GENERAL PARTNERSHIPS A general partnership is a business that is owned by two or more persons who associate to carry on the business of the partnership for profit. General partnerships have specific attributes, which are defined by Minn. Stat. Chapter 323A. The general rule is that in a general partnership all partners share equally in the right, and responsibility, to manage the business, and each partner is responsible for all the debts and obligations of the business. General partnerships that have elected limited liability partnership status operate much like general partnerships, but generally partners in limited liability partnerships are not personally liable for the wrongful acts of other partners or for the debts or obligations of the partnership. Regulatory Requirements From a regulatory standpoint, a partnership must obtain business licenses if necessary, obtain federal and state tax identification numbers and an unemployment insurance employer account number and will need to register the business name as an assumed name, unless the first and last name of each partner is included in the name of the partnership. Note that, as explained below, it is also strongly recommended that the partnership (no matter what type) draw up a written agreement addressing key issues like the allocation of management responsibilities, the distribution of profits and losses, and rights upon termination. The partnership agreement is not filed with the state, however. Issues commonly addressed in a partnership agreement are discussed in the next section. A list of business licenses required by the state of Minnesota appears in the section of this Guide titled “Directory of Licenses and Permits”. Procedures for registering the business name as an assumed name are discussed in the previous section of this Guide. Note that any partner of a general partnership that has elected limited liability partnership status, or professional limited liability partnership status, is jointly and severally liable for contributions or reimbursement, including interest, penalties and costs with respect to unemployment insurance benefits if the partnership, as an employer, fails to pay any amounts with respect to unemployment insurance benefits due to the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program. Although the partnership itself is not a taxable entity, it must file an annual federal and state “information” return with the Internal Revenue Service and the Minnesota Department of Revenue. For this reason, both federal and state tax identification numbers must be obtained by the partnership. A partnership that will be selling a product or service that is subject to sales tax also will need to register for purposes of Minnesota sales and use tax. A partnership that will hire employees, even if those employees are members of a partner’s family, must secure workers’ compensation insurance covering employees. These taxes and procedures for obtaining tax numbers are discussed in the section of this Guide on business taxes. Partnerships that will be hiring employees also should review the section of this Guide on issues for employers.
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