< Back to IRS

Emma Taylor

Never received a K-1 after partnership buyout - what should I do now?

So I was a partner at this healthcare consulting firm for about 6 years until we got acquired by one of those giant conglomerates in December 2022. I had actually left the company in August 2022 to pursue other opportunities, but I still had my ownership stake. When the acquisition finally closed in February 2023, I received a pretty hefty payout for my equity share (around $175k). The problem is, I'm now trying to finish my taxes for 2023, and I still haven't received the K-1 form that should show my share of partnership income from the sale. I've emailed the CFO twice and called the accounting department three times since mid-February, but keep getting vague responses like "we're working on it" or "the forms will be distributed soon." It's getting close to the filing deadline and I'm honestly starting to worry. Can I file without the K-1? Should I just estimate the numbers? I don't want to get in trouble with the IRS, but I also don't want to file an extension if I don't have to. Any advice would be seriously appreciated!

This is unfortunately pretty common with partnership transitions. The K-1 is essential since it reports your share of income, deductions, credits, etc. from the partnership. Without it, you're flying blind on some potentially significant numbers. Your best option right now is to file an extension using Form 4868. This gives you until October 15 to file, though you still need to pay any estimated taxes by the regular deadline. Based on your $175k payout, you'll want to make a reasonable estimate and pay that amount with your extension to avoid penalties. While waiting, document all your attempts to contact the company. Send a formal email specifically requesting the K-1 and mentioning the IRS requirements. Copy any higher-ups you may have relationships with. Sometimes escalating the issue can speed things up.

0 coins

Thanks for the advice. Do you have any tips on how to estimate what I might owe? I'm really unsure how much of that $175k would be considered capital gains vs ordinary income. Also, if I do get the K-1 after filing the extension but before October, can I just file right away or do I need to wait until October?

0 coins

For estimating what you owe, start with your purchase agreement or buyout documents. These usually indicate how the payment is structured. Generally, the sale of partnership interest is treated as capital gain, but there can be ordinary income components too (like unrealized receivables or inventory items). Without specific details, I'd suggest being conservative and estimating higher - perhaps treating 70% as long-term capital gains and 30% as ordinary income. You can absolutely file as soon as you receive the K-1 - no need to wait until October. The extension just gives you the extra time if needed, but filing earlier is always better once you have the correct information.

0 coins

I went through something similar last year when my startup got acquired and the K-1s were super delayed. I found this AI tax assistant at https://taxr.ai that helped me figure out what to do while waiting. It analyzed my buyout agreement and gave me estimates to use for my extension filing. The tool basically looked at my situation, asked me questions about the partnership agreement, and helped me understand which parts of my payout would likely be capital gains vs ordinary income. Really helped me sleep better knowing I wasn't just guessing randomly.

0 coins

CosmosCaptain

•

How accurate was it compared to when you finally got your K-1? I'm in a similar situation with a real estate partnership that's being really slow with paperwork and I'm getting nervous.

0 coins

I'm skeptical about using AI for something this important. Did it actually look at your specific agreement or just general guidelines? Because partnership buyouts can have really unique structures that affect tax treatment.

0 coins

For the accuracy question, it was surprisingly close. The AI estimated I'd have about 82% capital gains and 18% ordinary income, and when I finally got my K-1 two months later, it was actually 80/20. The dollar amounts were within about 5% of what the AI predicted. Regarding whether it looks at specific documents, yes it does. I uploaded my buyout agreement and operating agreement, and it extracted the specific terms relevant to tax treatment. It's not just generic advice - it focuses on your actual paperwork and asks targeted questions about your specific situation. The analysis showed me exactly which clauses in my agreement determined the tax treatment.

0 coins

CosmosCaptain

•

Just wanted to update that I tried the taxr.ai service mentioned above for my missing K-1 situation. It completely saved me from a panic spiral! I uploaded my partnership agreement, answered some questions about my buyout terms, and it gave me a detailed breakdown of how my payout would likely be treated for tax purposes. I used those numbers to file my extension and pay the estimated amount. My accountant was actually impressed with how thorough the analysis was. Def worth checking out if you're in K-1 limbo like I was!

0 coins

Omar Fawzi

•

I had a similar issue last year waiting for K-1s from a hedge fund investment. After weeks of trying to reach someone, I used https://claimyr.com to get through to the IRS to ask what my options were. They connected me with an agent in like 20 minutes when I had been waiting on hold forever before. The IRS agent actually gave me some leverage - told me exactly what to say to the fund administrators about their legal obligations for distributing K-1s. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Sometimes having the IRS backing you up makes these companies move a lot faster with paperwork!

0 coins

Chloe Wilson

•

Wait, this actually works? I thought it was impossible to get through to the IRS these days. How exactly does the service connect you? Do they just have some special phone number or something?

0 coins

This sounds too good to be true. The IRS never answers their phones - I've tried calling about my missing 1099-R for weeks. How would this service magically get through when nobody else can? And why would they even care about your K-1 problem?

0 coins

Omar Fawzi

•

It absolutely works. They don't have a special number - they use technology to navigate the IRS phone system and wait in the queue for you. When an agent is about to pick up, they call you and connect you. It's basically like having someone wait on hold so you don't have to. The IRS cares about K-1 issues because partnerships have specific filing requirements with penalties. When I explained my situation, the agent walked me through my rights as a partner to receive the form and gave me specific regulation references I could cite when contacting the partnership again. They can't force the partnership to send it, but they provided valuable guidance on how to handle the situation and what my options were for filing correctly.

0 coins

Ok I have to eat my words. After seeing the Claimyr comments, I tried it this morning out of desperation with my missing 1099-R situation. I was honestly shocked when my phone rang 45 mins later with an actual IRS agent on the line! I explained about both my missing 1099-R and asked about K-1 issues since I'm dealing with that too, and the agent was super helpful. They explained the proper procedures for reporting income without the forms and gave me specific guidance for my situation. Saved me hours of hold music and probably an extension too. Never thought I'd say this, but talking to the IRS actually solved my problem!

0 coins

Diego Mendoza

•

Another option besides extension - you can file Form 8082 (Notice of Inconsistent Treatment) with your return. This lets you file without the K-1 by explaining that you haven't received it and reporting your best estimate of income/deductions. You'll still need to make a reasonable estimate based on whatever docs you have from the buyout. Just be aware that filing 8082 might increase your audit risk a bit. But at least your return is in and you've properly disclosed the situation.

0 coins

Emma Taylor

•

Thanks for mentioning Form 8082 - I hadn't heard of this before. Would this be better than filing an extension in my case? I do have the purchase agreement which breaks down how the $175k is categorized, but I'm not 100% confident in my understanding of all the tax implications.

0 coins

Diego Mendoza

•

I generally recommend the extension route first if you have time before the deadline, especially with a significant amount like $175k. Form 8082 is most useful when you absolutely need to file on time and have no other option. Given that you have the purchase agreement with some breakdown, you're in a better position than many, but partnership tax treatment can be complex. If the agreement clearly states how much is for capital gains vs ordinary income, you might be able to use 8082 effectively. But if there's any uncertainty, the extension gives you breathing room to either get the actual K-1 or consult with a tax professional who specializes in partnership transactions.

0 coins

My 2 cents - DEFINITELY call the partner who you were closest with at the old firm. I was in literally the exact same situation (left a firm before acquisition but had equity) and the accounting dept kept giving me the runaround. Finally called my old boss directly and had the K-1 in my inbox that same day. sometimes the personal connection is what gets things moving!

0 coins

StellarSurfer

•

This is actually good advice. Companies prioritize K-1s for active partners first and sometimes former partners get put on the backburner. I'd even suggest offering to sign an NDA if they're concerned about sharing financial info with someone who's left.

0 coins

Yara Sayegh

•

I'm dealing with a similar K-1 delay from a real estate partnership dissolution. One thing that helped me was sending a certified letter to the company's registered agent (you can find this info through your state's Secretary of State website). Sometimes the formality of certified mail gets attention when emails and calls don't. Also, check your original partnership agreement - there's usually a clause about timely distribution of tax documents with specific deadlines. You can reference this in your communications to add some legal weight to your request. In my case, the agreement specified K-1s must be distributed by March 15th, which gave me leverage when following up. If you do end up filing an extension, make sure to keep detailed records of all your attempts to get the K-1. The IRS is generally understanding about delays caused by partnerships, especially if you can show you made good faith efforts to obtain the necessary documents.

0 coins

Sydney Torres

•

The certified letter approach is brilliant - I never would have thought of that! I'm definitely going to try this if my regular follow-ups don't work. Quick question though - when you reference the partnership agreement clause about K-1 distribution deadlines, did you find that most companies actually have these specific timelines written in? I'm wondering if I should dig through my old paperwork to see if there's something similar I can point to.

0 coins

Ava Thompson

•

I've been through this exact scenario with a partnership buyout and delayed K-1s. Here's what worked for me: First, check if your state has any specific requirements for K-1 distribution timing - some states are stricter than the federal requirements. Second, if you have any contact with the acquiring company (not just the old firm), reach out to them too since they may have taken over the tax reporting obligations. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple timeline document showing all my communication attempts with dates, names, and responses. This not only helped me stay organized but also demonstrated my good faith efforts when I eventually had to file an extension. Also, don't underestimate the power of LinkedIn - I found the new CFO of the acquiring company through LinkedIn and sent a polite message explaining my situation. Sometimes fresh eyes on the problem from someone who wasn't involved in the original delays can get things moving quickly. The extension route is definitely your safest bet at this point, but keep pushing for that K-1 because having the actual numbers will save you from potential complications later.

0 coins

The LinkedIn approach is really smart! I hadn't considered reaching out to the acquiring company directly - I've been so focused on trying to get responses from the old firm. You make a great point that they might have taken over the tax obligations. I'm definitely going to create that timeline document you mentioned too. I've been keeping some emails but not in an organized way, and having everything laid out chronologically would probably help if I need to escalate this further or explain the situation to the IRS. Quick question - when you reached out via LinkedIn, did you mention specific deadlines or just explain the general situation? I'm wondering if I should reference the April 15th filing deadline to add some urgency to my message.

0 coins

Justin Evans

•

I'm going through almost the identical situation right now with a tech startup acquisition from last year. The anxiety is real when you're sitting on a significant payout without the proper documentation! One approach that's worked for me is escalating through multiple channels simultaneously. I sent emails to the CFO, called the accounting department, AND reached out to the company's external CPA firm (if you can find out who they use). Sometimes the external accountants are actually the ones preparing the K-1s and can give you a more realistic timeline. Also, if you're comfortable with it, consider mentioning in your communications that you're prepared to file Form 4868 for an extension but would prefer to file on time with accurate information. This shows you understand the process and aren't just panicking, which sometimes gets better responses from busy accounting departments. The $175k amount definitely warrants being proactive about this - you don't want to guess wrong on something that substantial. Document everything and keep pushing while preparing for the extension as your backup plan.

0 coins

Jamal Carter

•

This is really solid advice about hitting multiple channels at once. I'm in a similar boat but with a smaller amount ($45k from a consulting partnership buyout). The external CPA firm angle is something I hadn't considered - do you have any tips on how to find out who their accountants are? Also, I like your point about mentioning the Form 4868 in communications. It shows you're not just sitting around waiting but actually understand the process and have a backup plan. Did you find that mentioning specific forms and deadlines got you taken more seriously by the accounting departments?

0 coins

Gabriel Ruiz

•

You can usually find the external CPA firm info in a few ways - check the company's recent 10-K filings if they're public (search for "independent registered public accounting firm"), look at their annual reports, or sometimes it's mentioned on their website under investor relations. For smaller firms, you might find it in their operating agreement or ask former colleagues who might know. And yes, absolutely! Using specific tax terminology definitely got me taken more seriously. When I mentioned Form 4868, estimated tax payments, and referenced IRC Section 706 deadlines, the responses became much more professional and detailed. It showed I wasn't just a random person complaining but someone who understood the tax implications and compliance requirements. The accounting team started giving me actual timelines instead of vague "we're working on it" responses.

0 coins

Liv Park

•

I'm dealing with a similar K-1 delay situation right now, and reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I wanted to add one more strategy that worked for me recently - if your old firm was using any partnership management software like QuickBooks or similar platforms, sometimes the K-1s get generated automatically but just sit in a queue waiting for manual review and distribution. When I called my former partnership's accounting department, I specifically asked if the K-1s had been generated but not yet distributed. Turns out they had been sitting in their system for weeks - the accountant just needed to hit "send" but was waiting for some final review that kept getting delayed. Once I asked that specific question, they were able to email me the draft version the same day while they finished their final review process. Also, for anyone considering the AI tax tools mentioned above - I'd recommend double-checking any estimates with a CPA if your payout is substantial like Emma's $175k. The stakes are pretty high with that amount, and while AI can be helpful for initial estimates, having a professional review before filing could save you from costly mistakes or audit issues down the road. The extension route really seems like the safest bet here, especially this close to the deadline. Better to file correctly in October than guess wrong in April!

0 coins

Great point about asking specifically if the K-1s have already been generated! That's such a simple question that could save weeks of waiting. I'm definitely going to try that approach when I follow up tomorrow. Your advice about double-checking AI estimates with a CPA is spot-on too, especially for larger amounts. While the AI tools sound promising based on what others have shared, $175k is definitely in the territory where you want human expertise to review everything before submitting. The peace of mind alone would be worth the CPA consultation fee. I'm curious - when you got the draft K-1 while they finished their review, did the final version end up being significantly different? Just wondering if using draft numbers for an extension estimate would be reasonably safe or if there tend to be material changes during their final review process.

0 coins

IRS AI

Expert Assistant
Secure

Powered by Claimyr AI

T
I
+
20,087 users helped today