Which of the following translates to a partner's capital account being less than zero?

A partner's capital account reflecting a balance less than zero signifies that the partner has drawn more from the partnership than their share of the equity, indicating a negative capital account. This situation can result from various factors, such as financial losses that reduce the equity in the account or excess distributions that surpass the partner's investment in the partnership.

In this context, a negative capital account balance explicitly denotes that the partner owes the partnership money, often indicating financial strain or that they have taken distributions without retaining corresponding equity in the partnership. This understanding is crucial for managing partnership finances and maintaining the balance between the partners' contributions and distributions.

Other factors, like a loss in partnership income, excess distributions, or increases in partnership liabilities, can influence the capital accounts but are not direct indicators of a capital account balance being less than zero. A loss may reduce the capital, but it doesn't automatically lead to a negative balance; similarly, excess distributions or increases in liabilities can contribute to a negative balance but must be analyzed in conjunction with the total equity available to the partner. Thus, identifying a negative capital account balance directly aligns with option B.