Audit/Accounting

• Be sure that all of the adjusting journal entries from the prior year audit have been made.
• Pay special attention to updating balance sheet accounts that might not have monthly activity during the year. For example: prepaid rent, related party advances, interest payable, developer fee payable, fixed assets, and accumulated depreciation accounts.
• Sounds simple however…Reconcile all bank accounts.
• Scrutinize any repairs made to property or equipment during the year to ensure the amount was properly capitalized or expensed. The depreciation/repair regulations have changed over the past few years. One item that is important is a written policy related to expensing of repairs. It is critical to have the policy in place to take advantage of favorable tax treatment.
• Create a list of fixed assets that were disposed of during the year including the date of disposal and any proceeds received.
• If there is any unpaid developer fee amounts outstanding, review the agreements for any requirements that may need to be met for final payment to be made.
• If there are related party payables, create and maintain a list of what makes up these amounts.
• Be sure that your audit firm has the most up to date copies of any agreements and any amendments to agreements.

Partnerships with a Property Under Construction or Placed in Service During the Year

• Record all equity payments received. Review all requirements for future equity payments and develop a plan that will help in meeting those requirements as quickly as possible.
• If there is a tax credit adjuster written into your partnership agreement, talk to your accountant about analyzing the effect of the adjusters.
• If there was a cost certification performed during the current year, be sure to reconcile the cost certification amount to your books.
• If your state housing finance agency requires an “Operating” and “Non-Operating” cash flow, be sure to account for development cash activity separately from operating cash activity.
• If development and operating transactions are being accounted for in separate general ledgers, be sure to combine the ledgers into one trial balance for year end.

Tax Preparation

• The Federal partnership filing deadline is March 15, 2017 for partnerships with a December 31, 2016 year-end.
• Report any change in ownership to your tax preparer. Check into step-up considerations for partner death or transfers.
• For a partnership receiving any IRS Forms 8609 during the year, properly complete Part II and provide to your tax preparer for their review prior to filing with the IRS clearinghouse and state housing finance agency.
• For partnerships with low or negative capital accounts, work with your tax preparer to ensure that there will not be any credits reallocated away from the investor. Complete minimum gain worksheet if applicable.
• At the end of the tax year, did any entity or individual have, directly or indirectly, an ownership interest of 50% or more in the partnership? If so, details will need to be provided to your tax preparer.
• At the end of the tax year, did the partnership own 20% or more directly of the stock of a corporation or interest in another partnership; or did the partnership own 50% or more, directly or indirectly, of the stock of a corporation or interest in another partnership? If so, details will need to be provided to your tax preparer.

McKonly & Asbury is a leader in auditing and tax preparation for affordable housing partnerships. State housing finance agency and IRS regulations require specialized knowledge when performing audits and preparing tax returns for affordable housing partnerships. The Affordable Housing Team at McKonly & Asbury has the audit and tax expertise and experience needed to complete accurate and efficient audits and tax returns. For more information, please contact our Affordable Housing Team at [email protected]