Drake Tax - Exporting Forms K-1 from 1065, 1120-S or 1041
Article #: 12095
Last Updated: April 07, 2026
Benefits
You can export from business returns to other return types, as applicable. This feature saves a substantial amount of data entry in a partner, shareholder, or beneficiary return.
Watch the video K1 Export for a demonstration.
Limitations and Notes
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You can only export a K-1 between returns within the same year of Drake Tax.
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An S corp can only have shareholders that are individuals or trusts, thus an 1120-S can only export a K-1 to a 1040 or 1041 return.
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Basis information for individual partners or shareholders should be entered in the 1040 return in Drake Tax, using the Basis Worksheet links on the K1P or K1S screen.
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This information cannot be exported from the 1065 or 1120-S return to a 1040 return. Such an import would override limitations and carryovers calculated in the 1040 program.
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The basis information that is tracked in the 1065 or 1120-S return is inside basis only. Outside basis must be used in the 1040 return in order to apply basis limitations correctly and track carryovers.
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See Drake Tax - Basis, At-Risk, and Passive Activity Limits for more information about basis.
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When you export K-1 information, amounts for the state do not export. State K-1 information must be manually entered on the respective federal or state K-1 screen.
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When you complete the export, Section 179 information shown on K1_QBI, is carried to the K199 screen in the 1040 return.
Process
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Make sure K1 data is entered in the 1065, 1120-S, or 1041 (source return). Also make sure you have created the partner, shareholder, or beneficiary file (target return) to which you intend to export.
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View the 1065, 1120-S, or 1041, whichever applies.
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In View/Print mode, click the K1 Export button on the toolbar.
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If there are partners, shareholders, or beneficiaries whose return does not exist in the software, a list of SSNs that cannot be exported may appear. You can exit the export process and create any missing target returns, or click Next to proceed to a list of SSNs that can be exported.
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To export the selected SSNs, click Export.
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Look for a confirmation that the export was successful.
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Review the K1P, K1S, or K1F screen in the target return to ensure that the export is complete and accurate.
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Enter basis information, as needed.
Troubleshooting
Where the target of the export is an SSN that is the secondary taxpayer in a joint return and also the primary taxpayer in a single return, the export may go to the joint return.
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If the software confirms that the export was successful, but you don’t see it in a 1040 where you expect it, check for a secondary taxpayer in a joint return that duplicates the single taxpayer’s SSN.
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In this event, the spouse’s SSN in the joint return must be changed or removed for the K-1 to go to the individual return.
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You can use Report Manager to search for a spouse’s SSN (Spouse ID).
If the export is not successful, or the program closes without exporting the K-1:
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Ensure that Drake Tax is up to date.
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Go to Setup > Options > Calculation & View/Print, uncheck Auto-calculate tax return when exiting data entry > OK.
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Some users have reported display issues when a K1 is exported to a 1040 where there are two names entered in the Last Name field on the K1 screen in the business return. Ensure that there is a hyphen between the two last names (or temporarily remove the space). Be sure to calculate before attempting the export again.
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If the problem persists, contact Drake Software Support at (828) 524-8020 for assistance and a possible repair installation of your software.
If the K1 export fails or is missing data:
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Delete the exported K1 screen in the target return.
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Open the K1P, K1S, or K1F screen and press Ctrl + D.
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Re-calculate the source return (1065, 1120-S, 1041).
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Repeat steps 1-8 above.