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    How to Force Schedules L, M-1 and M-2 to Print in UltraTax CS

    UltraTax omits Schedules L, M-1 and M-2 for an S corporation when total receipts and year end assets are both under $250,000. For every client, use Setup, 1120 Corporation, Federal tab, Other Return Options, Return Presentation tab and mark the Schedule L and Schedule M-1/M-2 checkboxes. For one client, mark Complete Schedule when not required on Screen L and Screen Mc in the Balance folder.

    1. Decide the scope
    2. For all clients, open Return Presentation
    3. For one client, use the Balance folder
    4. Expect the per client box to be greyed out
    5. Check Screen Ms for a suppression
    Where it is in UltraTax CS
    1. Setup
    2. 1120 Corporation
    3. Federal tab
    4. Other Return Options
    5. Return Presentation tab
    Where each trial balance account is entered in UltraTax CS and which return line it reaches
    Trial balance accountUltraTax CS screen and fieldLands on
    All clientsReturn Presentation tab, Schedule L and Schedule M-1/M-2Schedules print regardless of thresholds
    One clientScreen L and Screen Mc, Complete Schedule when not requiredSchedules print for this client
    Schedule M-2 suppressed (1120-S)Screen Ms, Suppress printing of Schedule M-2Schedule M-2 hidden
    S corporation thresholdReceipts and year end assets both under $250,000Schedules L, M-1 and M-2 omitted
    Account names vary by client. The screens and the return lines do not.

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    How to Force Schedules L, M-1 and M-2 to Print in UltraTax CS on a trial balance

    A working trial balance extract. Totals tie, and the row this page is about is highlighted.
    Acct #AccountDebitCredit
    1000Cash42,800.00
    1200Accounts receivable68,500.00
    1300Inventory (the account this page is about)55,000.00
    1500Equipment145,000.00
    1510Accumulated depreciation47,500.00
    2000Accounts payable28,400.00
    2100Accrued expenses9,200.00
    2400Notes payable92,000.00
    2450Due to shareholder15,000.00
    3000Common stock10,000.00
    3900Retained earnings86,300.00
    3950Shareholder distributions52,000.00
    4000Gross receipts612,000.00
    5000Cost of goods sold318,000.00
    6000Salaries and wages88,000.00
    6050Officer compensation72,000.00
    6300Depreciation expense21,500.00
    6900Other operating expenses37,600.00
    Total900,400.00900,400.00
    A working trial balance extract. Totals tie, and the row this page is about is highlighted.

    Why they vanish

    For an S corporation, UltraTax does not complete Schedule L when total receipts for the year and year end assets are both under $250,000, and the same threshold applies to Schedules M-1 and M-2. The return is complete without them.

    So a small client return that prints with no balance sheet is not a bug, and chasing it as one wastes an afternoon.

    Two settings, two scopes

    Every client. Setup, 1120 Corporation, Federal tab, Other Return Options, Return Presentation tab. Mark the Schedule L and Schedule M-1/M-2 checkboxes and the schedules are completed regardless of receipts and year end assets. The Schedule L option covers 1120-S clients as well.

    One client. In the Balance folder, mark the Complete Schedule when not required checkbox on Screen L and on Screen Mc.

    If the per client checkbox is greyed out, the global option is already set, which is the answer rather than a problem.

    Check for a suppression before blaming the threshold

    On an 1120-S, Screen Ms in the Balance Sheet folder has a Suppress printing of Schedule M-2 field. A missing M-2 on a client well above the threshold usually means that field is set, often inherited from a prior year file.

    Worth checking first, because it takes ten seconds and the threshold explanation does not apply to a client with $2 million of receipts.

    One caution about a field written for partnerships

    The Meet all requirements for Question 4 (Force) code in the OthInfo screen is documented for Form 1065, not the 1120-S. Reaching for it on an S corporation return because the name sounds right is a reliable way to spend time on the wrong setting.

    Force them on small clients anyway

    The schedules are where balance sheet and equity errors surface. A beginning balance error is cheapest to find in the year it arises, the M-2 roll forward is the fastest check that distributions and income were handled properly, and a client who crosses the threshold next year will need the prior year figures to be right.

    Tax return treatment

    Where this account is reported on each business return
    FormLine
    Form 1120Schedules L, M-1 and M-2, page 5
    Form 1120SSchedules L, M-1 and M-2, page 4

    Common questions

    Why are Schedules L, M-1 and M-2 not printing in UltraTax CS?

    For an S corporation, UltraTax omits them when total receipts and year end assets are both under $250,000. The return is still complete. On an 1120-S also check Screen Ms for the Suppress printing of Schedule M-2 setting.

    How do I force the schedules for every client?

    Setup, 1120 Corporation, Federal tab, Other Return Options, Return Presentation tab, and mark the Schedule L and Schedule M-1/M-2 checkboxes. The schedules are then completed regardless of the receipts and assets thresholds, including for 1120-S clients.

    How do I force them for a single client?

    In the Balance folder, mark the Complete Schedule when not required checkbox on Screen L and Screen Mc. If that checkbox is greyed out, the global Return Presentation option is already set.

    Is the Question 4 force field the right setting for an 1120-S?

    No. The Meet all requirements for Question 4 (Force) code in the OthInfo screen is documented for Form 1065 partnerships, not S corporations, so it is not the control for the 1120-S schedules.

    Related answers

    Go deeper

    This page is the short answer. These articles work through the same ground in detail.

    Last reviewed October 17, 2026.

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