15919: QBI Deduction - Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any videos about QBI?

• Yes:
  • Calculating QBI for K-1 Income
  • Calculating QBI for Schedule C income
  • Calculating QBI for Schedule E Income

In what return type is the QBI deduction figured?

• Generally, a QBI deduction is figured in an individual return (1040). Some trusts (other than grantor trusts) may allow for a QBI Deduction at the trust level. See the Final Regulations for details.

The QBI deduction is available for income from what types of businesses?

• Qualifying taxpayers include those with a domestic business operated as a sole proprietorship or income received through a partnership (as a partner), S corporation (as a shareholder), or from a trust or estate (as a beneficiary). It also includes farms and certain rental properties that rise to the level of a trade or business.

What do I do if the K1 doesn’t have any information for the QBI codes?

• If the taxpayer gets a K-1 that does not have any info in the new K1 codes, but you believe it should be a qualifying trade or business, the taxpayer should request a corrected K-1 from the partnership, s-corp, or fiduciary. If the QBI info is not recorded in the codes, the IRS will assume it is not a qualifying business, so the taxpayer will not be allowed to take the deduction from the pass-through entity.

How do I enter QBI information for a K1P from a Publicly Traded Partnership (PTP) on a 1040 return? 

• Starting in Drake19,
  • Enter the box 20 QBI information on the K199 screen on the Adjustments tab (hyperlink available on the K1P screen).
    
  • Choose K1P in the For box.
  • Enter the appropriate Multi-form Code in the MFC box. This is a required field. A number must be entered, even if there is only one K1P on the return screen, or a red message about a missing required field will be generated. 
  • Check the box Publicly Traded Partnership.
  • Review Form 8995 in view mode. 
• In Drake18, enter the amount for box 20AD on the K1P screen > 1065 K1 13-20 tab > Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction section at the bottom right. When the K1 is from a PTP, do not use the K199 screen to enter any information as this will result in EF message 1352. 

What should be entered in the Section 199A W-2 wages field in an individual (1040) return? 

• This amount gets passed through to the partner on the K1. Enter only the amount shown on the K1 for Section 199A W2 Wages.
• Note that the entry is on the applicable K1P, K1S, or K1F screen in Drake18. All QBI entries are located on the K199 screen starting in Drake19. 

How do I enter QBI information in a 1040 when a K-1 has multiple amounts for QBI income?

• Starting in Drake19:
  • Enter the first set of QBI amounts into the K199 screen. Be sure to select the respective K1 screen in the For drop down menu.
  • Enter the appropriate multi-form code in the MFC box to indicate to which K1P, K1S, or K1F screen the K199 screen applies. This is a required field. A number must be entered, even if there is only one K1 screen, or a red message about a missing required field will be generated. 
  • Then press Page Down for a new screen and enter the second set of QBI amounts. Again, be sure to select the respective screen in the “For” drop down menu.
  • You can repeat the Page Down process as many times as needed.
• In Drake18:  
  • Do not enter QBI information on the respective K1P/K1S/K1F screens.
  • Instead enter the first set of QBI amounts into the K199 screen. Be sure to select the respective screen in the For drop down menu.
  • Then press Page Down for a new screen and enter the second set of QBI amounts. Again, be sure to select the respective screen in the “For” drop down menu.
  • You can repeat the Page Down process as many times as needed.

Where can I see calculations for QBI and the QBI deduction?

• Starting in Drake19, review Form 8995 and any QBI Explanation worksheets.  
• In Drake18, review the QBI Simple Wks in view mode for limitations and calculation breakdown.
• Wks CARRY will show an amount for QBI loss carryover, which is used to compute the next year's QBI deduction, even if the loss is allowed in the current year. 

Are the thresholds for calculating the QBI deduction based on the amount of business income?

• No, the thresholds are based on the taxable income before any QBI deduction. In other words, the AGI minus the standard or itemized deduction amount:
  • In Drake20, Form 1040, line 11 minus line 12. This is the amount shown on Form 8995, line 11 and the calculation is displayed at the bottom of the 8995 for your reference.
  • In Drake19, Form 1040, line 8b minus line 9. This is the amount shown on Form 8995, line 11 and the calculation is displayed at the bottom of the 8995 for your reference.  
  • In Drake18, Form 1040, line 7 minus line 8.

What happens to the QBI deduction for a qualified business when qualified business income is between the thresholds?

• The limits (W2 and capital limits) are phased-in to determine the allowed deduction. Ranges are indicated by filing status. See the instructions for details.

What limitations affect the QBI deduction for a qualified business when income is in the phase-out range or over the threshold?

•  Limitations include W-2 wage and capital property limits (UBIA). 

What is a specified service trade or business (SSTB)?

• See QBI Deduction - Specified Service Trade or Business (SSTB) in Related Links below for details about SSTBs and the QBI deduction.

What if there is no qualified business income or loss?

• If there is no income, there is no deduction allowed for the current year.
• If there is a business loss it is carried over to the next year.  The carryover amount can be entered on the 8995 screen in the following year's software.  

How is qualifying business income calculated when there are multiple businesses? What is the BAN field for? 

• See QBI Deduction - Business Aggregation in Related Links below. 

Does the business code on Schedule C affect the QBI Deduction? 

• No, business codes do not determine or limit the availability of the qualified business income deduction.
• If the business should be treated as a "specified service trade or business (SSTB)" check the box on the C screen Treat as a "specified service business" and then review Wks QBI Simple to see if the deduction is still allowed. Some specified service businesses are still eligible for QBI. 

Does the Clergy selection on the Schedule C screen affect the QBI deduction? 

• No, the Clergy drop box is an indicator that the business if for a member of the clergy; it does not impact QBI.
• If the clergy Schedule C should not have QBI calculated, enter a zero in the Override calculated qualified income (or loss) field to indicate that the activity is not a trade or business and should not qualify for QBI deduction calculations. 

How do I indicate that a Schedule C or F is considered to be a trade or business? 

• In Drake Tax, entries on the C or F screens are generally considered to be related to a qualified trade or business venture. There is no checkbox to indicate whether the income or loss should be included in the calculation for QBI; it will be included by default.
• If you determine that the Schedule C or Schedule F activity is not a trade or business, enter a zero 0 in the Override Calculated Qualified Business Income (or loss) field on the C or F screen. This will eliminate the QBI calculation for that activity. 

How do I indicate that a Schedule E or Form 4835 is considered to be a trade or business? 

• You must select whether or not the activity is considered to be a trade or business by indicating Yes or No in the drop list This activity is a trade or business in the QBI section of the screen. This entry is required to be made on each instance of screen E or 4835. If this is selected Yes, any income or loss from the activity will be included in the calculation of QBI deduction on the return. 
• Note: If you select that the activity is a trade or business, you cannot change this selection in future years, unless facts and circumstances change. 

Watch the video Calculating QBI for Schedule E Income for a demonstration. 

Are W2 wages for Section 199A allocated based on shareholder percentage or officer salary in a S-corp return (1120S)? 

• See ​QBI Deduction - W2 Wage Allocation 1120S in Related Links below. 
  

Are deductions such as self-employment tax, the self-employed health insurance deduction, and SEP or Simple contributions taken into account when figuring the Qualified Business Income or Loss? 

• Yes, the final regulations for QBI, page 44, state that:
  • "Thus, for purposes of section 199A, deductions such as the deductible portion of the tax on self-employment income under section 164(f), the self-employed health insurance deduction under section 162(l), and the deduction for contributions to qualified retirement plans under section 404 are considered attributable to a trade or business to the extent that the individual’s gross income from the trade or business is taken into account in calculating the allowable deduction, on a proportionate basis."  

In Drake19, if the income is subject to SE tax, the taxpayer (spouse) is taking a self-employed health insurance deduction, or they have SEP or Simple Contributions, this subtraction from ordinary business income will be shown on the QBI Explanation worksheet (lines 9, 10, 11, as applicable) and the QBI amount is carried to Form 8995 to calculate the QBI Deduction. 

QBI Explanation: 

Form 8995: 

• Starting in Drake19, overrides are available on the C and F screens, if needed. 

In Drake18, if the income is subject to SE tax, the taxpayer (spouse) is taking a self-employed health insurance deduction, or they have SEP or Simple Contributions, and the QBI Simple Wks is being used, this subtraction from the QBI will be shown as a separate line item before the QBI Deduction is calculated: 

The IRS provides more information in their Section 199A FAQs and Notice 2018-64.