Last reviewed: July 2026.
A loan from a partner is not the same as capital. It creates a liability of the partnership, while capital represents the partner's ownership interest. The distinction affects profit, interest, presentation and settlement priority.
The partnership agreement should specify the loan amount, interest rate, repayment terms and whether interest is payable when the business makes a loss.
Loan versus capital
| Feature | Partner loan | Partner capital |
|---|---|---|
| Financial position | Liability | Owner's equity |
| Return | Interest expense before profit appropriation | Interest on capital is an appropriation |
| Repayment | Based on loan terms | Normally subject to partnership agreement and solvency |
| Priority on dissolution | Paid as a creditor claim before final capital distribution | Settled after external liabilities and partner loans |
| Account | Separate loan account | Capital or current account |
Initial loan entry
A partner lends 100,000 CU to the partnership:
- Debit bank 100,000 CU
- Credit partner loan 100,000 CU
The transaction does not increase partnership profit.
Interest on partner loan
Interest on a genuine loan is charged in the income statement before partnership profit is appropriated.
If annual interest is 8% on 100,000 CU:
- Debit finance cost 8,000 CU
- Credit partner loan interest payable or partner current account 8,000 CU
Interest on capital is different
Interest on capital is a method of sharing profit and appears in the appropriation statement. It does not reduce profit before appropriation.
The profit appropriation guide explains the distinction.
Accrued interest
If interest is unpaid at year end, accrue the amount according to the loan agreement. Present it as part of the partner loan or a separate payable based on the reporting framework and materiality.
Do not omit interest merely because cash has not been paid.
Loan repayment
When 25,000 CU principal is repaid:
- Debit partner loan 25,000 CU
- Credit bank 25,000 CU
Repayment of principal is not an expense.
Interest payment
Payment of previously accrued interest reduces the payable:
- Debit interest payable or partner loan account
- Credit bank
Only the interest expense affects profit.
Loan by the partnership to a partner
If the business lends money to a partner, record a receivable or debit partner account rather than a partnership liability.
Assess recoverability, approval and whether the transaction is effectively drawings.
Current and non-current classification
Classification depends on the partnership's right to defer settlement under the applicable reporting requirements. A demand loan may be current even when the partner does not expect immediate repayment.
Review the written terms rather than relying on informal intentions.
Related-party disclosure
Partners can be related parties. Entities applying IAS 24 may need to disclose the relationship, transactions, balances, commitments and terms necessary to understand their effects.
Material loans should be transparent even when interest is at a market rate.
Below-market or interest-free loans
Full IFRS financial-instrument measurement can require present-value analysis for below-market loans. The difference may represent an ownership contribution or distribution depending on the facts.
Small educational partnerships often use simpler accounting, but professional reporting should apply the relevant framework.
Loan security and covenants
Document security, guarantees, repayment dates, subordination and breach consequences. These terms affect risk, classification and dissolution priority.
Effect on partnership profit
Loan interest reduces profit available for appropriation. Therefore, it changes every partner's residual profit share, not only the lender's account.
Review the broad sole trader versus partnership accounts guide.
Dissolution treatment
On dissolution, external creditors are paid first under applicable law, followed by partner loans before final capital balances are distributed.
The partnership dissolution guide explains the realisation process.
Loan introduced during the year
When a loan begins partway through the period, calculate interest from the advance date unless the agreement states otherwise. A full-year charge can materially overstate finance cost.
Capitalisation of interest
Interest on a partner loan is normally expensed. When the borrowing directly funds a qualifying asset and the reporting framework requires or permits capitalisation, apply the relevant borrowing-cost requirements rather than the partnership appropriation rules.
Set-off with drawings or current accounts
Do not offset a partner loan against a debit current account unless there is an enforceable right and an intention to settle net, or the partnership agreement and reporting framework support the treatment.
Interest withholding and tax
Local law may require withholding or tax reporting on interest paid to partners. Record gross interest expense, tax payable and net cash payment separately where required.
Loan modification
A change in rate, maturity or repayment terms may require remeasurement under the applicable financial-instrument framework. Document whether the change is an ownership contribution, distribution or ordinary liability modification.
Reconciliation controls
- keep signed loan agreements;
- reconcile opening, advances, interest, repayments and closing balance;
- confirm balances with the partner;
- separate loan and capital journals;
- review current/non-current classification;
- disclose related-party terms where required.
Common mistakes
- crediting partner capital instead of a loan liability;
- treating loan interest as an appropriation;
- expensing principal repayments;
- omitting accrued interest;
- assuming demand loans are non-current;
- failing to disclose related-party balances;
- mixing loans to partners with loans from partners.
Key takeaway
Record partner loans as liabilities, recognise interest before profit appropriation and keep loan balances separate from capital and current accounts.
Official references: ACCA accounting for partnerships, ACCA partnership accounts, and IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures.