<PAGE>   1
                                  UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q




(Mark one)
[X]      QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED,    MARCH 31, 1997
                               -----------------------

                                       OR

[ ]      TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ____________________ to ___________________

COMMISSION FILE NO. 33-13437

                          DEL TACO INCOME PROPERTIES IV
                        a California limited partnership
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                    CALIFORNIA                      33-0241855
          (State or other jurisdiction of         (I.R.S. Employer
          incorporation or organization)       Identification Number)

   23041 AVENIDA DE LA CARLOTA, LAGUNA HILLS, CALIFORNIA   92653
      (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)

                                 (714) 462-9300
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X]   No [ ]



<PAGE>   2
                                      INDEX

                          DEL TACO INCOME PROPERTIES IV




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                           PAGE NUMBER
------------------------------                                           -----------
<S>                                                                           <C>
Item 1.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Balance Sheets at March 31, 1997 (Unaudited) and
     December 31, 1996                                                        3

Statements of Income for the three months ended
     March 31, 1997 and 1996 (Unaudited)                                      4

Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended
     March 31, 1997 and 1996 (Unaudited)                                      5

Notes to Financial Statements                                                 6

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
         Financial Condition and Results of Operations                        8


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                     9


SIGNATURES                                                                   10
</TABLE>




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<PAGE>   3
                          DEL TACO INCOME PROPERTIES IV

                                 BALANCE SHEETS



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    MARCH 31        December 31
                                                      1997             1996
                                                  -----------       -----------
                                                  (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                               <C>               <C>        
                                     ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash                                            $    87,082       $    79,857
  Receivable from General Partner (Note 4)             23,472            51,558
  Deposits                                                400               400
                                                  -----------       -----------
    Total current assets                              110,954           131,815
                                                  -----------       -----------

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, AT COST:
  Land and improvements                             1,236,700         1,236,700
  Buildings and improvements                        1,289,860         1,289,860
  Machinery and equipment                             484,789           484,789
                                                  -----------       -----------
                                                    3,011,349         3,011,349
  Less--accumulated depreciation                      739,735           713,798
                                                  -----------       -----------
                                                    2,271,614         2,297,551
                                                  -----------       -----------

                                                  $ 2,382,568       $ 2,429,366
                                                  ===========       ===========


                        LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Payable to Limited Partners                     $     3,038       $     3,038
  Accounts Payable                                      3,688             3,000
                                                  -----------       -----------
    Total current liabilities                           6,726             6,038
                                                  -----------       -----------

OBLIGATION TO GENERAL PARTNER                         137,953           137,953
                                                  -----------       -----------

PARTNERS' EQUITY:
  Limited Partners                                  2,246,645         2,293,656
  General Partner-Del Taco, Inc.                       (8,756)           (8,281)
                                                  -----------       -----------
                                                    2,237,889         2,285,375
                                                  -----------       -----------

                                                  $ 2,382,568       $ 2,429,366
                                                  ===========       ===========
</TABLE>



                          The accompanying notes are an
                   integral part of these financial statements






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<PAGE>   4
                          DEL TACO INCOME PROPERTIES IV

                              STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                                   (UNAUDITED)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                               MARCH 31
                                                         1997             1996
                                                       -------           -------
<S>                                                    <C>               <C>    
REVENUES:
  Rent (Notes 3 and 4)                                 $65,548           $64,956
  Interest                                                 734               306
  Other                                                     50              --
                                                       -------           -------
                                                        66,332            65,262
                                                       -------           -------

EXPENSES:
  General and administrative                            19,092            19,877
  Depreciation                                          25,937            25,937
                                                       -------           -------
                                                        45,029            45,814
                                                       -------           -------

Net income                                             $21,303           $19,448
                                                       =======           =======

Net income per Limited
  Partnership Unit (Note 2)                            $   .13           $   .12
                                                       =======           =======
</TABLE>



                          The accompanying notes are an
                  integral part of these financial statements.





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<PAGE>   5
                          DEL TACO INCOME PROPERTIES IV

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                   (UNAUDITED)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                 MARCH 31
                                                            1997         1996
                                                          --------      --------
<S>                                                      <C>           <C>     
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

Net Income                                               $ 21,303      $ 19,448
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
  cash provided by operating activities:
    Depreciation                                           25,937        25,937
    Increase in payable to Limited Partner                   --             556
    Decrease (increase) in receivable
     from General Partner                                  28,086          (604)
    Increase in accounts payable                              688         8,100
                                                         --------      --------

      Net cash provided by operating activities            76,014        53,437

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 Cash distributions to partners                            68,789        66,100
                                                         --------      --------

Net increase (decrease) in cash                             7,225       (12,663)

Beginning cash balance                                     79,857        73,542
                                                         --------      --------

Ending cash balance                                      $ 87,082      $ 60,879
                                                         ========      ========
</TABLE>



                          The accompanying notes are an
                  integral part of these financial statements.





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<PAGE>   6
                          DEL TACO INCOME PROPERTIES IV

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                 MARCH 31, 1997


NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying financial statements, some of which are unaudited, have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim
financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of
Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and
footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete
financial statements and should therefore be read in conjunction with the
financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Registrant's annual
report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996. In the opinion of
management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary
to present fairly the partnership's financial position at March 31, 1997, the
results of operations and cash flows for the three month periods ended March 31,
1997 and 1996 have been included. Operating results for the three months ended
March 31, 1997 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be
expected for the year ending December 31, 1997.

NOTE 2 - NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNIT

Net income per Limited Partnership Unit is based upon the weighted average
number of Units outstanding during the periods presented which amounted to
165,415 in 1997 and 1996.

Pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, annual partnership income or loss is
allocated one percent to the General Partner and 99 percent to the Limited
Partners. Partnership gains from any sale or refinancing will be allocated one
percent to the General Partner and 99 percent to the Limited Partners until
allocated gains and profits equal losses, distributions and syndication costs,
and until each class of Limited Partners receive their priority return as
defined in the Partnership Agreement. Additional gains will be allocated 12
percent to the General Partner and 88 percent to the Limited Partners.






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<PAGE>   7
                          DEL TACO INCOME PROPERTIES IV

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED

                                 MARCH 31, 1997


NOTE 3 - LEASING ACTIVITIES

The Registrant leases (the "Leases") certain properties (the "Properties") for
operation of restaurants to Del Taco, Inc. ("General Partner") on a triple net
basis. The Leases are for terms of 32 years commencing with the completion of
the restaurant facility located on each Property and require monthly rentals
equal to 12 percent of the gross sales of the restaurants. There is no minimum
rental under any of the Leases. The Registrant had a total of three Properties
leased as of March 31, 1997 and 1996, one of which has been subleased to a Del
Taco franchisee.

NOTE 4 - TRANSACTIONS WITH DEL TACO

The receivable from the General Partner consists primarily of rent accrued for
the month of March. The March rent was collected on April 11, 1997.

Del Taco, Inc. serves in the capacity of general partner in other partnerships
which are engaged in the business of operating restaurants, and four
partnerships which were formed for the purpose of acquiring real property in
California for construction of Mexican-American restaurants for lease under
long-term agreements to Del Taco, Inc. for operation under the Del Taco trade
name.

In addition, see Note 5 with respect to certain distributions to the General
Partner.

NOTE 5 - DISTRIBUTIONS

On April 9, 1997, a distribution to the Limited Partners of $81,261 or
approximately $.49 per Limited Partnership Unit, was approved. Such distribution
was paid April 18, 1997. The General Partner also received a distribution of
$821 with respect to its 1% partnership interest.




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<PAGE>   8
ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
         RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Registrant commenced offering of Limited Partnership Units on June 5, 1987.
By June 1, 1988, the sale of such Units provided a total capitalization for the
Registrant of $4,135,375 including $1,000 attributable to the Special Limited
Partner. 14.5 percent of the cash received from the sale of Limited Partnership
Units was used to pay commissions to brokers and to reimburse the General
Partner for offering costs incurred. Approximately $3,000,000 of the remaining
funds were expended for the acquisition of sites and construction of three
restaurants. During 1989, the first restaurant opened for business. The two
additional restaurants commenced operation in 1990. In February 1992, the
Registrant distributed to Limited Partners of record on December 31, 1991
$442,270 of net proceeds not utilized as reserves and not invested in
properties.

Since the three restaurants owned by the Registrant opened, cash flow from Lease
payments received from Del Taco, the Registrant's General Partner, which leases
all three restaurants, has provided adequate liquidity for operation of the
Registrant. However, the Registrant's overwhelmingly predominant source of
income to meet its expenses and fund distributions to its Limited Partners is
payments from Del Taco under the Leases, comprising primarily rent calculated on
the basis of the gross sales of the restaurants operated on the Properties, as
to which there are no contractually specified minimum or guaranteed amounts.
Thus, the adequacy of the Registrant's liquidity and capital resources in the
future will depend primarily upon the gross revenues of such restaurants as well
as upon Del Taco's financial condition and results of operations generally.

Results of Operations

The Registrant owns three Properties that are under long-term lease to Del Taco
for restaurant operations (Del Taco, in turn, has sub-leased one of the
restaurants to a Del Taco franchisee). The Registrant receives rental revenues
equal to 12 percent of restaurant sales. The Registrant had rental revenue of
$65,548 for the three months ended March 31, 1997 representing an increase from
the rental revenues of $64,956 in 1996. Such increase is directly attributable
to increased sales at the restaurants during the three months ended March 31,
1997.





                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9
The following table sets forth the percentage relationship to total general and
administrative expenses of items included in the Registrant's Statements of
Income:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           Percentage of Total
                                                     General & Administrative Expense
                                                     --------------------------------
                                                            Three Months Ended
                                                                 March 31
                                                        1997                 1996
                                                       ------               ------
<S>                                                     <C>                  <C>   
Accounting fees                                         78.23%               78.23%
Distribution of
  information to
  Limited Partners                                      21.77                20.51
Other                                                      --                 1.26
                                                       ------               ------

                                                       100.00%              100.00%
                                                       ======               ======
</TABLE>

Operating expenses include general and administrative expenses which consist
primarily of accounting fees and costs of distribution of information to the
Limited Partners. For the three months ended March 31, general and
administrative expenses decreased from $19,877 in 1996 to $19,092 in 1997. The
Registrant incurred depreciation expense in the amount of $25,937 for the three
months ended March 31, 1997 and 1996.

As a result of increased revenues totaling $1,070 for the three months ended
March 31, 1997 and decreased expenses totaling $785 for the three months ended
March 31, 1997, the net income of the Registrant increased from $19,448 for the
three months ended March 31, 1996 to $21,303 for the corresponding period in
1997.

For the reasons stated under "Liquidity and Capital Resources" above, the
Registrant's results of operations in the future will depend primarily upon the
gross revenues of the restaurants located on the Properties leased to Del Taco
as well as upon Del Taco's financial condition and results of operations
generally.



PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(b) No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the three months ended March 31,
    1997.

27. Financial Data Schedule




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<PAGE>   10
                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                              DEL TACO INCOME PROPERTIES IV
                                              (a California limited partnership)
                                              Registrant

                                              Del Taco, Inc.
                                              General Partner



Date:  April 30, 1997                         /s/ Robert J. Terrano
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Robert J. Terrano
                                              Executive Vice President,
                                              Chief Financial Officer


Date:  April 30, 1997                         /s/ C. Douglas Mitchell
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              C. Douglas Mitchell
                                              Vice President and Corporate
                                              Controller





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