you just compare them manually? This community has been incredibly welcoming and helpful for someone just starting out with these complex partnership issues!