U.S. · Tax forms
K-1 (1041) box 12 AMT adjustment.
Code A is the total. Codes B to I are the parts that feed Form 6251, and J is for the credit.
Box 12 of a Schedule K-1 (Form 1041) reports alternative minimum tax (AMT) items. Code A is your adjustment for minimum tax purposes and is the total amount that goes on Form 6251, line 2j. Codes B to F are parts of that total (qualified dividends, short-term gain, long-term gain, unrecaptured section 1250 gain and 28% rate gain), while G to I are accelerated depreciation, depletion and amortization. Code J, exclusion items, helps you figure the minimum tax credit on Form 8801 for 2026.
Look up a code
Result
Box 12 codes (2025 K-1)
| Box / code | Meaning | What it does and where it goes (per the IRS instructions) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 A | Adjustment for minimum tax purposes | The total amount reported on Form 6251, line 2j. Codes B through F are the portion, if any, of this amount. |
| 12 B | AMT adjustment attributable to qualified dividends | Part of the code A amount. See the instructions for lines 13, 14 and 15 of Form 6251. |
| 12 C | AMT adjustment attributable to net short-term capital gain | Part of the code A amount. See the instructions for lines 13, 14 and 15 of Form 6251. |
| 12 D | AMT adjustment attributable to net long-term capital gain | Part of the code A amount. See the instructions for lines 13, 14 and 15 of Form 6251. |
| 12 E | AMT adjustment attributable to unrecaptured section 1250 gain | Part of the code A amount. See the instructions for lines 13, 14 and 15 of Form 6251. |
| 12 F | AMT adjustment attributable to 28% rate gain | Part of the code A amount. See the instructions for lines 13, 14 and 15 of Form 6251. |
| 12 G | Accelerated depreciation | Include the amount on the applicable line of Form 6251. |
| 12 H | Depletion | Include the amount on the applicable line of Form 6251. |
| 12 I | Amortization | Include the amount on the applicable line of Form 6251. |
| 12 J | Exclusion items | If you pay AMT in 2025, this amount helps you figure any minimum tax credit for 2026 on Form 8801 (2026). |
Reading box 12 without double counting
The instructions say the information in box 12, codes A through I, is used to prepare your Form 6251. The key point is that code A is the total: it is the amount that goes on line 2j. Codes B through F represent the part of that amount that comes from specific kinds of gain, so they are not added to code A again. If any of codes B to F has an amount, the instructions send you to the instructions for lines 13, 14 and 15 of Form 6251.
Codes G through I are different. You include those amounts on the applicable line of Form 6251, so they are not simply folded into a single number.
Worked example (illustrative numbers)
Priya receives a K-1 with box 12 code A of $2,000 and code D of $700. The $2,000 is what goes on Form 6251, line 2j. The $700 is the part of it that comes from long-term capital gain; the instructions for lines 13, 14 and 15 of Form 6251 apply to it. It does not make the total $2,700. Whether Priya actually owes AMT depends on her whole return, and Form 6251 decides that.
Code J and the minimum tax credit
Code J reports exclusion items. If you pay AMT in 2025, that amount helps you figure a minimum tax credit for 2026 on Form 8801, Credit for Prior Year Minimum Tax - Individuals, Estates, and Trusts. If you do not pay AMT, there is no credit to figure from it.
Limits of this page
The form’s code list names the codes and the instructions name the destination lines, but whether AMT applies to you depends on your whole return. The AMT exemption calculator shows the exemption amounts. Related boxes: box 11 and box 14.
Sources
- Instructions for Schedule K-1 (Form 1041) for a Beneficiary Filing Form 1040 or 1040-SR (2025): Box 12 (Alternative Minimum Tax Items), Codes B through F, Codes G through I and Code J. Read November 2, 2026.
- Schedule K-1 (Form 1041) for 2025, page 2 code list: Page 2 code list for box 12, codes A to J. Read November 2, 2026.
IRS instruction pages last reviewed April 30, 2026. Form and line references are those printed in the 2025 forms and instructions and can change.
Frequently asked questions
What is box 12 on a Schedule K-1 (Form 1041)?
It reports alternative minimum tax (AMT) items that you use to prepare Form 6251.
Where does box 12 code A go?
Code A, the adjustment for minimum tax purposes, is the total amount reported on Form 6251, line 2j.
Do I add codes B to F to code A?
No. Codes B through F represent the portion, if any, of the amount included in code A. If you have an amount with code B, C, D, E or F, see the instructions for lines 13, 14 and 15 of Form 6251.
What is box 12 code J?
Code J reports exclusion items. If you pay AMT in 2025, it helps you figure any minimum tax credit for 2026 on Form 8801.
Do I have to pay AMT because box 12 has an amount?
Not necessarily. The amounts feed Form 6251, and your whole return determines whether any alternative minimum tax is due.
Not tax advice
This page summarizes IRS instructions, mostly written for the people who prepare the form, and is not tax, legal or financial advice. The estate, trust or corporation that issued the K-1, a CPA or an enrolled agent can confirm what a box or code means for your return. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.