Multiple K-1's

[austin3515]

Plan has two entities adopt the Plan. Both entities operate fast food restaraunts. The ownership is similar in both plans, and is considered a controlled group after attribution. One has a modest profit and the other has a modest loss. Is it safe to assume that each different entity represents its own "trade or business"? What concerns me is that thye are both fast food restaraunts that are therefore in the same business (they are even operating the same franchise). Is this one "trade or business"? Does the fact that it's a controlled group make it "one trade or business"?

If they are "separate trades or businesses" my interpretation (and apparently the EOB's) are that I can ignore the losses based on the following site. My interpretation is tha tthis holds even both adopt the same plan (they could, after all, have created two plans and there should be no dispute at all).

From 401(d):

A trust forming part of a pension or profit-sharing plan which provides contributions or benefits for employees some or all of whom are owner-employees shall constitute a qualified trust under this section only if, in addition to meeting the requirements of subsection (a), the plan provides that contributions on behalf of any owner-employee may be made only with respect to the earned income of such owner-employee which is derived from the trade or business with respect to which such plan is established.