LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeCorporations CodeGENERAL PROVISIONSCh. 5Art. 4§ 16401 Partner Account Credits Charges

§ 16401 Partner Account Credits Charges

Corporations Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 16401 Partner Account Credits Charges

This law says each partner has a personal account that tracks what they put into the partnership, what they get out, and their share of profits or losses. Partners share profits equally, share losses in the same proportion, and the partnership must pay them back for expenses or advances.

Example

Two friends, Alex and Sam, start a coffee shop partnership. Each puts in $10,000 cash and a $5,000 espresso machine. At the end of the year the shop makes $12,000 profit and decides to give Alex a $4,000 cash distribution.

The law tells us how to calculate Alex’s account: add Alex’s contribution (cash + equipment) minus any debts, then add Alex’s equal share of the profit. When Alex gets the $4,000 distribution, the law tells us to subtract that amount (plus any loss share) from Alex’s account. The partnership also has to reimburse Alex for any money he spent for the shop.

How to Calculate

Credit = (Contribution Money + Value of Other Property – Liabilities) + Partner’s Share of Profits Charge = (Distribution Money + Value of Other Property – Liabilities) + Partner’s Share of Losses

  1. Find what the partner put into the partnership (cash + value of any property).
  2. Subtract any liabilities that came with that contribution.
  3. Add the partner’s share of the partnership’s profits (for a credit) or losses (for a charge).
  4. For a distribution, do the same math but start with the money or property the partnership gave the partner.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 16401 Partner Account Credits Charges

(a) Each partner is deemed to have an account that is subject to both of the following: (1) Credited with an amount equal to the money plus the value of any other property, net of the amount of any liabilities, the partner contributes to the partnership and the partner’s share of the partnership profits. (2) Subject to Sections 16306 and 16957, charged with an amount equal to the money plus the value of any other property, net of the amount of any liabilities, distributed by the partnership to the partner and the partner’s share of the partnership losses. (b) Each partner is entitled to an equal share of the partnership profits and, subject to Sections 16306 and 16957, is chargeable with a share of the partnership losses in proportion to the partner’s share of the profits. (c) A partnership shall reimburse a partner for payments made and indemnify a partner for liabilities incurred by the partner in the ordinary course of the business of the partnership or for the preservation of its business or property. (d) A partnership shall reimburse a partner for an advance to the partnership beyond the amount of capital the partner agreed to contribute. (e) A payment or advance made by a partner that gives rise to a partnership obligation under subdivision (c) or (d) constitutes a loan to the partnership that accrues interest from the date of the payment or advance. (f) Each partner has equal rights in the management and conduct of the partnership business. (g) A partner may use or possess partnership property only on behalf of the partnership. (h) A partner is not entitled to remuneration for services performed for the partnership, except for reasonable compensation for services rendered in winding up the business of the partnership. (i) A person may become a partner only with the consent of all of the partners. (j) A difference arising as to a matter in the ordinary course of business of a partnership may be decided by a majority of the partners. An act outside the ordinary course of business of a partnership and an amendment to the partnership agreement may be undertaken only with the consent of all of the partners. (k) This section does not affect the obligations of a partnership to other persons under Section 16301. (Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1003, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

partnerpartnership profitspartnership lossesmanagement and conduct of the partnership business

Related Statutes

  • § 16402 Partner Distribution In Kind
  • § 16301 Partner Authority Binding Partnership
  • § 16307 Partnership Suits And Judgments
  • § 16403 Partnership Books Access
  • § 16404 Partner Fiduciary Duties

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 16401.
View Official Source