Why Do I Have a Form 8995 When I Don't Have a Business?
Receiving Form 8995, Qualified Business Income Deduction, even if you don’t operate a business, can be confusing. However, this form is not limited to business owners. It is used to calculate a deduction based on qualified business income (QBI) from pass-through entities, such as partnerships, S corporations, or sole proprietorships, even if you are not actively running a business yourself.
Who Can Use Form 8995?
Form 8995 is available to individuals, estates, and trusts who have:
- Qualified business income (QBI), qualified REIT dividends, or qualified publicly traded partnership (PTP) income or loss.
- Taxable income before the QBI deduction that is ≤ $394,600 if married filing jointly, or ≤ $197,300 for all other filing statuses.
- Are not a patron in a specified agricultural or horticultural cooperative.
Even if you don’t run a business, you may receive income from a pass-through entity (e.g., as a partner in a partnership or shareholder in an S corporation) and thus be eligible for the QBI deduction.
What Is Qualified Business Income (QBI)?
QBI includes income, gain, deduction, and loss from trades or businesses effectively connected with the U.S. This includes income from:
- Partnerships (excluding PTPs)
- S corporations
- Sole proprietorships
- Certain estates and trusts
Even if you are not actively involved in the business, you may still receive QBI through ownership interests in these entities.
When Is Form 8995 Required?
You must use Form 8995 if you meet the eligibility criteria and your taxable income is below the threshold. If your income exceeds the threshold, the deduction may be limited or phased out. The form helps calculate up to 20% of your net QBI, plus 20% of qualified REIT dividends and PTP income.
How to Add Form 8995 in OLT Software
If you are using Online Taxes (OLT) software to file your return:
- Go to the Federal section in your tax return.
- Under Deductions, click “Show more” near Qualified Business Income Deduction - Form 8995 / 8995-A.
- Click “Add or Edit” next to the deduction.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the form.
Important Notes
- S corporations and partnerships do not claim the deduction themselves but must provide necessary information to shareholders or partners via Schedule K-1.
- The QBI deduction is limited to 20% of your taxable income before the deduction.
- If you are an Electing Small Business Trust (ESBT), you must compute the QBI deduction separately for S and non-S portions.
Source:
Instructions for Form 8995
Disclaimer: Always verify details with official IRS forms and instructions or your state Department of Revenue. The information provided is based on retrieved context and may not reflect all current tax law changes.