T5013 partnership return: filing requirements and due dates

Published Friday 2 October 2026

Table of contents

• What is a T5013 partnership information return?
• What is a partnership?
• Who needs to file a T5013?
• Filing deadlines for different partner types
• Completing the T5013 partnership information form
• Common T5013 slip boxes and where the amounts go
• Simplify partnership tax filing with Xero
• FAQs on T5013 partnership information returns

Key takeaways

• A T5013 partnership information return reports a partnership’s income and how it’s split among partners, because the partnership itself doesn’t pay income tax.
• You must file if your partnership passes the revenue, expense, or asset thresholds, or takes part in activities like allocating losses to limited partners.
• Filing deadlines depend on whether your partners are individuals, corporations, or a mix, so confirm your partner types early.
• Each numbered box on a T5013 slip maps to a specific line on your personal or corporate return, so match every amount to the right line before filing.

What is a T5013 partnership information return?

A T5013 partnership information return is the tax form that reports a partnership’s income, expenses, and how those amounts are split among the partners. The CRA relies on it to check that each partner reports their share correctly on a personal or corporate return.

Partnerships don’t pay income tax themselves. The income flows through to the individual partners, who report it on their own returns, and the T5013 gives the CRA a full picture of the partnership’s finances.

Under Section 229(1) of the Income Tax Regulations, many Canadian partnerships must file this return every year, including those that carry on business in Canada.

Individual partners complete the T1 income tax and benefit return for the previous tax year, while corporations complete the T2 corporation income tax return. To claim partnership expenses, individual members can file the Employee and Partner GST/HST Rebate Application (form GST370).

If your partnership operates in Quebec, you may need to report your share of business income or losses on a provincial form, even though partnerships aren’t taxed in Quebec. Some partnerships are exempt from filing.

What is a partnership?

A partnership is a business structure where two or more individuals or entities share ownership and run a business together. Each partner contributes to the business and shares in its profits, losses, and responsibilities.

Partners usually bring something different to the table.

• Capital: funding or financial resources
• Labour: running day-to-day operations and management
• Assets: equipment, property, or specialized expertise

A written partnership agreement should set out how you split profits and losses, make decisions, and manage contributions. It also fixes each partner’s share for T5013 reporting.

Partnerships can earn business income from several sources, and you calculate the profit or loss for each source separately.

• the operations of the business
• commissions
• investments
• rental property
• other sources, such as farming, fishing, and interest income

Types of partnerships

Canada recognizes three main partnership structures, each with different liability and filing requirements. Registration rules vary by province and territory, so review the steps for registering your business early, and note that a partnership differs from a sole proprietorship, which has just one owner.

• General partnership (GP): formed with an oral or written agreement; registration depends on provincial or territorial law; partners are generally jointly liable for partnership debts
• Limited partnership (LP): combines general partners who manage the business with limited partners who only contribute capital; limited partners’ liability is capped at their contribution; registration is required under provincial or territorial law
• Limited liability partnership (LLP): shields partners from certain liabilities, so they aren’t personally responsible for business debts or another partner’s mistakes; filing changes if a corporation or trust is a partner

Who needs to file a T5013?

Your partnership must file a T5013 if it meets any one of the following financial criteria. Even below these thresholds, certain activities make filing mandatory.

• Over $2 million in combined revenue and expenses: add the absolute value of total worldwide revenues and expenses to test this threshold, as set out in the CRA T4068 partnership return guide.
• More than $5 million in worldwide assets: use the original cost of all tangible and intangible assets, before depreciation.
• Farming exception: partnerships that report only farming income are exempt from these two thresholds.

Certain activities require filing even when your partnership falls below the thresholds above.

• allocating losses to limited partners
• including a non-resident partner
• making distributions to partners
• claiming resource-related deductions

Filing deadlines for different partner types

Your T5013 filing deadline depends on who your partners are, as set out in Section 229(1) of the Income Tax Regulations. Missing it can lead to penalties, so confirm your partnership type early.

• All individual partners: file by March 31 of the year following the calendar year in which your fiscal period ended.
• Mixed individual and corporate partners: file by the earlier of March 31 or five months after your fiscal year end.
• All corporate partners: file within five months after your fiscal period ends.

Completing the T5013 partnership information form

Filing a T5013 takes four documents, starting with the T5013 FIN Partnership Financial Return, that together show the CRA your partnership’s finances and how income is shared among partners. An accountant can help you complete them accurately and meet your deadlines.

• T5013 FIN: the Partnership Financial Return, a four-page document capturing partnership identification and details
• T5013 schedules: detailed financial breakdowns based on your activities
• T5013 slips: individual allocation details, one per partner
• T5013SUM: a summary that consolidates all partner slips into partnership-wide totals

1. Complete the T5013 FIN

The T5013 FIN is a four-page Partnership Financial Return that establishes your partnership’s identity. It forms the foundation for every other filing document.

• Page 1, partnership identification: business name and address, partnership type and structure, and your 15-character RZ program account number
• Page 2, required attachments: a checklist of schedules to include, questions to determine applicable forms, and guidance for completing attachments
• Pages 3–4, operational details: partnership operations, tax-related data, and financial details and calculations

2. Fill out and attach the T5013 schedules

Schedules provide the detailed financial breakdowns that support your main T5013 return. Which ones you need depends on your partnership’s activities.

• schedule 1, for the partnership’s net income or loss for income tax purposes
• schedule 50, for each partner’s ownership and account activity, including a limited partner’s at-risk amount
• schedule 100, for balance sheet information
• schedule 125, for the income statement

Common T5013 slip boxes and where the amounts go

Each partner’s T5013 slip reports their allocated amounts in numbered boxes. The box number tells you which line of your personal (T1) or corporate return each amount belongs on, following the CRA’s instructions for recipients, and tax software such as TaxCycle can map each box to the right line for you.

• Box 105, limited partner’s at-risk amount: the CRA uses it to cap the losses and credits a limited partner can claim. It’s a reference figure, not an amount you enter on your return.
• Box 106, limited partner’s adjusted at-risk amount: the CRA uses it to reconcile the reported amounts against the at-risk limit.
• Box 107, limited partner’s rental income or loss: goes to amount 7 of Form T776, with the income reported on line 12600 of your T1 return.
• Box 113, return of capital: the capital, including drawings, returned from a limited partnership. Use it to reduce the adjusted cost base of your partnership interest instead of reporting it as income.
• Box 116, business income or loss: your share of net business income; active partners report it on line 13500 of the T1 return through Form T2125, while limited or non-active partners use line 12200.
• Box 117, gross Canadian and foreign rental income: reported on line 12599 of your T1 return.
• Box 118, gross business income or loss: the gross figure that supports the net business income shown in box 116.
• Box 146, other investment income: reported on line 12100 of your T1 return.

Box numbers group amounts by income type, whether business, rental, investment, or capital. A slip can carry many other boxes depending on the partnership’s activities, so match each box to the correct line using the CRA slip instructions or tax software before you file your personal or corporate tax return.

Simplify partnership tax filing with Xero

Xero keeps your partnership’s income, expenses, and reports in one place, so preparing your T5013 and tracking each partner’s share takes far less work. Clear, real-time reports make it easier to stay on top of small business tax obligations and hit your filing deadlines. You can try Xero and get one month free to see how it fits the way your partnership works.

FAQs on T5013 partnership information returns

Here are quick answers to common questions about filing a T5013 partnership information return.

Who must file a T5013 partnership information return?

You must file if your partnership tops $2 million in combined revenue and expenses, holds over $5 million in assets, or runs activities like allocating losses to limited partners or including a non-resident partner. Filing late or skipping the return can trigger CRA penalties.

When is the T5013 filing deadline?

It depends on your partners: March 31 if they’re all individuals, or within five months of your fiscal period end if any are corporations. With a mix of both, use whichever of those dates comes first.

What’s the difference between a T5013 slip and a T5013 return?

The return covers the partnership’s overall finances, while the slip shows one partner’s share of income, deductions, and credits. Each partner gets their own slip to file with their personal or corporate return.

Do partnerships pay income tax in Canada?

No, partnerships don’t pay income tax. The income flows through to the partners, who report and pay tax on their share, which is why accurate T5013 allocations matter.

What do the numbered boxes on a T5013 slip mean?

Each numbered box identifies a specific allocated amount, such as business income in box 116 or rental income in box 107, and points to the matching line on your return. Follow the CRA slip instructions to place each amount correctly.