Source: http://spotidoc.com/doc/38269/tax-provisions-of-partnership-and-llc-agreements--learnin.
Timestamp: 2020-02-27 20:59:31
Document Index: 777648084

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 1', '§1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§1', '§ 301', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§704', '§734', '§743', '§734', '§3']

Tax Provisions of Partnership and LLC Agreements: Learning to American Bar Association
Tax Provisions of Partnership and
LLC Agreements: Learning to
Read and Write Again
Understand the partners and their tax characteristics.
Learn the general economics/business deal (e.g., capital
commitments, preferred versus common interests,
compensatory interests, distributions (including tax
distributions), special partners, etc.).
Create an everyday working relationship, therefore needs to
be cooperative in addition to adversarial.
Review the Cash Flow and
Terms of preferred interests.
Operating versus liquidating distributions.
Capital calls and partner loans.
Distribution-based preferred.
Liquidate with cash waterfall.
Preferred return typically paid even if there is no net profit.
Section 704(b) allocation-based preferred.
Liquidate with section 704(b) capital accounts.
Not part of profit and loss allocation section.
Separate section generally referencing section 707(c) and
providing specific interest like return to preferred partner.
Many agreements contain minimum distributions to a partner
to ensure that it has sufficient funds to satisfy taxes relating to
its share of partnership income.
Typically documented as an advance on the partner’s rights
under the more general distribution provisions. Sometimes
distributions are treated as a loan to the partner.
Generally equal to share of net income multiplied by
maximum applicable rate for type of income.
Variables: Actual versus assumed rates, partners subject to
different tax rates, losses followed by profits, quarterly versus
annual distributions.
This section may be the key to learning whether the agreement
intends to follow the regulatory book allocation safe harbors.
An agreement likely follows safe harbors if, after paying creditors
and setting up reserves, the agreement distributes the remaining
proceeds according to the partners’ positive capital accounts.
If the agreement instead liquidates with a cash waterfall, then the
agreement must rely on a more limited tax safe harbor to get
comfort that the IRS will respect the income and loss allocations (the
partners would receive the same economic distributions as had they
liquidated in accordance with each partner’s capital account).
This would occur, for example, in a simple 50-50 partnership where all
capital is contributed equally and all profits, losses, and distributions are
Be Aware of the Tax Ramifications
of Entry and Operations
If built-in gain or loss property is contributed, understand and
Disguised sale potential.
Built-in gain/loss allocations.
Will special allocations be respected for tax purposes?
Will income cause problems for certain partners?
Unrelated business taxable income for tax-exempt partners?
Effectively connected income or FIRPTA ramifications for foreign
Elections and Audits
Elections: Agreement should address how partnership-level
tax elections are made. The two main elections unique to
partnerships relate to section 754 inside basis adjustments
and section 704(c) allocations of built-in gains or losses
Audits: Tax Matters Partner (TMP) generally represents the
partnership before the IRS and in federal civil tax litigation and
is required to keep the other partners informed. Generally,
the TMP must be a manager and member.
Although the identity and authority of the TMP may sound
boring, it is often a critical question when later controversy arises
and the details are often overlooked in the drafting process.
Accounting, Books, and Records
Typical items included in this section are:
annual and quarterly reporting of financial information to the
who prepares the tax returns and what is the deadline for
providing this information to the partners, and
who will serve as the TMP, and its specific authority.
REIT Partners
Where one of the members is a REIT, it will seek to impose
the following types of restrictions on the joint venture’s
operations in order to ensure compliance with the REIT
Real estate asset holding and income limitations;
No prohibited transactions (e.g., condo sales);
Limitations on loans (mezz debt or secured by real property);
Limitations on leases (related party and personal property
Arm’s-length transactions with REIT owners.
Tax-exempt entities are generally subject to the unrelated business income
tax for investment returns funded with “acquisition debt.” However, there is
a Real Estate Financing Exception for “qualified organizations” that use
specific types of debt to acquire or improve real property.
To meet the Real Estate Financing Exception, qualified organizations who
invest through a partnership must meet the Fractions Rule.
To be Fractions Rule compliant, partnership allocations must satisfy the
following two requirements on actual and prospective basis:
Safe harbor allocations: The most significant economic factor in satisfying
these rules is that the partnership liquidate with positive capital accounts in lieu
of a cash waterfall.
Disproportionate allocation rule: A qualified organization’s share of overall
income for any year cannot exceed its lowest share of overall loss for any year.
Partnerships are required to withhold taxes on a foreign
investor’s share of real estate income because special
“FIRPTA” rules treat the partner’s income from real estate as
subject to U.S. taxation even if the income is not otherwise
subject to U.S. tax.
A partnership agreement typically treats this withholding as a
partner distribution or loan.
Certain partners may be subject to reduced withholding, but
the partnership should require the partner to provide specific
documentation to the partnership to receive the reduced rate.
Example 1: Capital
Property contribution; income
Facts: A contributes Building with $100 gross fair market
value, subject to $30 of debt. In year one the partnership
allocates $10 of section 704(b) book income to A and
distributes $4 of cash to A.
Increase by net FMV of +$70
Increase by income
Tax Allocations – sections 704(b)
and 704(c)
How taxable income and loss are shared among the partners.
Most of the allocation language relates to the economic/book
allocations and in general taxable income will follow these
book allocations.
If a partner contributed an asset with built-in appreciation or
depreciation, special rules require that such built-in tax gain or
loss is allocated back to the contributing partner.
Tax Allocations – section 704(b)
Partnership agreements typically break the book allocations
down into two sections.
The primary allocation section describes the general business
deal, such as allocating profits in accordance with relative
capital or profit percentages (i.e., “Percentage Interests”).
The second section (regulatory allocations) overrides the first
section and is designed to comply with the book income tax
regulatory safe harbors.
The tax allocations will not be respected if the agreement liquidates with a
waterfall and the partners’ economic rights under the waterfall are different
from their rights based on their capital accounts.
The taxable income or loss will be re-allocated so that the capital accounts and
the waterfall rights are consistent.
Example - tax allocations send all $100 of section 704(b) income to Partner
A and none to Partner B. A’s capital account increases by all $100 and B’s
capital account remains constant. If the waterfall provides that the cash
corresponding to that profit is shared $50 each by A and B, then the IRS will
not respect the tax allocation and will reallocate $50 of income to B.
To avoid inconsistencies between tax allocations and the partners’ rights
under the waterfall, many partnership agreements simply use a Target
allocation (allocates book income or loss among the partners using a
formula that causes the partners’ capital accounts to equal the amounts the
partners would receive under the waterfall).
Tax Allocations – section 704(c)
“Section 704(c)” generally requires the partnership to allocate
built-in gain or loss back to the contributing partner.
Partnership agreements typically include only a single
paragraph to cover these allocations and often simply repeat
the general statutory requirement that tax allocations take into
account a partner’s potential built-in tax gain or loss on
For many partnerships (including many real estate
partnerships), this provision is highly negotiated and includes
much more detail relating to which of several alternative
methods is chosen to allocate non-economic taxable income
LP and GP contribute $90 and $10, respectively.
Cash is paid first to return contributed capital plus a 10% annual
Cash paid 80:20 to LP and GP, respectively.
The partnership earns $20 of income in year one.
Waterfall & Target Allocation
A typical target allocation provision would allocate the $20 of year one earnings
to “fill up” the LP and GP opening capital accounts ($90 and $10, respectively)
to equal their Target rights under the Waterfall ($107 and $13, respectively).
Example 3: 704(c) Basics
Facts: Partner A contributes property with a tax basis of
$20 and a value of $100 and the partnership sells the
property for $110.
704(c) effect: The partnership must allocate the first $80 of
tax gain to Partner A because that represents the inherent
built-in gain.
later sells
Built-in Gain/Loss Boilerplate
Section 704(c) Allocations. In accordance with Section 704(c) of the
Code and the Regulations thereunder, income, gain, loss and deduction
with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Partnership
shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the Partners under any
reasonable method selected by the General Partner so as to take account
of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the
Partnership for federal income tax purposes and its initial Book Value.
If the Book Value of any Partnership asset is adjusted pursuant to clause (c)
or (d) of the definition thereof, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss
and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation
between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes
and its Book Value in the same manner as under Section 704(c) of the
Code and the Regulations thereunder. Any elections or other decisions
relating to such allocations shall be made by the General Partner in a
manner that reasonably reflects the purpose and intention of this
Agreement. Allocations pursuant to this section are solely for purposes of
federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken
into account in computing, any Partner’s Capital Account or share of Profits,
Losses, other items or distributions pursuant to any provision of this
Example 4: Partnership
A and B each contribute $100 to a 50-50 partnership and
have no obligation to restore negative capital accounts. The
partnership borrows $800 from an unrelated lender on a
nonrecourse basis using an interest-only loan and buys
Building for $1,000. The partnership depreciates Building by
$100 a year. After the third year, the partnership has
depreciated the initial $1,000 of section 704(b) basis in
Building down to $700.
Computation of Minimum Gain
Section 704(b) Nonrecourse
Capital Accounts, Minimum Gain,
and Adjusted Capital Accounts
What Does The Tax Boilerplate
A. Boilerplate Provisions – Capital Accounts
“Capital Account” shall mean, with respect to any Partner, the capital account
on the books of the Partnership which shall initially be zero and which shall be
maintained in accordance with the following provisions:
To each Partner’s Capital Account there shall be credited the aggregate amount
of cash and initial Book Value of any property contributed by such Partner to the
Partnership, such Partner’s distributive share of Profits and any items in the nature of
income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to Article ___ and the amount of any
Partnership liabilities assumed by such Partner or which are secured by any Partnership
property distributed to such Partner.
To each Partner’s Capital Account there shall be debited the amount of cash and
the Book Value of any Partnership property distributed to such Partner pursuant to any
provision of this Agreement or deemed distributed pursuant to Section ___, such Partner’s
distributive share of Losses and any items in the nature of expenses or losses which are
specially allocated pursuant to Article ___, and the amount of any liabilities of such Partner
assumed by the Partnership or which are secured by any property contributed by such
Partner to the Partnership.
If any interest in the Partnership is transferred in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor
to the extent it relates to the transferred interest.
In determining the amount of any liability for purposes of determining Capital
Account balances hereof, there shall be taken into account Section 752(c) of the
Code and any other applicable provisions of the Code and Regulations.
The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the
maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Section 1.704-1(b) of
the Regulations, and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with
“Depreciation” shall mean, for each Partnership Year, an
amount equal to the depreciation, amortization or other cost
recovery deduction allowable with respect to an asset for such
year, except that if the Book Value of an asset differs from its
adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the
beginning of such year, Depreciation shall be an amount
which bears the same ratio to such beginning Book Value
as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or
other cost recovery deduction for such year bears to
such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided, however, that
if the adjusted tax basis of such property is zero, Depreciation
shall be determined with reference to such beginning Book
Value using any reasonable method selected by the General
Example 5: Depreciation
Facts: Partner A contributes a depreciable property to
partnership. The property is five-year recovery property
purchased two years ago having a current value of $600 and
a remaining tax basis of $300.
Results: Book depreciation and tax depreciation will differ
because the book value of $600 at the time of contribution
differs from the tax basis of $300 at that time.
Depreciation: Results
With three years remaining to depreciate the second property
for tax purposes, tax depreciation will equal 1/3 of the
remaining tax basis for each of the next three years (or $100
each year). Book depreciation, therefore, also will equal 1/3
of the book basis for each of the next three years (or $200
Remaining Tax Life
“Book Value” shall mean, with respect to any asset, the asset’s
adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, except as follows:
(a) the initial Book Value of any asset contributed by a Partner to the Partnership
shall be the gross fair market value of such asset at the time of such
contribution as determined in good faith by the General Partner;
(b) the Book Values of all Partnership assets may, in the sole discretion of the
General Partner, be adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market
values, as reasonably determined by the General Partner, as of the following
times: (i) the acquisition of an additional interest in the Partnership by any new
or existing Partner in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution;
(ii) the distribution by the Partnership to a Partner of more than a de minimis
amount of Partnership property as consideration for an interest in the
Partnership; and (iii) the liquidation of the Partnership within the meaning of
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Regulations or as otherwise provided in the
the Book Value of any Partnership asset distributed to any Partner shall
be the gross fair market value of such asset on the date of distribution, as
reasonably determined by the General Partner; and
the Book Values of Partnership assets shall be increased (or decreased) to
reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to
Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code, but only to the extent that such
adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts
pursuant to Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) of the Regulations and Article ___;
provided, however, that Book Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this
clause (d) to the extent the General Partner determines that an adjustment
pursuant to clause (b) above is necessary or appropriate in connection
with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to
this clause (d).
If the Book Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted
pursuant to clause (a), (b) or (d) above, such Book Value shall
thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account
with respect to such asset for purposes of computing Profits and
Example 6: Book Value
Partner A contributes nondepreciable property with a fair
market value of $500 and a tax basis of $200 to a partnership.
Under these facts, the initial Book Value of the contributed
property will equal $500.
At a time when the property has increased in value to $800,
the partnership “books-up” its assets pursuant to Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f).
Book Value: Results
The partnership is treated as if it sold the contributed asset for
an amount equal to its fair market value (that is, $800) at the
time of the book-up. The resulting $300 in book gain ($800
new Book Value minus $500 initial Book Value) is treated as
an item of profit in determining overall partnership profit or
Going forward, the property will remain on the books of the
partnership with an $800 book value until it is adjusted again
or disposed of. If the property is depreciable, the partnership
would reduce its Book Value of $800 by book depreciation
taken on the asset pursuant to a Depreciation definition
included in the partnership agreement.
“Profits” and “Losses” shall mean, for each Partnership year (or portion
thereof), an amount equal to the Partnership’s taxable income or loss
for such year (or portion thereof), determined in accordance with Section
703(a) of the Code (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss or
deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Section 703(a)(1) of
the Code shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following
(a) any income of the Partnership that is exempt from federal income tax and not
otherwise taken into account in computing taxable income or loss shall be added to
(b) any expenditures of the Partnership described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code
or treated as such expenditures pursuant to Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i) of the
Regulations, and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses shall
(c) if the Book Value of any Partnership asset is adjusted pursuant to clause (b) or clause
(d) of the definition of Book Value herein, the amount of such adjustment shall be
taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for purposes of
computing Profits or Losses;
Profit and Loss - Continued
gain or loss resulting from any disposition of Partnership property with
respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall
be computed by reference to the Book Value of the property disposed of,
notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such property differs from its Book
in lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions
taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken
into account Depreciation for such Partnership Year or other period, computed in
accordance with the definition of Depreciation herein; and
notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, any items of income, gain, loss or
deduction which are specially allocated pursuant to Section ___ shall not be
taken into account in computing Profits or Losses.
B. Boilerplate Provisions – Regulatory Allocations
Loss Limitation Provision
Gross Income Allocation
Nonrecourse Debt Definitions
Partner Minimum Gain Chargeback
Curative/Subsequent Allocations
Built-in gain or loss boilerplate
Loss Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
this Section ___, the amount of items of Partnership expense
and loss allocated pursuant to this Section ___ to any Partner
shall not exceed the maximum amount of such items that
can be so allocated without causing such Partner to have
an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit (or increasing such a
deficit) at the end of any Partnership Year (as determined
taking into account the expected items described in Section
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations). All such items in
excess of the limitation set forth in this section shall be
allocated first to Partners who would not have an Adjusted
Capital Account Deficit, pro rata, until no Partner would be
entitled to any further allocation, and thereafter to the General
Example 7: Loss Limitation
Partner A contributes $100 to a real estate partnership while
Partner B contributes $10. The partners agree to divide
losses on an equal basis, and the partnership incurs a $30
loss in the first year. The partnership has no liabilities, and
the partnership agreement does not contain a DRO for either
Loss Limitation Provision:
The partnership can allocate only $10 (instead of $15) of the
$30 loss to Partner B because of the loss limitation provision.
The $5 that cannot be allocated to Partner B must instead be
allocated to Partner A.
Before Loss Limit
“Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” shall mean, with respect
to any Partner, the deficit balance, if any, in such Partner’s
Capital Account, as of the end of the relevant Partnership
Year, after giving effect to the following adjustments: (a)
credit to such Capital Account any amounts which such
Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of
this Agreement or is deemed to be obligated to restore
pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Sections 1.7042(g)(1) and (i)(5) of the Regulations; and (b) debit to such
Capital Account the items described in Sections 1.7041(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6) of the Regulations. The foregoing
definition of “Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” is intended to
comply with the provisions of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of
the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently
Example 8: Adjusted Capital
Partner A and Partner B each contribute $50 to a 50-50
partnership that borrows an additional $900 on a nonrecourse
basis to acquire a building. After a number of years of
operations, the partners have collectively received losses of
$500, $400 of which qualifies as nonrecourse deductions
carrying with them shares of minimum gain.
Both Partner A and Partner B will have negative capital accounts of
($200) ($50 in initial capital less $250 in allocated losses). Their
“adjusted” capital accounts for purposes of the Adjusted Capital
Account Deficit definition, however, will each equal $0 (negative
capital account of ($200) plus $200 share of minimum gain). As a
result, even though both partners will have negative capital
accounts, none of the $250 in losses allocated to each of them will
create Adjusted Capital Account Deficits.
Gross Income Allocation. In the event a Member has a
deficit Capital Account at the end of any Allocation Year
which is in excess of the sum of: (i) the amount such
Member is obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate
sentences of Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and
1.704-2(i)(5), each such Member shall be specially
allocated items of income and gain in the amount of such
excess as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation
pursuant to this section shall be made only if and to the extent
that such Member would have a deficit Capital Account in
excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in
this Article have been made as if this section was not in the
“Nonrecourse Liability” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 1.704-2(b)(3) of the Regulations.
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt” shall have the meaning set
forth for the term “partner nonrecourse debt’ in Section 1.7042(b)(4) of the Regulations.
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” shall have the
meaning set forth for the term “partner nonrecourse debt
minimum gain” in Section 1.704-2(i)(2) of the Regulations.
“Partnership Minimum Gain” shall have the meaning set
forth for the term “partnership minimum gain” in Section
1.704-2(b)(2) of the Regulations.
Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding
anything in this article to the contrary, if there is a net decrease
in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership Year,
except as otherwise permitted by Sections 1.704-2(f)(2), (3), (4)
and (5) of the Regulations, items of Partnership income and
gain for such year (and subsequent years, if necessary) in the
order provided in Section 1.704-2(j)(2) of the Regulations shall
be allocated among all Partners whose shares of Partnership
Minimum Gain decreased during such year in proportion to and
to the extent of such Partner’s share of the net decrease in
Partnership Minimum Gain during such year. The allocation
contained in this section is intended to be a minimum gain
chargeback within the meaning of Section 1.704-2(f) of the
Regulations, and it shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain Chargeback.
Notwithstanding anything in this article to the contrary, if there is
a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain
during any Partnership Year, except as provided in Section
1.704-2(i) of the Regulations, items of Partnership income and
order provided in Section 1.704-2(j)(2)(ii) of the Regulations shall
be allocated among all Partners whose share of Partner
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain decreased during such year in
proportion to and to the extent of such Partner’s share of the net
decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during
such year. This section is intended to comply with the minimum
gain chargeback requirement in Section 1.704-2 of the
Regulations, and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. In accordance with
Section 1.704-2(i)(1) of the Regulations, any item of
Partnership loss or deduction which is attributable to Partner
Nonrecourse Debt for which a Partner bears the economic
risk of loss (such as a nonrecourse loan made by a Partner
to the Partnership or an otherwise nonrecourse loan to the
Partnership that has been guaranteed by a Partner) shall be
allocated to that Partner to the extent of its economic risk of
Example 9: Partnership
Partner A and Partner B each contribute $50,000 to a 50-50
partnership that borrows an additional $900,000 on a nonrecourse
basis to acquire a $1,000,000 building. Over time, the partners
collectively receive depreciation deductions of $500,000 ($250,000
each) from the building and reduce their capital accounts from
$50,000 to ($200,000).
Partnership Nonrecourse Debt
Minimum Gain Chargeback:
The partnership will have $400,000 of partnership minimum gain
($900,000 nonrecourse debt less $500,000 book basis equals
$400,000 minimum gain). As for the partners, both Partner A and
Partner B will have received $200,000 in nonrecourse deductions
which will cause them to have minimum gain shares of $200,000
each. These minimum gain shares will support their negative capital
accounts of ($200,000) and prevent them from having Adjusted
Capital Accounts Deficits.
If the partnership sells or otherwise disposes of the building, or
if the creditor of the nonrecourse loan forgives all or a portion
of the loan, both partnership minimum gain and the minimum
gain shares of the partners will decrease. This will force an
allocation of gross income in a minimum gain chargeback.
Example 10: Partner Nonrecourse
Debt Minimum Gain Chargeback
Same facts as in Example 9 above except that Partner A
guarantees the $900,000 nonrecourse debt and thereby
causes the debt to become partner nonrecourse debt for tax
Curative Allocations. The allocations set forth in Sections ____
hereof (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with
certain requirements of the Regulations. It is the intent of the
Members that, to the extent possible, all Regulatory Allocations
shall be offset either with other Regulatory Allocations or with
special allocations of other items of Company income, gain, loss
or deduction pursuant to this section. Therefore, notwithstanding
any other provision of this Section __ (other than the Regulatory
Allocations) to the contrary, the Manager shall make such
offsetting special allocations of income, gain, loss or
deduction in whatever manner he determines appropriate so
that, after such offsetting allocations are made, each Member’s
Capital Account balance is, to the extent possible, equal to the
Capital Account balance such Member would have had if the
Regulatory Allocations were not part of the Agreement and all
Company items were allocated pursuant to the general allocation
Example 11: Loss Limitation
Facts – Year 1:
Partner A contributes $100 and Partner B contributes $20 to a
new partnership. The partnership agreement includes a loss
limitation provision and a QIO. Further, the agreement
provides that the partners will share profits and losses equally
and liquidate according to positive capital account balances.
The partnership incurs a loss of $50 in its first year.
Loss Limitation: Results
In light of the loss limitation provision and Partner B having
only a $20 initial capital account, Partner B can receive only
$20 of the $50 loss (instead of $25). Partner A, on the other
hand, will receive its full $25 share of the $50 overall loss plus
the $5 portion of Partner B’s loss share that Partner B could
not receive due to the loss limitation provision.
After Loss Reallocation (30)
Subsequent Profit Allocations
In year 2, the partnership generates a profit of $30 and,
pursuant to the partnership agreement, divides the profit
equally between both partners. Taking the two partnership
years together, the partnership experienced a $20 net loss
and divided the loss $15 to Partner A and $5 to Partner B
because of a regulatory allocation provision.
Ending Year 1 Capital
Ending Year 2 Capital
Net Year 1 & 2
Example 12: Curative/Subsequent
The same facts as in Example 11 above, except that the
partnership agreement contains a “Curative” or “Subsequent
Allocation” provision.
Year 1 Losses
Instead of allocating the $30 profit equally in the partnership’s
second year, the “Subsequent Allocation” provision would override
the general sharing ratios of the partners and assign the $30 profit in
a manner that would reverse the effect of the regulatory allocation
provision in year one.
410-244-7863
202-721-1145
Pursuant to IRS Circular 230, please be advised that, to the extent this
communication contains any federal tax advice, it is not intended to be, was not written to
be and cannot be used by any taxpayer for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under
U.S. federal tax law or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another taxpayer
PARTNERSHIP AND LLC AGREEMENTS - LEARNING TO READ
Published in Tax Notes on December 21, 2009
By Steven R. Schneider & Brian J. O’Connor 1
Learning how to read and write partnership and LLC 2 agreements is a never-ending process,
constantly changing with corresponding changes in business and legal requirements. This article
is designed to provide an overview of such agreements for lawyers, accountants, and business
professionals, emphasizing tax-related provisions. Starting with an overview of a typical
partnership agreement structure, the article then provides an essential background of the
partnership tax rules and ends with a detailed analysis of what the tax boilerplate actually means,
including an appendix explaining the tax boilerplate using a common partnership agreement
Steven R. Schneider is a Director at Goulston & Storrs, P.C. in Washington, DC. Brian J. O’Connor is a Partner at
Venable LLP in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, DC. Both Mr. Schneider and Mr. O’Connor are adjunct
professors in the LL.M. in tax program at Georgetown University Law Center teaching Drafting Partnership and
LLC Agreements. The authors frequently remind their students that they had to learn the same material through the
School of Hard Knocks. The School of Hard Knocks is a non-accredited institution of learning designed by the
same people who walked two miles to school each day, uphill both ways in the snow. The authors would like to
thank their students who have unwittingly served as test cases for the teachings in this article. They will, no doubt,
tell their children how they had to learn partnership and LLC agreement drafting without the benefit of this article
and how future generations of students have it so easy. The authors would like to thank all of those who provided
comments on earlier drafts of this article, including Monte Jackel, Julia Livingston, Kelly Bissinger, and Robert
Honigman.  S.R. Schneider & B.J. O’Connor copyright 2009, all rights reserved.
This article will generally use the term “partnership agreement” to cover agreements for all entities treated as
partnerships for federal income tax purposes including LLCs taxed as partnerships.
DCDOCS\7054520.2
I. Introduction. ...................................................................................................................... 1 II. Structure of a typical partnership agreement. ............................................................... 1 Example 1 - capital account basics:..................................................................... 2 Example 2 - target allocations: ............................................................................ 4 Example 3 - section 704(c):................................................................................... 4 III. Overview of Tax Rules for Partnerships. ....................................................................... 7 A. Section 704(b) vs. Section 704(c). ......................................................................... 7 Example 4 - Section 704(b) basics: ...................................................................... 8 Example 5 - Section 704(c) basics:....................................................................... 9 B. Substantial Economic Effect. ............................................................................. 10 C. Nonrecourse Debt-Sourced Deductions. ........................................................... 11 Example 6 - partnership nonrecourse deductions: .......................................... 12 D. IV. Elections and Audits. .......................................................................................... 13 So What Does the Tax Boilerplate Actually Mean? .................................................... 14 A. Boilerplate Provisions - Capital Accounts. ....................................................... 14 Example 7 - Capital Accounts with Layer Cake Allocations:......................... 16 Example 8 - Capital Accounts with Targeted Allocations: ............................. 16 Example 9 - Depreciation Calculation: ............................................................. 17 Example 10 - Gross Asset Value:....................................................................... 19 B. Boilerplate Provisions Related to the Regulatory Allocations. ....................... 20 Example 11 - Loss Limitation Provision: ......................................................... 21 Example 12 - Adjusted Capital Account Deficit: ............................................. 22 Example 13 - Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback:................................ 25 Example 14 - Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain Chargeback: ....... 26 Example 15 - Curative/Subsequent Allocations #1:......................................... 27 Example 16 - Curative/Subsequent Allocations #2. ........................................ 27 C. Boilerplate Provisions Related to Section 704(c).............................................. 28 D. Other Boilerplate Provisions.............................................................................. 29 V. Conclusion. ...................................................................................................................... 29 VI. Appendix – Tax Boilerplate In Context of LLC Agreement ...................................... 30 DCDOCS\7054520.2
Structure of a typical partnership agreement.
A partnership agreement is typically broken down into various Articles or Sections, and will
typically include one or more Exhibits and Schedules. The following explanation describes
typical sections of most partnership agreements, covered in the order commonly found in
agreements. Many partnership agreements will contain additional sections covering specialized
deal considerations such as compliance with regulatory restrictions that may be unique to that
type of partnership agreement.
Prefatory language. The typical agreement begins with prefatory language such as an effective
date, a Preamble, Recitals, Whereas Clauses or Explanatory Statements which put the agreement
into context. This section will explain fundamental questions like when the agreement becomes
effective, who the partners are, whether it is a new or amended partnership agreement, and the
purpose of the partnership (e.g., to own a particular property or business). These provisions
often also outline a history of the agreement and any amendments.
General Provisions. This section will include general information such as the name of the
partnership, the principal and registered offices, the term, and the general purpose and powers
(e.g., buying real estate, borrowing or lending money, the ability to operate in a particular
manner or through particular types of entities). Either this section or a section at the end of the
agreement will typically include a lengthy alphabetical list of definitions. Many definitions will
simply be a cross reference to the section where a particular term is defined in the main body of
the agreement. A disproportionately large number of the definitions relate to federal income tax
terminology required if a partnership intends to satisfy the tax allocation safe harbors found
under the tax code. If these safe harbors are satisfied, then the IRS will respect the income or
loss allocations among the partners.
Capital Contributions. The capital contribution section is short, but very important. It answers
questions such as what the partners are contributing and when the contributions are being made.
Capital contributions are typically broken down into original contributions of cash or property
and subsequent contributions including whether the partnership has the ability to require the
partners to make additional capital contributions (i.e., a Capital Call). Whether a capital
contribution is or is not required may be determined by reference to the penalties and remedies
provided in this section to deal with situations in which capital is called and not provided. This
section will also dictate whether a partner has the option to make a contribution “in-kind” (i.e.,
contribute property in lieu of cash), whether a partner has the right to withdraw its capital prior to
liquidation of the partnership (i.e., a Lock Up), and whether a partner is entitled to interest on its
capital account. Finally, this section typically requires that a partnership maintain capital
accounts for each partner, consistent with the regulatory safe harbors for income and loss
allocations. The definition of a capital account is included either in this section or in the general
definition section. 3 In essence a partner’s capital account is the fair market value (FMV) of
partner contributions (net of any related debt assumed by the partnership) increased or decreased
by the partner’s share of income or loss and decreased by the fair market value of partner
distributions (net of any related debt assumed by the partner). For this purpose, income and loss
In certain cases an agreement may avoid the detailed definition of a capital account and simply state that
partnership must maintain capital accounts in accordance with the specified tax regulations.
refers to the economic or “book” definitions under the tax rules under section 704(b) and may
not be the same as income or loss determined for income tax or for Generally Accepted
Interest on capital is unusual and is generally classified as a “guaranteed payment” for federal tax
purposes. 4 A guaranteed payment is used in the case of certain preferred partners that wish to be
treated more akin to lenders. Often a preferred allocation of partnership income is used to satisfy
this goal in lieu of stated interest or a guaranteed payment. A preferred return allows some of the
advantages of a debt-like investment without putting undue economic obligations on the
partnership to pay even if there is no income to support it. A preferred return also has the
advantage of carrying out the tax character of the underlying income used to satisfy the payment,
potentially allowing the recipient the benefit of capital gains tax rates. 5
Example 1 - capital account basics:
A contributes Building with $100 gross fair market value, subject to $30 of debt. In year
one the partnership allocates $10 of section 704(b) book income to A and distributes $4
of cash to A. A’s ending capital account is $76 computed as follows:
Increase by net FMV of
Tax Allocations – sections 704(b) and 704(c).
This section of the agreement describes how taxable income and loss should be shared among
the partners. Most of the allocation language relates to the economic/book allocations and in
general the taxable income will follow these book allocations. 6 However, if a partner
contributed an asset with built-in appreciation or depreciation, special rules require that such
built-in tax gain or loss is allocated back to the contributing partner. 7 Note that the term
“allocation” is a tax-only term and should not be confused with the term “distribution”, which is
A guaranteed payment is a payment to a partner that is determined without regard to the income of the partnership
and is treated in many ways similar to an interest payment. See generally section 707(c) and Reg. § 1.707-1(c).
See generally, Golub et. al, Economic, Tax, and Drafting Considerations For Preferred Partnership Interests, Real
Estate Taxation, Volume 33, Number 04 (2006.)
For example, a $100 of net book income may be comprised of $120 of gross capital gain and $20 of depreciation
deductions. An allocation of this $100 of income equally between two partners results in each partner receiving $60
of capital gain and $10 of depreciation deductions for net taxable income of $50 each. However, if $30 of the gross
income were tax-exempt, then the net taxable income to each partner would only be $35 ($45 of capital gain, $15 of
tax-exempt income, and $10 of depreciation deductions). See Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(1)(vii) (net book allocations carry
out a proportionate share of underlying tax items).
an economic term. These two terms interrelate because if a partnership liquidates in accordance
with the book capital accounts, the income or loss allocations will directly affect each partner’s
share of distributions. For example, an allocation of income increases a partner’s capital
account, which means that the partner is entitled to more distributions due to the larger capital
Partnership agreements typically break the book allocations down into two sections. The
primary allocation section describes the general business deal, such as allocating profits in
accordance with relative capital or profit percentages (i.e., “Percentage Interests”). The second
section overrides the first section and is designed to comply with the book income tax regulatory
safe harbors to dictate things like making sure partners generally do not receive deductions in
excess of their capital accounts and how to allocate deductions funded by nonrecourse debt. 8
This second section is often called the “boilerplate” or “regulatory allocations.” The typical
agreement first allocates income and loss under the regulatory allocation provisions, if
applicable, and thereafter allocates any remaining book income or loss (usually defined as
“Profit” and “Loss” in the agreement) in the primary allocation section.
The book allocations section is important because it describes how the taxable income and loss
are allocated among the partners. Further, if the partnership liquidates in accordance with capital
accounts, such allocations drive the economics of the deal. If the partnership does not liquidate
in accordance with capital accounts but instead liquidates according to a defined ordering of cash
or property distributions (i.e., a Cash or Liquidation Waterfall or simply the “Waterfall”) then the
book allocations have no effect on the economics and relate solely to tax. Because liquidating in
accordance with capital accounts means that the complicated regulatory allocations can have a
meaningful effect on the business deal, agreements often liquidate with a Waterfall and avoid the
need for the business persons to understand the tax boilerplate. 9
The tax allocations will not be respected if the agreement liquidates with a Waterfall and the
partners’ economic rights under the Waterfall are different from their rights based on their capital
accounts. In such a case, the taxable income or loss will be re-allocated so that the capital
accounts and the Waterfall rights are consistent. For example, assume the tax allocations send
all $100 of section 704(b) income to Partner A and none to Partner B, causing A’s capital
account to increase by all $100 and B’s capital account to remain constant. If the Waterfall
provides that the cash corresponding to that profit is shared $50 each by A and B, then the IRS
will not respect the tax allocation and will reallocate $50 of income to B. To avoid
inconsistencies between the tax allocations and the partners’ rights under the Waterfall, many
partnership agreements simply use a Target/Fill Up allocation under which the agreement
A partner can receive deductions in excess of their capital account if the partner is at risk for the negative amount
(i.e., the partner has to fund deficit capital accounts) or if the partner is deemed at risk for the amount (i.e., the
negative amount is funded from nonrecourse debt that the partner is actually or deemed to be at risk for).
For a more complete discussion of the issue of whether to liquidate with capital accounts or with a Waterfall see
O’Connor and Schneider, Capital-Account-Based Liquidations: Gone With the Wind or Here to Stay? Journal of
Taxation, Vol. 102, No. 1 (January 2005).
allocates book income or loss among the partners using a formula that causes the partners’
capital accounts to equal the amounts the partners would receive under the Waterfall. 10
Example 2 - target allocations:
LP and GP contribute $90 and $10, respectively, to the partnership and set beginning
capital accounts in the same amount. The distribution Waterfall provides that cash is
paid first to return contributed capital plus a 10% annual preferred return and then is paid
80:20 to LP and GP, respectively. 11 The partnership earns $20 of income in year one and
under the Waterfall the $120 of total partnership cash would be distributed as follows:
to “fill up” the LP and GP opening capital accounts 12 ($90 and $10, respectively)
Thus, the $20 of income is allocated $17 to LP and $3 to GP.
For a partnership where there will be contributions of appreciated or depreciated property, the
section allocating such items to the contributing partner should be covered in some detail. This
is referred to as “section 704(c)” after the tax code section that generally requires the partnership
to allocate such tax items back to the contributing partner. Partnership agreements typically
include only a single paragraph to cover section 704(c) allocations and often simply repeat the
general statutory requirement that tax allocations take into account a partner’s potential built-in
tax gain or loss on contributed property. However, for many partnerships, including many real
estate partnerships, the section 704(c) provision is highly negotiated and includes much more
detail relating to which of several alternative methods is chosen to allocate non-economic taxable
income or loss. 13
Example 3 - section 704(c):
Partner A contributes property with a tax basis of $20 and a value of $100 and the
partnership thereafter sells the property for $110. The partnership must allocate the first
See generally, Golub, How to Hit Your Mark Using Target Allocations in a Real Estate Partnership, Tax
Management Memorandum, Vol. 50 No. 20, (September 28, 2009).
Typically the GP would receive the 20% residual profit sharing for its services plus a share of the 80% return
based on its relative capital contribution. However, for simplicity, the example shows the GP as only receiving a
20% residual profit sharing after the preferred return.
If the partners had other contributions or distributions during the year, the partnership should adjust the beginning
of the year capital accounts to reflect this. Partnership agreements frequently use the term “Partially Adjusted
Capital Account” to refer to the beginning of the year capital accounts adjusted for intra-year contributions and
See Section IV.C. of this article for a more detailed discussion of section 704(c) methods and considerations.
$80 of tax gain to Partner A because that represents the inherent built-in gain A had in the
property when it contributed the property to the partnership. The remaining $10 of postcontribution economic gain is allocated according to the section 704(b) book allocation
provisions in the agreement. Further, when the built-in gain property is depreciated, the
partnership must first allocate tax depreciation on the property to the non-contributing
partner up to the amount of its book depreciation, with any residual tax depreciation
going to the contributing partner. This ensures that the tax-basis shortfall is first born by
the contributing partner through both dispositions and depreciation. However, to the
extent that there is insufficient tax basis for the non-contributing partner to receive its full
share of book depreciation, there may still be a tax shortfall to the non-contributing
partner depending on the section 704(c) method chosen.
Distributions. The distribution section describes the partners’ rights to cash or property
distributions. These distribution rights are typically subject to the partners’ overall distribution
rights on liquidation, which may appear in a later section of the agreement. Sometimes the two
distribution sections are referred to as the “current” distribution section and the “liquidation”
distribution section. Often in a partnership that liquidates with a cash Waterfall, the liquidation
distribution section simply refers to the partners’ rights under the current distribution section
(after certain reserves). 14 For partnerships that follow the book allocation safe harbor tests, the
liquidation section will simply liquidate in accordance with positive section 704(b) book capital
accounts after all allocations have been made to partner capital accounts.
The distribution section typically addresses important details such as when distributions are
made and in what amount. For example, an agreement may provide that there will be quarterly
distributions of operating income and larger distributions of capital upon specifically defined
Capital Transactions or Capital Events (such as significant asset sales or refinancings). Most
agreements limit operating income distributions to a specifically defined Net Cash Flow so as to
ensure that the partnership has sufficient cash remaining for operations and necessary reserves.
This section will often specifically address taxes. Many agreements contain minimum
distributions to a partner to ensure that each partner has sufficient funds to satisfy its tax
obligations relating to its share of partnership income (so called “Tax Distributions”). Tax
Distributions are generally documented as an advance on the partner’s rights under the more
general distribution provisions. Sometimes the distributions are treated as a loan to the partner.
Further, taxes paid by the partnership on behalf of a partner are typically treated as a deemed
distribution to the partner whose income is requiring the withholding. This is common when the
partnership is required to withhold on distributions to a foreign or out of state partner.
Management. Partnerships will typically designate a board or a single partner as the managing
partner. If the partnership designates a single partner as managing partner, this is typically the
person classified under state law as the “Manager” of an LLC or the “General Partner” of a
Limited Partnership. The agreement typically vests significant discretion and control in the
It is also common to see the operating income Waterfall differ from the liquidation Waterfall. For example, if the
partnership has an entrepreneurial partner and an investor partner, the operating income Waterfall may make current
cash distributions to both partners, but on liquidation (or certain capital events) the liquidating/capital-event
Waterfall will first use funds to repay the investor partner’s contributions (i.e., return of capital) before making
distributions to both partners.
board or the managing partner, often allowing the passive partners to vote only on more major
matters such as acts in contravention of the agreement, the filing of bankruptcy, admitting
additional members not contemplated in the original agreement, and merging or selling
substantially all of the partnership assets. The level of detail in the management section varies
greatly among partnership agreements. This section also articulates when a partner has liability
to the partnership or other partners and any related indemnifications. This section will also
typically reference any related affiliate service agreements, such as a property or asset
management agreement with an affiliate of the managing partner.
Accounting, Books, and Records. This section covers the more mundane information about
keeping books and records and providing tax statements to partners. Typical items included in
this section are: (1) annual and quarterly reporting of financial information to the partners, (2)
who prepares the tax returns and what is the deadline for providing this information to the
partners, (3) who will serve as the Tax Matters Partner and represent the partnership in an IRS
audit, and (4) what tax decision making power the Tax Matters Partner will have, such as the
ability to extend the statute of limitations, elect in or out of the special unified partnership audit
rules, or make certain other tax elections. Although the identity and authority of the Tax Matters
Partner may sound boring, it is often a critical question when later controversy arises and the
details are often overlooked in the drafting process.
Transfers of Partnership Interests. This section will dictate when a partner can or must
transfer its partnership interest. Typically partnership interest transfers are strictly regulated in
the agreement and often have no ready market even if someone wanted to sell their interest. If a
partner is allowed to transfer its interest, the agreement will typically allow the partnership or
existing partners to have a Right of First Offer (i.e., a “ROFO”) or Right Of First Refusal (i.e., a
“ROFR”) to acquire the interest or an option to acquire the interest subject to specific pre-agreed
pricing formulations. There is usually an exception for certain transfers, so called Permitted
Transfers, which often include estate planning transfers to family trusts or family partnerships. If
the parties anticipate a potential sale of partnership interests by some or all of the partners, the
agreement may include a right by a majority of the partners to force minority partners to also sell
(a “Drag Along” right) or a right by the minority partners to join in a sale by the majority
partners (a “Tag Along” right).
If a sale occurs mid-year, the agreement will typically include a provision explaining how the
taxable income or loss for the year is allocated between the buying and selling partners. Many
agreements simply allow the managing partner discretion on how to reasonably allocate income,
while others are much more specific and may specify a first of the month convention or require a
“closing of the books” for significant items and a pro ration for smaller items like operating
Dissolution and Winding Up. This section describes when and how a partnership will be
wound up and whether there will be any reserves kept behind for potential obligations. As noted
above, from a tax perspective, this section may be the key to learning whether the agreement
intends to follow the regulatory book allocation safe harbors. The agreement likely intends to
The IRS recently proposed regulations that would provide further limits on the partnership’s flexibility in
allocating tax items in this context. See Prop. Reg. §1.706-1, -4, and REG-144689-04 (April 13, 2009).
follow the safe harbors if, after paying creditors and setting up reserves, the agreement
distributes the remaining proceeds according to the partners’ section 704(b) book capital
accounts. Although there are other requirements to satisfy the safe harbors, this is the primary
requirement that either puts an agreement in or out of such safe harbors. If the agreement instead
liquidates with a cash Waterfall, then the agreement must rely on a more limited tax safe harbor
to get comfort that the IRS will respect the income and loss allocations. That safe harbor applies
only if, in all events, the partners would receive the same economic distributions as had they
liquidated in accordance with each partner’s section 704(b) capital account. This would occur,
for example, in a simple 50-50 partnership where all capital is contributed equally and all profits,
losses, and distributions are shared equally.
Miscellaneous. Finally, the miscellaneous section is a repository for items that do not readily fit
within the other sections. This includes things like (1) delivery of notices to the partners or
partnership, (2) application to successors or assigns, (3) waiver of jury trial, (4) restrictions on
disclosure of terms, (5) provisions for how or under what circumstances the partnership
agreement may be amended, and (6) representations and warranties.
Overview of Tax Rules for Partnerships.
A basic understanding of partnership tax rules is essential to understanding a partnership
agreement. 16 The key concepts are described below.
Section 704(b) vs. Section 704(c).
Partnership taxable income or loss is separated into section 704(b) allocations of book income or
loss and section 704(c) allocations of tax-only income, gain, loss or deduction. Section 704(b)
income or loss tracks economic income and loss that occurs while assets are held in the
partnership and the partnership then allocates these amounts based on the business arrangement.
The partnership then tracks each partner’s share through maintaining individual partner section
704(b) book capital accounts. In contrast, section 704(c) tracks differences between book and
tax capital. This rule is designed to prevent a person from contributing property with a built-in
tax gain or loss into a partnership and shifting that gain or loss to another partner.
Unrealized asset appreciation or depreciation is only “booked” into the capital accounts and run
through the section 704(b) income statement upon certain triggering events. For example, if a
partnership buys an asset for $100 and later sells it for $150, the $50 of previously unrealized
book gain is triggered and allocated to the partners. Similarly there is a book-up/down event
when there is a significant change in the way the partners share economics. This can occur when
the partnership issues a new profits interest to a partner or there is a disproportionate partner
contribution or redemption. In such cases, the rules allow the partnership to book the pre-event
unrealized amounts according to the pre-event sharing ratios. For instance, if the partnership
were owned 50-50 by A and B and C later joined for a one-third interest, the partnership would
For additional background on tax and non-tax aspects of drafting partnership and LLC agreements see Cuff, Some
Basic Issues in Drafting Real Estate Partnership and Limited Liability Company Agreements, 65 NYU INSTIT. ON
FED. TAX’N (2007); and Cuff and Shaw, Drafting Partnership Allocations, 5 Business Entities 2 (March/April
be able to book the pre-C appreciation into A and B’s capital accounts based on the prior 50-50
Although the tax regulations state that book-ups/downs are optional, many partnerships
use these events to revalue the partnership assets and ensure that there is no inappropriate
economic or tax shifting of the pre book-up/down appreciation or depreciation among the
partners. 17 The regulations dictate that, since the book-up/down preserves the built-in tax gain or
loss in the asset (i.e., it is a non-taxable book-up/down) the partnership must use section 704(c)
principles to make sure the later recognition of the gain or loss is allocated to the partners who
received the book-up/down adjustment. This is commonly referred to as “reverse section
704(c)” to distinguish it from “forward section 704(c)” for contributed property.
Example 4 - Section 704(b) basics:
A and B each contribute $100 of cash to form a 50-50 partnership. The partnership uses
the cash to immediately buy Land, which it rents on a net basis. During the first year, the
partnership earns $20 of taxable net rental income and benefits from unrealized
appreciation in Land of $50. The partnership retains $10 of the rental income and
distributes the remaining $10 equally between A and B. The effects of these transactions
on the allocations and capital accounts are shown below. Note that the $20 of rental
income was allocated 50% to each of A and B for tax and section 704(b) book purposes,
which increased their tax and book capital accounts accordingly. The $50 of unrealized
appreciation was not reflected in the partners’ capital accounts because there has not been
a section 704(b) realization (book-up) event to lock in that value change. 18
Effect of Income Allocations and Distributions
See Reg. § 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) for the optional nature of a book-up of unrealized amounts. But see Reg. § 1.7041(b)(1)(iv) for a discussion of potential other tax effects that may result even if an allocation satisfies the literal
requirements of the section 704(b) regulations.
Note, if a new partner subsequently joined the partnership, there would be a book-up event that would allow the
partnership to revalue the land and allocate the $50 of unrealized appreciation into A’s and B’s capital accounts
solely for section 704(b) purposes. Thus, if C is admitted to the partnership and the partnership thereafter sells Land
for $250, the $50 of tax gain in Land is allocated equally to A and B using section 704(c) principles.
Example 5 - Section 704(c) basics:
A contributes Land-A and B contributes $100 of cash to form a 50-50 partnership. LandA has a value of $100, but a tax basis of only $20. The partnership uses the $100 cash to
buy Land-B. Partnership rents both parcels of land on a net basis. During the first year,
Partnership earns $20 of taxable net rental income and sells Land-A at the end of the year
for $100. The partnership retains all of the rental income and sales proceeds. As in
Example 4, the $20 of rental income is allocated 50% to each of A and B for tax and
section 704(b) book purposes. However, all $80 of the tax gain from Land-A is allocated
to A as is required under section 704(c).
Effect of Income Allocations
Land-A sale
One of the fundamental requirements of the section 704(b) rules is that the IRS generally
will only respect the tax effect of partnership allocations of book income or loss if those
allocations have “substantial economic effect.” This is a two-part test that requires both that
allocations economically affect the dollars the partners receive from the partnership and that such
effect be substantial after taking into account tax consequences. 19
Economic effect means that the section 704(b) allocations must be consistent with the underlying
economics. The regulations allow partnerships to satisfy a safe harbor to ensure that the IRS will
respect the economic effect of the allocations. The regulations include three independent ways
to meet the safe harbor, referred to as the “primary”, “alternate”, and “economic equivalence”
tests. The first two are very similar and discussed herein as variations of the same rule. The
third, the economic equivalence test, is a limited safe harbor that deems the allocations to have
economic effect if the economics could never differ from the case where the agreement followed
one of the first two safe harbors. Although some characterize the economic equivalence test as
the “dumb but lucky” rule, it is still widely relied upon in many partnership agreements that
liquidate with a specified cash Waterfall in lieu of liquidating in accordance with partnership
capital accounts. 20
Under the primary or alternate economic effect safe harbors, the partnership must follow detailed
rules to maintain partner capital accounts and at a minimum liquidate in accordance with positive
partner capital accounts. For example, if the AB partnership allocates $100 of income to A and
allocates no income to B such that A’s capital account is increased by the entire $100, the
partnership must distribute that entire $100 to A upon liquidation in accordance with A’s positive
capital account (assuming no subsequent losses or distributions offset the income allocation).
The only difference between the primary and alternate safe harbors is how they account for the
economics of negative partner capital accounts resulting from losses or excess distributions. To
satisfy the primary safe harbor, the partnership must require each partner to be personally
The “substantiality” aspect of this test is beyond the scope of this article. An example of a potential
“substantiality” problem is when a partnership contains both tax-exempt and taxable partners and the partnership
specially allocates disproportionate taxable income to the tax-exempt partner and then allocates disproportionate taxexempt income to the taxable partner in order to have the two special allocations generally offset economically but
lower the overall taxes paid by the partners in the aggregate. See, e.g., Reg. §1.704-1(b)(5) Example 5.
See paragraph 11.02 of McKee, Nelson & Whitmire: Federal Taxation of Partnerships & Partners (WG&L 4th
edition) for characterization of this rule as the “dumb but lucky” rule. See generally O’Connor & Schneider,
Liquidating with Capital Accounts: Gone with the Wind or Here to Stay?, Journal of Taxation, Vol. 102, No. 1
responsible to repay its entire negative capital account (referred to as a full deficit restoration
obligation, or “DRO”). More commonly, partnerships follow the alternate safe harbor under
which the partnership agreement does not include a full DRO but does include provisions in the
partnership agreement to avoid the situation where a partner will have a negative adjusted capital
account. 21 These requirements are (i) the partnership cannot allocate losses to cause the
partner’s capital account to be lower than what the partner is actually or deemed 22 obligated to
repay (such excess is referred to as a “deficit adjusted capital account”), and (ii) if there is an
unexpected event that causes such a deficit in the adjusted capital account, then the partnership
must allocate gross income to eliminate that deficit as quickly as possible (referred to as a
“qualified income offset” or “QIO”).
Economic Effect Safe Harbor Overview
No DRO but
Will IRS
Income Offset Economic
and limits on
under Safe
Primary Test Required
Alternate Test Required
other two tests
Nonrecourse Debt-Sourced Deductions.
The partnership tax rules create an elaborate set of rules to address the allocation of partnership
deductions funded by nonrecourse debt. Absent a special rule, these allocations could not have
economic effect because it is the lender and not a particular partner who is at risk for the debtfunded loss. For example, if A and B each contributed $100 to Partnership and Partnership
borrowed $800 on a nonrecourse basis to buy Building, once Building was depreciated down
from $900 to $800, A’s and B’s capital accounts would be zero and any further allocations of
depreciation would drive their capital accounts impermissibly negative but for the special
nonrecourse deduction rules.
The regulations create a concept called “partnership minimum gain” to track deductions where a
non-partner lender is at risk for a partnership liability. Minimum gain is the amount by which
the nonrecourse debt exceeds the section 704(b) basis in the property secured by the debt. The
concept is that a nonrecourse deduction can be allocated to a partner to cause its capital account
The capital account can be negative in certain circumstances, such as an allocation of nonrecourse deductions to
the partner supported by a future minimum gain chargeback or a limited partner deficit restoration obligation.
A partner is deemed obligated to repay its share of partnership or partner “minimum gain”. This is the amount
tracked to a partner from its share of deductions funded from partnership or partner nonrecourse debt. See Section
III.C. of this article for more information on this concept.
to be negative, even without a partner obligation to restore such negative capital account. The
regulations permit this because the IRS is protected since the negative capital account will later
be offset and made positive (or at least returned to zero) with a later allocation of income
whenever there is a decrease in this minimum gain. This is referred to as a “partnership
minimum gain chargeback.” The regulations create a parallel concept for nonrecourse debt
loaned or guaranteed by a partner (i.e., “partner nonrecourse debt”) except that those deductions
and the related chargeback must be allocated to the lender/guarantor partner because that partner
is indirectly at risk due to also being the lender/guarantor. In that case, the regulations use the
terms “partner minimum gain” and “partner minimum gain chargeback” to have similar
meanings to partnership minimum gain and partnership minimum gain chargeback.
Example 6 - partnership nonrecourse deductions:
A and B each contribute $100 to a 50-50 partnership and have no obligation to restore
negative capital accounts. The partnership borrows $800 from an unrelated lender on a
nonrecourse basis using an interest-only loan and buys Building for $1,000. The
partnership depreciates Building by $100 a year. After the third year, the partnership has
depreciated the initial $1,000 of section 704(b) basis in Building down to $700. At the
beginning of Year 3, A and B have each received depreciation deductions that caused
their section 704(b) capital accounts to be zero. An allocation of the year 3 depreciation
equally to A and B would cause their capital accounts to be negative by $50 each.
Although the general rule is that A and B are not allowed to bring their capital accounts
negative absent a DRO, there is an exception in this case because the deduction is a
nonrecourse deduction that creates minimum gain ($800 nonrecourse debt less $700 book
basis in Building). An allocation of the $50 deduction to each of A and B creates an
allowable $50 deficit in each partner’s capital account because that deficit is supported by
$50 each of minimum gain that the partnership agreement provides it will charge back if
there is a later reduction in that minimum gain. 23 For example, if the partnership
disposes of Building the next year for an amount equal to the $800 nonrecourse debt, the
entire minimum gain would be triggered (no longer any nonrecourse debt to support the
minimum gain) and A and B would be required to report $50 of taxable income each.
The partnership has sufficient income to allocate since it has $100 of section 704(b) book
income from the sale of Building.
Although each partner’s section 704(b) capital account is negative, it is not impermissibly negative because the
$50 deduction creating the negative capital account is sourced to a nonrecourse debt deduction. Because a
nonrecourse debt deduction gives rise to an equal amount of minimum gain, A and B have minimum gain to offset
their negative capital account, which will eventually bring their Capital Accounts to zero. For purposes of testing
whether a capital account is impermissibly negative, minimum gain is added back to the negative capital account to
determine whether the “Adjusted Capital Account” is impermissibly negative. See section IV.B. of this article for a
more detailed explanation of this concept.
Capital Accounts, Minimum Gain, and Adjusted Capital Accounts
Elections and Audits.
Partnership agreements typically address how the partnership deals with partnership-level tax
elections and audits. The two main elections unique to partnerships relate to section 754 inside
basis adjustments 24 and section 704(c) allocations of built-in gains or losses among the partners.
The section 754 election is less controversial and frequently is left at the discretion of the
managing partner, although sometimes is required at the reasonable request of an affected
partner. 25 However, due to what is referred to as the “ceiling rule” limitation, the section 704(c)
method is often subject to more negotiation.
Although section 704(c) always mandates that taxable gain or taxable loss is first allocated to the
partner contributing the built-in gain or built-in loss property, if there is insufficient gain or tax
basis, the non-contributing partner can frequently bear the burden of built-in gain. For example,
assume A and B contribute Property-A and Property-B, respectively. Both properties are 5-year
depreciable property valued at $100 each. However, A’s property has zero tax basis and B’s
property has $100 of tax basis. Each year B will receive $10 of book depreciation on Property-A
with no corresponding tax depreciation if the partnership uses the base-line “Traditional”
method. However, if B negotiated the “Curative” method, B could receive an extra $10 of tax
depreciation from Property-B, curing the shortfall. Alternatively, if the partnership didn’t have
another depreciable property to cure the shortfall, B could receive the same extra $10 of
Generally, absent a section 754 election, events such as a sale of a partnership interest at a gain or a loss would not
cause such gain or loss to be reflected in the inside basis of the partnership assets. A partnership has the option to
make a section 754 election upon such a sale or exchange (or upon certain distributions). The election locks the
partnership into making such adjustments for the electing year and future years. Thus an election in a year of an
inside basis increase could create the risk of a required inside basis decrease in a future year if there is a sale of a
partnership interest at a loss. However, beginning in late 2004, downward inside basis adjustments became
mandatory in all but certain de minimis cases. This effectively takes away the major risk with making a section 754
election, with the primary remaining downside being administrative costs to maintain the adjustment.
One question on a section 754 election is whether the costs of computing and tracking the corresponding basis
adjustment should be paid solely by the partners who are affected.
depreciation per year under the “Remedial” method. The cost to A of the Remedial method is
that every extra notional dollar of depreciation allocated to B is offset by a dollar of notional
income to A.
The partnership audit provisions are frequently subject to much less debate. However, they are
important because each partner is subject to personal tax adjustments even though the audit is
conducted at the partnership level under the so-called “TEFRA” rules.26 The main audit issues
in the agreement relate to which partner will serve as the administrative head of the audit (the socalled “tax matters partner” or “TMP”), how the audit costs will be funded, and what powers are
granted to the TMP, such as the ability to extend the statute of limitations with or without partner
consent. If no TMP is named, the tax regulations provide conventions which may result in a
partner being the TMP who is not the right person for the job.
So What Does the Tax Boilerplate Actually Mean?
Perhaps no section of a partnership agreement interests our clients less than the section
containing the tax boilerplate provisions. These provisions, therefore often receive little or no
client review. However, the provisions are extremely important and, if drafted incorrectly, could
lead to surprisingly negative tax and economic consequences. For these reasons, tax
practitioners should always review the tax boilerplate provisions carefully and make certain that
they fully understand how those provisions can affect the tax consequences and the economics of
Boilerplate Provisions - Capital Accounts.
As discussed in III.B above, partnerships must maintain capital accounts for their partners in
order to satisfy the substantial economic effect safe harbor under section 704(b). In light of this,
most partnership agreements include at least some discussion related to maintaining partner
capital accounts. As part of such a discussion, many partnership agreements may include capital
account definitions that resemble the following:
“Capital Account” shall mean, with respect to any Partner, the capital account on the
books of the Partnership which shall initially be zero and which shall be maintained in
To each Partner’s Capital Account there shall be credited the aggregate
amount of cash and initial Gross Asset Value of any property contributed by such
Partner to the Partnership, such Partner’s distributive share of Profits and any
items in the nature of income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to
A unique partnership election is whether a “small partnership” should elect out of the special partnership audit
rules referred to as “TEFRA” (after the name of the legislation that enacted the rules in 1982). Under TEFRA, a
partnership-level audit can decide the tax fate of the partners with respect to their share of partnership income or
loss, as opposed to having separate partner level audits. An important point here is that if a partner has a partnerlevel penalty defense to a TEFRA audit penalty, the partner can only assert such defense after paying the penalty
and applying for a refund. Reg. § 301.6221-1(d). The ability of a small partnership to elect out of TEFRA is limited
to partnerships with 10 or fewer partners that meet certain requirements (such as no pass-through partners). See
generally section 6231(a)(2)(B).
Article ___ and the amount of any Partnership liabilities assumed by such Partner
or which are secured by any Partnership property distributed to such Partner.
To each Partner’s Capital Account there shall be debited the amount of
cash and the Gross Asset Value of any Partnership property distributed to such
Partner pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or deemed distributed
pursuant to Section ___, such Partner’s distributive share of Losses and any items
in the nature of expenses or losses which are specially allocated pursuant to
Article ___, and the amount of any liabilities of such Partner assumed by the
Partnership or which are secured by any property contributed by such Partner to
If any interest in the Partnership is transferred in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the
transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred interest.
In determining the amount of any liability for purposes of determining
Capital Account balances hereof, there shall be taken into account Section 752(c)
of the Code and any other applicable provisions of the Code and Regulations. 27
maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Section 1.704-1(b) of the
Regulations, and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with the
Regulations. If the General Partner shall determine that it is prudent to modify the
manner in which the Capital Accounts, or any debits or credits thereto, are computed in
order to comply with the Regulations, the General Partner may make such modification
provided that it is not likely to have a material effect on the amounts that would be
distributable to any Partner.
The definition of “Capital Account” above mirrors the rules for determining partner capital
accounts described in Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). For those partnerships liquidating
according to partner capital accounts, this definition will govern the economic relationship
among the partners by determining partner entitlements upon a liquidation of the partnership. To
accomplish this result, the liquidation sections of partnership agreements governing partnerships
liquidating based on capital accounts generally will refer to a Capital Account definition at the
very bottom of the liquidation distribution Waterfall. Further, for many partnerships not
liquidating according to capital accounts, the Capital Account definition still serves a very
important purpose because partner capital accounts typically act as the starting point for
determining the taxable income or loss allocable to partners under a “targeted” allocation regime.
In other words, because a typical targeted capital account regime seeks to allocate partnership
income or loss to close the difference between beginning or “partially adjusted” capital accounts
and ending or “targeted” capital accounts, even a targeted capital account approach simply
cannot be applied without at least some definition of “Capital Account”.
The agreement language used throughout this article is of common use and is based on language used in
Whitmire, Nelson, McKee, Kuller, Hallmark, and Garcia, Structuring and Drafting Partnership Agreements, 3rd
Example 7 - Capital Accounts with Layer Cake Allocations:
Assume that Partner A and Partner B form a 50-50 partnership that, under the terms of
the partnership agreement, liquidates according to capital accounts and includes a capital
account definition similar to the one provided above. Partner A contributes
nondepreciable property with a value of $100 and tax basis of $20 to the partnership
while Partner B contributes $100 in cash. After leasing the property contributed by
Partner A for a number of years, generating total rental income of $60 and incurring total
expenses of $50, the partnership sells the property contributed by Partner A for $110 and
liquidates. Based on the capital account definition above, each partner will start with a
capital account of $100, increase its capital account by its 50% share of the $60 in
income and decrease its capital account by its 50% share of the $50 in expenses. After
these events, each partner will have a capital account of $105. Then, when the
partnership sells the property, the two partners will equally divide the $10 gain from the
sale, increase their capital accounts from $105 to $110 and walk away with $110 in cash
proceeds when the partnership liquidates, leaving their final capital accounts at zero.
Example 8 - Capital Accounts with Targeted Allocations:
Assume the same facts as in Example 7 above except that, under the terms of the
partnership agreement, the partnership liquidates 50-50 and includes a targeted allocation
provision that effectively matches partner capital accounts with anticipated partner
liquidation proceeds. Under the partnership agreement, the partnership will allocate its
aggregate net income (that is, $20) in the manner necessary to match partner capital
accounts (which begin at $100 each) with anticipated partner liquidation proceeds ($110
each). Based on these facts, the partnership will allocate $10 to Partner A and $10 to
Partner B. Accordingly, even though the partnership does not liquidate according to
capital accounts, the definition of Capital Account still becomes very relevant in
determining the income and loss allocations of the partners.
By using nondepreciable property in the examples relating to the definition of “Capital Account”
above, it was not necessary to take into account the impact of depreciation on partner capital
accounts. To address such matters, partnerships holding depreciable property often will include
a provision similar to the following in their partnership agreements:
“Depreciation” shall mean, for each Partnership Year, an amount equal to the
depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable with respect to an
asset for such year, except that if the Gross Asset Value of an asset differs from its
adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such year, Depreciation
shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as
the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for
such year bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided, however, that if the
adjusted tax basis of such property is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with
reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method selected by
The provisions of the partnership agreement calculating net profit or loss for book purposes often
include a definition of “Depreciation.” The definition, therefore, directly affects both the income
and loss shares and the capital accounts of the partners. In determining net profit or loss for
book purposes, partnerships will depreciate the book values of depreciable properties separately
from the tax basis of those properties. If no disparities exist between book basis and tax basis for
depreciable property, book depreciation should always equal tax depreciation. On the other
hand, if “book-tax” disparities exist for depreciable property as a result of “forward” or “reverse”
section 704(c) implications, book depreciation and tax depreciation will differ each year.
The definition of “Depreciation” above amortizes book depreciation in the same ratio as tax
depreciation and thereby causes partnerships to fully recover both the book depreciation and the
tax depreciation of a depreciable asset at the same time. This means that, under the definition of
“Depreciation”, the book depreciation and the tax depreciation for depreciable assets generally
will reach zero at the same time. One significant exception to this general rule applies when
depreciable property has a positive book basis but has a zero tax basis. In that case, the
partnership may use any reasonable method to calculate book depreciation (usually a newly
placed in service life).
Example 9 - Depreciation Calculation:
Partner A contributes two depreciable properties to a partnership. The first property is
newly purchased property with a seven-year recovery period, a value of $700 and a tax
basis of $700. The second property is five-year recovery property purchased two years
ago having a current value of $600 and a remaining tax basis of $300. Under the
definition of Depreciation above, both the book depreciation and the tax depreciation for
the first property will equal $100 each year because the book depreciation will simply
follow the tax depreciation. On the second property, however, book depreciation and tax
depreciation will differ because the book value of $600 at the time of contribution differs
from the tax basis of $300 at that time. Further, because the partnership will fully recover
through depreciation both the book basis and the tax basis of the asset at the same rate
each year, book depreciation each year will bear the same ratio to the book basis as the
tax depreciation each year bears to the tax basis. With three years remaining to
depreciate the second property for tax purposes, tax depreciation will equal 1/3 of the
remaining tax basis for each of the next three years (or $100 each year). Book
depreciation, therefore, also will equal 1/3 of the book basis for each of the next three
years (or $200 each year). As a result, at the end of three years of book and tax
depreciation, both the book basis and the tax basis of the second property will equal zero.
The definition of “Depreciation” above relies upon the definition of “Gross Asset Value”. A
Gross Asset Value definition often will resemble the following:
“Gross Asset Value” shall mean, with respect to any asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for
federal income tax purposes, except as follows:
the initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Partner to the
Partnership shall be the gross fair market value of such asset at the time of such
existing Partner in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (ii)
the distribution by the Partnership to a Partner of more than a de minimis amount
of Partnership property as consideration for an interest in the Partnership; and (iii)
the liquidation of the Partnership within the meaning of Section 1.7041(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Regulations or as otherwise provided in the Regulations;
the Gross Asset Value of any Partnership asset distributed to any Partner
shall be the gross fair market value of such asset on the date of distribution, as
the Gross Asset Values of Partnership assets shall be increased (or
decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant
to Section 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code, but only to the extent that such
adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) of the Regulations and Article ___; provided,
however, that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this clause (d)
to the extent the General Partner determines that an adjustment pursuant to clause
(b) above is necessary or appropriate in connection with a transaction that would
otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this clause (d).
If the Gross Asset Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to
clause (a), (b) or (d) above, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by
the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset for purposes of
computing Profits and Losses.
Under this definition above, the Gross Asset Value of a particular asset generally equals its
adjusted book value under the section 704(b) regulations. For example, the section 704(b) book
value assigned to an asset upon its contribution becomes its Gross Asset Value. Similarly, if the
partnership adjusts or “books-up” or “books-down” assets pursuant to the provisions of
Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(e), 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), the
adjusted book values of the assets become their Gross Asset Values. Finally, once the Gross
Asset Values of partnership assets have been established, such values are adjusted by
“Depreciation” using a “Depreciation” definition similar to the one described above. Under this
approach, the Gross Asset Values of partnership assets should always match their section 704(b)
book values as partnerships depreciate their assets over time for book purposes.
When partnerships increase or decrease the Gross Asset Values of their assets, they are treated as
if they actually sold the assets solely for book purposes (see, for example, clause (c) of the
definition of “Profits” and “Losses” below). Thus, as with any actual sale, items of profit or loss
for book purposes inevitably will arise. Partnerships adjusting Gross Asset Values will then take
these items of profit or loss into account in determining the overall profit and loss allocations to
the capital accounts of the partners.
Example 10 - Gross Asset Value:
Partner A contributes nondepreciable property with a fair market value of $500 and a tax
basis of $200 to a partnership. Under these facts, the initial Gross Asset Value of the
contributed property will equal $500. At a time when the property has increased in value
to $800, the partnership “books-up” its assets pursuant to Regulations Section 1.7041(b)(2)(iv)(f). As a result of the book-up, the partnership is treated as if it sold the
contributed asset for an amount equal to its fair market value (that is, $800) at the time of
the book-up. The resulting $300 in book gain ($800 new Gross Asset Value minus $500
initial Gross Asset Value) is treated as an item of profit in determining overall partnership
profit or loss. Going forward, the property will remain on the books of the partnership
with an $800 book value until it is adjusted again or disposed of. If the property was
depreciable, the partnership would reduce its Gross Asset Value of $800 by book
depreciation taken on the asset pursuant to a Depreciation definition included in the
Depreciation and gains or losses from adjustments to Gross Asset Values are just two of the
many items that partnerships must take into account in determining their net profit or net loss.
To capture as many of these items as possible, partnership agreements will often include a profit
and loss definition similar to the following:
“Profits” and “Losses” shall mean, for each Partnership year (or portion thereof), an
amount equal to the Partnership’s taxable income or loss for such year (or portion
thereof), determined in accordance with Section 703(a) of the Code (for this purpose, all
items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to
Section 703(a)(1) of the Code shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the
any income of the Partnership that is exempt from federal income tax and not
otherwise taken into account in computing taxable income or loss shall be added to such
any expenditures of the Partnership described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code
Regulations, and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses shall be
subtracted from such taxable income or loss;
if the Gross Asset Value of any Partnership asset is adjusted pursuant to clause (b)
or clause (d) of the definition of Gross Asset Value herein, the amount of such adjustment
shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for purposes
of computing Profits or Losses;
gain or loss resulting from any disposition of Partnership property with respect to
reference to the Gross Asset Value of the property disposed of, notwithstanding that the
adjusted tax basis of such property differs from its Gross Asset Value;
in lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken
into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account
Depreciation for such Partnership Year or other period, computed in accordance with the
definition of Depreciation herein; and
deduction which are specially allocated pursuant to Section ___ shall not be taken into
account in computing Profits or Losses.
This definition of “Profits” and “Losses” essentially seeks to convert partnership taxable income
or loss into section 704(b) book income or loss. To accomplish this, the definition begins with
taxable income or loss and then (i) adds back tax-exempt income that would not otherwise be
taken into account; and (ii) deducts nondeductible expenses that have not already been taken into
account. These particular additions and subtractions are important because both tax-exempt
income and nondeductible expenses have economic consequences (notwithstanding their lack of
tax effect) that partnerships need to reflect in the capital accounts of their partners. As a result,
the net profit or loss allocable to the partners simply must include these items even though they
are excluded from taxable income or loss.
The “Profits” and “Losses” definition also (i) adds back or deducts adjustments to the Gross
Asset Values of partnership assets from book-ups, book-downs and other adjustment events; (ii)
determines gains or losses from asset sales by reference to the Gross Asset Values of the assets
sold as opposed to their adjusted tax basis; and (iii) computes depreciation of partnership assets
as provided in the Depreciation definition. By applying these approaches, the “Profits” and
“Losses” definition uses exclusively section 704(b) book numbers and concepts in determining
partnership net profit or net loss. Section 704(c), on the other hand, is largely ignored for this
purpose. As a result, as discussed above, book-ups, book-downs and other capital account
adjustment events which have no direct income tax effect still may produce gains or losses for
book purposes that will flow through to the capital accounts of the partners via the definition of
“Profits” and “Losses”. Similarly, asset dispositions resulting in tax gains or losses will not
affect “Profit” or “Loss” unless they also result in gains or losses by reference to “Gross Asset
Values”. Finally, depreciation will be calculated for book purposes by reference to the defined
term “Depreciation” as opposed to using tax depreciation for the year.
The last provision of the “Profits” and “Losses” definition excludes all specially allocated items
from the calculation of net profit or loss. This provision is necessary to ensure that special
allocations and allocations subject to regulatory allocation provisions are targeted to the partners
that are intended or required to receive those allocations. Stated differently, if the “Profits” and
“Losses” definition included special allocations and regulatory allocations, then all partners
would share those allocations in the same way that “general” partnership items are shared (for
example, by percentages or according to a specified Waterfall arrangement). Specific targeting,
therefore, would not occur. Accordingly, to remove special allocations and regulatory
allocations from the general sharing provisions of the partnership agreement and allocate those
items in a totally independent and separate manner, the definition of “Profits” and “Losses”
excludes those items.
Boilerplate Provisions Related to the Regulatory Allocations.
As discussed in Part III.B. above, partnerships more commonly seek to satisfy the section 704(b)
substantial economic effect safe harbor by qualifying under the alternate economic effect test as
opposed to qualifying under the primary economic effect test. Further, to qualify under the
alternate economic effect test, (i) the partnership cannot allocate losses to cause a partner to have
a deficit adjusted capital account (that is, a deficit capital account that exceeds amounts the
partner is obligated to restore or deemed obligated to restore); and (ii) if a partner unexpectedly
receives a distribution or allocation that creates or increases a deficit adjusted capital account, the
partnership must allocate gross income to the partner to eliminate that deficit as quickly as
possible through a qualified income offset or QIO.
Because a loss limitation provision and a QIO are so essential to qualifying under the alternate
economic effect test, those provisions often are among the first provisions provided for in the
portion of the tax boilerplate that includes the regulatory allocations. In most cases, the loss
limitation will read similar to the following:
Loss Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section ___, the
amount of items of Partnership expense and loss allocated pursuant to this Section ___ to
any Partner shall not exceed the maximum amount of such items that can be so allocated
without causing such Partner to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit (or increasing
such a deficit) at the end of any Partnership Year (as determined taking into account the
expected items described in Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations). All such
items in excess of the limitation set forth in this section shall be allocated first to Partners
who would not have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, pro rata, until no Partner
would be entitled to any further allocation, and thereafter to the General Partner.
The loss limitation provision above is intended to prevent partners from receiving loss
allocations that reduce their negative capital accounts beyond the amounts they are obligated or
deemed obligated to restore. Stated differently, the provision seeks to prevent partners from
having capital accounts that are “impermissibly negative.” To accomplish this goal, the loss
limitation provision clearly states that loss allocations cannot cause partners to have “Adjusted
Capital Account Deficits.” Further, the provision often provides that if a loss allocation would
cause a partner to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit (or increase such a deficit); the
partnership will allocate the loss away from the partner to other partners who can absorb the loss
without having Adjusted Capital Account Deficits.
Example 11 - Loss Limitation Provision:
Partner A contributes $100 to a real estate partnership while Partner B contributes $10.
The partners agree to divide losses on an equal basis, and the partnership incurs a $30
loss in the first year. The partnership has no liabilities, and the partnership agreement
does not contain a DRO for either partner. Under these facts, the partnership can allocate
only $10 (instead of $15) of the $30 loss to Partner B because of the loss limitation
provision. The $5 that cannot be allocated to Partner B must instead be allocated to
Obviously, the key phrase in the loss limitation provision is “Adjusted Capital Account Deficit.”
That critical phrase is typically defined similar to the following:
“Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” shall mean, with respect to any Partner, the deficit
balance, if any, in such Partner’s Capital Account, as of the end of the relevant
Partnership Year, after giving effect to the following adjustments: (a) credit to such
Capital Account any amounts which such Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to any
provision of this Agreement or is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the
penultimate sentences of Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and (i)(5) of the Regulations; and (b)
debit to such Capital Account the items described in Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5)
and (6) of the Regulations. The foregoing definition of “Adjusted Capital Account
Deficit” is intended to comply with the provisions of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the
Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
In short, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit starts with a partner’s capital account balance and
then increases that balance by (i) amounts that the partner has agreed to contribute to the
partnership through a DRO or otherwise; and (ii) amounts the partner is deemed obligated to
contribute as a result of having a share of either partnership minimum gain (that is, the reference
in the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit definition to Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1)) or
partnership nonrecourse debt minimum gain (that is, the reference in the definition to
Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5)).
The sum derived from the calculation above is then reduced by the three categories of items
described in Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) (that is, the regulation section governing the
QIO). Specifically, reductions are made for (i) adjustments that, as of the end of the year,
reasonably are expected to be made to partners under Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(k)
for depletion allowances on oil and gas properties; (ii) allocations of loss and deduction that, as
of the end of such year, reasonably are expected to be made to partners under section 704(e)(2),
section 706(d) or Regulations Section 1.751-1(b)(1)(ii); and (iii) distributions that, as of the end
of the year, reasonably are expected to be made to partners in excess of offsetting items
increasing partner capital accounts that reasonably are expected to occur during (or prior to) the
partnership taxable years in which such distributions reasonably are expected to be made (subject
Stated simply, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit definition effectively is used to determine
the maximum amount of losses that the partnership can allocate to each of the partners by
looking not only at partner capital accounts but also the extent to which partners could have
impermissible negative capital accounts after taking into account minimum gain shares and
certain expected future events. Indeed, because partners may have negative capital accounts as
long as those negative capital accounts do not exceed their shares of partnership minimum gain
and partnership nonrecourse debt minimum gain, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit provision
adds both partnership minimum gain shares and partnership nonrecourse debt minimum gain
shares to partner capital accounts to determine the maximum amount of loss allocable to each
partner. Then, to the extent that the maximum amount of loss allocable to a partner is reasonably
expected to be “used up” by depletion deductions, other loss allocations or distributions in excess
of matching income allocations, that maximum loss allocation amount is reduced to take into
account those expected events.
Example 12 - Adjusted Capital Account Deficit:
Assume that Partner A and Partner B each contribute $50 to a 50-50 partnership that
borrows an additional $900 on a nonrecourse basis to acquire a building. After a number
of years of operations, the partners have collectively received losses of $500, $400 of
which qualify as nonrecourse deductions carrying with them shares of minimum gain.
Under these facts, both Partner A and Partner B will have negative capital accounts of
($200) ($50 in initial capital less $250 in allocated losses). Their “adjusted” capital
accounts for purposes of the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit definition, however, will
each equal $0 (negative capital account of ($200) plus $200 share of minimum gain). As
a result, even though both partners will have negative capital accounts, none of the $250
in losses allocated to each of them will create Adjusted Capital Account Deficits.
What if a partner somehow develops an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit without triggering the
QIO? Technically, this may be possible. QIOs typically provide that partners who unexpectedly
receive certain adjustments or distributions creating Adjusted Capital Account Deficits must
receive income allocations (including allocations of gross income) to eliminate their Adjusted
Capital Account Deficits as quickly as possible. While these provisions presumably will apply
to nearly all situations involving impermissible negative capital accounts, partners with
impermissible negative capital accounts resulting from events other than unexpected adjustments
or distributions technically may fall outside of the reach of the QIO. To address the possibility
that the QIO, by itself, may not eliminate all impermissible negative capital accounts, many
partnership agreements will contain a “belts and suspenders” provision similar to the following:
Gross Income Allocation. In the event a Member has a deficit Capital Account at the
end of any Allocation Year which is in excess of the sum of: (i) the amount such
Member is obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Regulations
Sections 1.704 2(g)(1) and 1.704 2(i)(5), each such Member shall be specially allocated
items of income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible, provided
that an allocation pursuant to this section shall be made only if and to the extent that such
Member would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other
allocations provided for in this Article have been made as if this section was not in the
Under the “Gross Income Allocation” provision above, partners with impermissible negative
capital accounts who are not subject to the QIO still will receive income allocations (including
gross income allocations) to eliminate their impermissible negative capital accounts as quickly as
possible. This result will take place even though the definition does not reference the Adjusted
Capital Account Deficit definition. This is because the “Gross Income Allocation” provision, if
triggered, will allocate income items (including gross income) to all partners with deficit capital
accounts in excess of their actual or deemed obligations to restore deficits in their capital
accounts. As a result, it effectively will work to reduce or eliminate all Adjusted Capital
Account Deficits. However, to the extent that impermissible negative capital accounts will not
exist after the partnership has made all other allocations to partners required under the
partnership agreement, the “Gross Income Allocation” by its terms will not apply. The
allocation provision, therefore, represents the “last line of defense” against partners having
impermissible negative capital accounts.
In addition to including provisions relating to loss limitation and the QIO, most regulatory
allocation sections will include a partnership minimum gain chargeback, a partner nonrecourse
debt minimum chargeback and one or more provisions relating to the allocation of nonrecourse
deductions. Those provisions and their accompanying definitions often resemble the following:
“Nonrecourse Liability” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.704-2(b)(3) of the
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt” shall have the meaning set forth for the term “partner
nonrecourse debt’ in Section 1.704-2(b)(4) of the Regulations.
“Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” shall have the meaning set forth for the
term “partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain” in Section 1.704-2(i)(2) of the
“Partnership Minimum Gain” shall have the meaning set forth for the term
“partnership minimum gain” in Section 1.704-2(b)(2) of the Regulations.
Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding anything in this
article to the contrary, if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any
Partnership Year, except as otherwise permitted by Sections 1.704-2(f)(2), (3), (4) and (5)
of the Regulations, items of Partnership income and gain for such year (and subsequent
years, if necessary) in the order provided in Section 1.704-2(j)(2) of the Regulations shall
be allocated among all Partners whose shares of Partnership Minimum Gain decreased
during such year in proportion to and to the extent of such Partner’s share of the net
decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during such year. The allocation contained in this
section is intended to be a minimum gain chargeback within the meaning of Section
1.704-2(f) of the Regulations, and it shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding
anything in this article to the contrary, if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse
Debt Minimum Gain during any Partnership Year, except as provided in Section 1.7042(i) of the Regulations, items of Partnership income and gain for such year (and
subsequent years, if necessary) in the order provided in Section 1.704-2(j)(2)(ii) of the
Regulations shall be allocated among all Partners whose share of Partner Nonrecourse
Debt Minimum Gain decreased during such year in proportion to and to the extent of
such Partner’s share of the net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain
during such year. This section is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback
requirement in Section 1.704-2 of the Regulations, and shall be interpreted consistently
Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. In accordance with Section 1.704-2(i)(1) of
the Regulations, any item of Partnership loss or deduction which is attributable to Partner
Nonrecourse Debt for which a Partner bears the economic risk of loss (such as a
nonrecourse loan made by a Partner to the Partnership or an otherwise nonrecourse loan
to the Partnership that has been guaranteed by a Partner) shall be allocated to that Partner
to the extent of its economic risk of loss.
The definitions above define which debts are subject to the special allocation and chargeback
rules for nonrecourse deductions. “Nonrecourse Liability” and “Partnership Minimum Gain”
refer to the amount of general “pure” nonrecourse debt (that is, debt where no partner has any
risk of loss) and the related amount of minimum gain that partnerships must allocate to partners
who receive deductions funded by such debt (so-called “nonrecouse deductions”). “Partner
Nonrecourse Debt” and “Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain” refer to the same concepts
as above except that they cover debt that is nominally nonrecourse but for which a partner bears
the risk of loss (as a result of being the lender or a guarantor) and the deductions funded by such
debt (so-called “partner nonrecourse deductions”).
Partnerships generally have some flexibility in allocating deductions and losses funded by
Nonrecourse Liabilities as long as they allocate such items in a manner that is consistent with
allocations of certain other significant items having substantial economic effect. 28 Consistent
with this general rule, many agreements specifically state that such deductions are allocated in
accordance with percentage interests or otherwise. Losses funded by Partner Nonrecourse Debt,
on the other hand, must be allocated to the partner who is the guarantor/lender because that
partner bears the economic risk of loss. 29 These loss allocations and the related minimum gain
are tracked in a manner similar to that of a Nonrecourse Liability and Partnership Minimum
To the extent that a deduction reduces the book basis of property secured by the nonrecourse or
partner nonrecourse debt to below the amount of the debt, the difference is either “Partnership
Minimum Gain” (in the case of a pure nonrecourse debt) or “Partner Nonrecourse Debt
Minimum Gain” (in the case of a partner nonrecourse debt). Further, if there is a subsequent
reduction in “Partnership Minimum Gain” or “Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain,” the
“Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback” or “Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain
Chargeback” provisions above will be triggered and specially allocate income or gain (including
gross income) to those partners whose shares of such Partnership Minimum Gain or Partner
Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain have decreased as a result of the reduction. The chargebacks,
in effect, balance the books of the partners by allocating income and gain from reductions in
nonrecourse or partner nonrecourse debt to those partners who received deductions based on the
nonrecourse debts in prior tax years.
Example 13 - Partnership Minimum Gain Chargeback:
Assume that Partner A and Partner B each contribute $50,000 to a 50-50 partnership that
borrows an additional $900,000 on a nonrecourse basis to acquire a $1,000,000 building.
After a number of years of operations during which no principal payments are made on
the debt, the partners collectively receive depreciation deductions of $500,000 ($250,000
each) from the building and reduce their capital accounts from $50,000 to ($200,000). Of
Reg. § 1.704-2(e)(2).
Reg. § 1.704-2(i).
the $500,000 in depreciation deductions, the first $100,000 are attributable to partner
equity while the remaining $400,000 qualify as nonrecourse deductions attributable to
partnership nonrecourse debt. Under these facts, the partnership will have $400,000 of
partnership minimum gain ($900,000 nonrecourse debt less $500,000 book basis equals
$400,000 minimum gain). As for the partners, both Partner A and Partner B will have
received $200,000 in nonrecourse deductions which will cause them to have minimum
gain shares of $200,000 each. These minimum gain shares support their negative capital
accounts of ($200,000) and prevent them from having Adjusted Capital Accounts
Deficits. However, if the partnership sells or otherwise disposes of the building, or if the
creditor of the nonrecourse loan forgives all or a portion of the loan, both partnership
minimum gain and the minimum gain shares of the partners will decrease. This decrease
will trigger the minimum gain chargeback provision described above and thereby force
allocations of income and gain (including gross income ) to both Partner A and Partner B.
Example 14 - Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain Chargeback:
Assume the same facts as in Example 13 above except that Partner A guarantees the
$900,000 nonrecourse debt and thereby causes the debt to become partner nonrecourse
debt for tax purposes. Under these facts, the partnership must allocate the $400,000 in
nonrecourse deductions (now partner nonrecourse deductions) solely to Partner A
because Partner A alone bears the economic risk of loss on the debt funding the
deductions. The $50,000 equity based deduction and the $400,000 in partner
nonrecourse deductions allocated to Partner A will decrease Partner A's capital account
from $50,000 to ($400,000). Similarly, the partnership will have $400,000 of partnership
nonrecourse debt minimum gain ($900,000 partner nonrecourse debt less $500,000
building book basis). Partner A will have a partnership nonrecourse debt minimum gain
share of $400,000 supporting Partner A's negative capital account of ($400,000) and
preventing Partner A from having an Adjusted Capital Accounts Deficit. Further, if the
partnership sells or otherwise disposes of the building, or if the creditor of the
nonrecourse loan forgives all or a portion of the loan, both partnership nonrecourse debt
minimum gain and the partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain share of Partner A will
decrease. Such a decrease will trigger the partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain
chargeback provision described above and force allocations of income and gain
(including gross income ) to Partner A.
What if a partnership triggers one of the regulatory allocation provisions and, as a result, some
partners receive income allocations that are not consistent with the overall economic
arrangement of the partners? For partnerships liquidating based on positive capital account
balances, this possibility may present a very real business concern. For example, if a regulatory
allocation provision kicks in and increases the capital accounts of some partners in a manner that
is not consistent with the overall economic arrangement, the regulatory allocation provision
could distort the economic deal of the partners absent some type of cure or reversal provision in
the partnership agreement. To address this potential economic concern, many partnership
agreements will include a provision similar to the following:
Curative Allocations. The allocations set forth in Sections ____ hereof (the “Regulatory
Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of the Regulations. It is
the intent of the Members that, to the extent possible, all Regulatory Allocations shall be
offset either with other Regulatory Allocations or with special allocations of other items
of Company income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this section. Therefore,
notwithstanding any other provision of this Section __ (other than the Regulatory
Allocations) to the contrary, the Manager shall make such offsetting special allocations of
income, gain, loss or deduction in whatever manner it determines appropriate so that,
after such offsetting allocations are made, each Member’s Capital Account balance is, to
the extent possible, equal to the Capital Account balance such Member would have had if
the Regulatory Allocations were not part of the Agreement and all Company items were
allocated pursuant to the general allocation provisions.
A curative allocation paragraph similar to the one provided above is not to be confused with the
section 704(c) “traditional method with curative allocations.” Indeed, a curative allocation
paragraph reverses mandatory section 704(b) regulatory allocations, to the greatest extent
possible, in order to maintain partner economic arrangements while the traditional method with
curative allocations is a section 704(c) tax allocation approach that seeks to correct ceiling rule
issues on section 704(c) property. To avoid confusion, some agreements use the term
“subsequent” allocations in lieu of “curative” allocations. Examples of how a “curative” or
“subsequent” allocation provision can apply are provided below:
Example 15 - Curative/Subsequent Allocations #1:
Partner A contributes $100 and Partner B contributes $20 to a new partnership. The
partnership agreement includes a loss limitation provision and a QIO. Further, the
agreement provides that the partners will share profits and losses equally and liquidate
according to positive capital account balances. The partnership incurs a loss of $50 in its
first year. In light of the loss limitation provision and Partner B having only a $20 initial
capital account, Partner B can receive only $20 of the $50 loss (instead of $25). Partner
A, on the other hand, will receive its full $25 share of the $50 overall loss plus the $5
portion of Partner B’s loss share that Partner B could not receive due to the loss limitation
provision. As a result, Partner A’s capital account will fall from $100 to $70, while
Partner B’s capital account falls from $20 to $0. In its second year, the partnership
generates a profit of $30 and, pursuant to the partnership agreement, divides the profit
equally between both partners. Thus, Partner A’s capital account increases from $70 to
$85, while Partner B’s capital account increases from $0 to $15. After its second year,
the partnership liquidates and distributes its remaining $100 according to the capital
accounts of the partners (that is, $85 to Partner A and $15 to Partner B). Taking the two
partnership years together, the partnership experienced a $20 net loss and divided the loss
$15 to Partner A and $5 to Partner B because of a regulatory allocation provision.
Accordingly, even though the partners agreed to share losses equally, the regulatory
allocation provisions undermined their overall 50-50 economic arrangement by
effectively assigning overall losses 75% to Partner A and 25% to Partner B.
Example 16 - Curative/Subsequent Allocations #2.
Assume the same facts as in Example 15 above, except that the partnership agreement
contains a “Subsequent Allocation” provision similar to the one provided above. Under
these revised facts, the capital accounts of Partner A and Partner B after the first year
would still equal the numbers used in Example 15 (that is, $70 for Partner A and $0 for
Partner B). However, instead of allocating the $30 profit equally in the partnership’s
second year, the “Subsequent Allocation” provision would override the general sharing
ratios of the partners and assign the $30 profit in a manner that would reverse the effect
of the regulatory allocation provision in year one. As a result, the partnership would
assign $20 of the $30 profit to Partner A and increase Partner A’s capital account from
$70 to $90. Similarly, the partnership would assign only $10 of the $30 profit to Partner
B to increase Partner B’s capital account from $0 to $10. Under this revised approach,
subsequent liquidation distributions of $90 to Partner A and $10 to Partner B would
correspond to the overall economic arrangement of the partners because each partner
would effectively bear 50% of the partnership’s net loss of $20 for the combined two
Boilerplate Provisions Related to Section 704(c).
In addition to all of the boilerplate provisions above addressing issues under section 704(b), most
partnership agreements will include at least one provision relating to section 704(c) in their tax
boilerplate. Section 704(c) boilerplate provisions may take many forms, but many will resemble
Section 704(c) Allocations. In accordance with Section 704(c) of the Code and the
Regulations thereunder, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property
contributed to the capital of the Partnership shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated
among the Partners under any reasonable method selected by the General Partner so as to
take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the
Partnership for federal income tax purposes and its initial Gross Asset Value. If the
Gross Asset Value of any Partnership asset is adjusted pursuant to clause (c) or (d) of the
definition thereof, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction with
respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of
such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Gross Asset Value in the same manner
as under Section 704(c) of the Code and the Regulations thereunder. Any elections or
other decisions relating to such allocations shall be made by the General Partner in a
manner that reasonably reflects the purpose and intention of this Agreement. Allocations
pursuant to this section are solely for purposes of federal, state and local taxes and shall
not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Partner’s Capital
Account or share of Profits, Losses, other items or distributions pursuant to any provision
The section 704(c) paragraph above essentially provides that if there are differences between the
book and tax basis of property (either as a result of contributions of built-in gain or loss property
to the partnership under section 704(c) (that is, “forward section 704(c)”) or through partnership
revaluations of assets under section 704(b) (that is, “reverse section 704(c)”)), then future tax
allocations shall “take that variation into account.” To “take that variation into account”
effectively means allocating built-in gain and built-in loss items in accordance with section
704(c) principles back to contributing partners and thereby preventing shifting of built-in gain or
built-in loss away from contributing partners.
In short, the section 704(c) paragraph above mirrors the statutory and regulatory requirements
under section 704(c). 30 This paragraph, moreover, allows the General Partner to decide how to
make section 704(c) allocations that are consistent with the intent of the agreement. In contrast,
many agreements specifically provide for the method under the regulations for taking such
difference into account (for example, the “Traditional,” the “Traditional with Curative
Allocations,” or the “Remedial” method under Regulations section 1.704-3(b), (c), or (d),
Insisting that a partnership agreement specifically identify the particular section 704(c) method
that will apply to built-in gain or loss property clearly makes sense when one does not represent
the person with the authority to select section 704(c) methods or when such a method issue may
create significant controversy among the partners. In general, partners contributing built-in gain
property will prefer the Traditional Method while partners contributing built-in loss property will
prefer either the Traditional Method with Curative Allocations or the Remedial Method.
Conversely, partners who contribute neither built-in gain nor built-in loss property (so-called
“noncontributing partners”) generally will prefer the Traditional Method with Curative
Allocations or the Remedial Method when other partners contribute built-in gain property and
the Traditional Method when other partners contribute built-in loss property. One advantage of
the Traditional Method with Curative Allocations is that there is more flexibility in when and
how to cure a shortfall. For example, if there is a depreciation shortfall, the tax cure can be
through a special allocation of gain on sale to cure the shortfall without resorting to the notional
income items that the Remedial Method requires. 31
Other Boilerplate Provisions.
The tax boilerplate provisions discussed above certainly do not represent an exhaustive list of all
of the tax boilerplate provisions included in partnership agreements. Many partnership
agreements, for example, will include provisions addressing how to adjust capital accounts when
elections are made under section 754, how to allocate profit or loss when the interests of
partners vary during the year, how to allocate “excess nonrecourse liabilities” for basis purposes
or other tax boilerplate provisions in addition to the provisions discussed in above. Nevertheless,
tax practitioners who adequately understand both the tax and economic consequences that can
arise with the boilerplate provisions discussed in this article should be well positioned to more
than adequately represent their clients who are entering into partnership arrangements.
As mentioned in the Introduction to this article, professionals who expect to regularly read and
write partnership and LLC agreements must be prepared to continually adapt to almost never
ending changes in both the business environment and the law for partnerships and LLCs.
However, even as partnership and LLC agreements expand or contract to address new business
and legal issues, the structure, organization and many of the provisions of such agreements are
likely to largely remain the same. Professionals who fully understand the points raised and
The regulations require this whether it is in the agreement or not – all the provision does is give the General
Partner the right to select the method.
See Reg. § 1.704-3(c)(3)(iii)(B).
discussed in this article, therefore, should be more than able to read and write sophisticated
partnership and LLC agreements for many years to come.
Appendix – Tax Boilerplate In Context of LLC Agreement
The section 704(b) value of post-formation capital contributed.
The amount the section 704(b) capital account is impermissibly negative
(i.e., negative after adjusting for certain expected events and after adding
back the amount a partner is obligated to contribute or is deemed
obligated to contribute due to partner’s share of nonrecourse debt
“Minimum Gain”).
The definition of the fiscal tax year for allocating Profits and Losses
based on tax year rules under section 706. This is usually a calendar year
but is based on the tax years the partners use.
The economic capital account of a partner based on section 704(b) asset
values (not necessarily fair market values). The value starts with the net
section 704(b) “Gross Asset Value” (or “book value”) of contributions,
adjusted up or down for the partner’s share of Profits and Losses, and
adjusted up or down for net partner contributions or distributions. The
accounts are typically reset to fair market value on certain “book-up”
events such as non-de minimis contributions, distributions, or issuances
of profits interests to service partners.
The section 704(b) value of net contributions at formation or through
This is the LLC equivalent of Partnership Minimum Gain, which is the
cumulative amount of unrecaptured deductions allocated to partners
funded by nonrecourse debt.
This is the annual section 704(b) depreciation of property based on the
book values of property. The annual book depreciation rate parallels the
tax depreciation rate so both book and tax depreciation end up at zero at
the same time. Thus, if the book value is $100 and the tax basis is $40 on
4-year straight line property, there is $10 of tax depreciation and $25 of
book Depreciation each year.
This is the section 704(b) value of property, often referred to as “book
value”. The book value of a property starts at the fair market value of the
property at the acquisition date, and is adjusted downward for the annual
Depreciation and is also adjusted up or down to fair market value if there
is a book-up or book-down event.
This is the LLC equivalent of Partner Nonrecourse Debt, which is debt
that is nominally nonrecourse, but for which a partner has personal
liability such as through a partner guarantee or if the partner or a related
person is at risk as the maker of the loan.
This is the parallel to Company/Partnership Minimum Gain except it
applies to Member/Partner Nonrecourse Debt as opposed to
Company/Partnership Nonrecourse Debt.
This is the parallel to Company/Partnership Nonrecourse Deductions
except it applies to Member/Partner Nonrecourse Debt as opposed to
These are the deductions funded from nonrecourse debt. For example, if
a $100 property is purchased with $30 of equity and $70 of nonrecourse
debt, these are the depreciation deductions after the first $30 of equitysourced deductions.
This is debt where the partnership’s obligation to pay is limited to the
value of specified partnership assets.
This is the percentage that the partners agree to share profits and losses
and is generally set forth in an exhibit at the back of the agreement
although is sometimes set forth in the Profit and Loss allocation section.
This is the definition of section 704(b) book profits and losses that are
allocated to the partners each year. The computation starts with the tax
profits and losses and adjusts for differences such as (1) adding back taxexempt income; (2) subtracting non-deductible non-capitalizable
expenses; (3) adjusting for book-up gains or book down losses; (4)
adjusting the amount of gains or losses from property sales to measure
the amount by reference to book values and not tax basis; and (5)
adjusting the amount of annual depreciation to use book Depreciation
instead of tax depreciation. The definition of Profit and Losses also
specifically excludes any book items that are specially allocated such as
through the Regulatory Allocations.
This is a definitional reference to the Regulatory Allocations for purposes
of the later Curative/Subsequent Allocation provision to minimize the
risk of the Regulatory Allocations unintentionally affecting the general
economics of the LLC agreement. The Regulatory Allocations dictate
the allocations relating to Nonrecourse Debt and include an overall loss
limitation as is required to meet the alternative economic effect safe
harbor under the section 704(b) regulations.
Tax Matters Member This is the person designated to represent the partnership in tax audits
and make certain other tax decisions.
[This includes the scheme for allocating Profits after special allocations.]
[This includes the scheme for allocating Losses after special allocations.]
Special Allocations. The following special allocations shall be made in the
Minimum Gain Chargeback. [Allocate Minimum Gain Chargeback to
the partner who received the prior Company/Partnership Nonrecourse Deductions. There is a
chargeback when there is a decrease in Minimum Gain such as a repayment of debt that has
supported prior Company/Partnership Nonrecourse Deductions. For example, assume a
partnership bought a property using $70 of Nonrecourse Debt and depreciated the property to
$50 to create $20 of Minimum Gain. If the partnership later repays $15 of debt, the Minimum
Gain decreases to $5 ($55 debt less $50 of book value) and the partnership must allocate the $15
of Minimum Gain Chargeback to the partners who received the prior Nonrecourse Deductions.]
Member Minimum Gain Chargeback. [Allocate gain to the partner
who received the prior Member/Partner Nonrecourse Deductions when there is a decrease in
Member/Partner Minimum Gain. This is the equivalent of a partnership Minimum Gain
Chargeback except that it relates to a decrease in Member/Partner Minimum Gain as opposed to
a decrease in Company/Partnership Minimum Gain.]
Qualified Income Offset. [Allocate gross income items to restore a
partner’s impermissibly negative capital account from unexpected distributions to the extent
there is an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit (i.e., the negative capital account exceeds what the
partner is actually or deemed obligated to restore from deficit restoration obligations or from its
share of Company/Partnership or Member/Partner Minimum Gain. Note that the Loss
Limitation is designed to avoid impermissibly negative capital accounts from loss allocations and
so should not give rise to a Qualified Income Offset.]
Gross Income Allocation. [This is effectively a back-stop to the
Qualified Income Offset since the former provision is limited to “unexpected distributions”
creating an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. This provision provides a similar gross income
allocation to offset an impermissible capital account deficit that may otherwise occur, such as
from “expected” distributions that create an impermissible Adjusted Capital Account Deficit.]
Nonrecourse Deductions. [This provision specially allocates
Company/Partnership Nonrecourse Deductions. Since no partner is at risk for these deductions,
the tax rules limit the ability to specially allocate these deductions to be consistent with some
other significant allocation that has economic effect. Frequently these deductions are allocated
in accordance with residual profit and loss sharing ratios (i.e., Percentage Interests).]
Member Nonrecourse Deductions. [This provision specially allocates
Member/Partner Nonrecourse Deductions. The regulations mandate that these deductions be
allocated to the partner who is at risk for these deductions (i.e., the partner-lender or partnerguarantor of the Nonrecourse Debt).]
Section 754 Adjustments. [This provision complies with technical
details of the §704(b) regulations to take into account certain adjustments under the §734(b) or
§743(b), such as how to allocate the increase in book value of a property when §734(b)
adjustment causes the tax basis of a property to exceed its prior book value.]
[This curative/subsequent allocation paragraph is designed to reverse any unintended
long-term effect of the tax boilerplate Regulatory Allocations (§§3.3 and 3.5). For example, if
the Loss Limitation provision redirected losses differently than the normal Loss sharing ratios,
this provision will reallocate future profits in reverse order so that the partner who received the
excess losses also receives offsetting excess Profits.]
[This paragraph prevents the allocation of losses to a partner that would cause that
partner’s capital account to be impermissibly negative and otherwise cause an Adjusted Capital
Account Deficit. This paragraph is designed to work in combination with the Qualified Income
Offset to satisfy the Alternate test for Economic Effect under the section 704(b) regulations.]
[This section includes allocation housekeeping provisions such as requiring that the
partnership follow the rules under section 706 for allocating Profit and Loss items within a single
year when there have been changes in partners’ interests during the year.]
[This provision requires that the partnership follow the mandatory rules under section
704(c) relating to the tracking of built-in tax gain or loss on contributed property or the parallel
rules for built-in tax gain or loss that is caused by a post-formation book-up or book-down of
partnership assets. Typically this provision will pick a specific method among the methods
allowed in the regulations for allocating such built-in tax gain or loss. The section 704(c)
method is often a significantly negotiated item as there can be significant differences in the tax
results, particularly with low-basis depreciable property.]
[This provision will often dictate when the K-1s are due to the partners.]
Tax Elections. [This provision explains who has authority to make
certain tax elections and other tax decisions. This often specifies the more important decisions
such as who has authority to file a section 754 election, extend the statute of limitations for the
partnership, and who serves as the Tax Matters Partner in the case of an IRS audit.]
Tax Classification.
[Sometimes a partnership will specify the making of certain tax elections to treat it as a
partnership for federal or state purposes.]
[This provision specifies the procedures for winding up including how proceeds are distributed
upon liquidation after reserves are provided for creditors. For a partnership that seeks to comply
with the primary or alternative section 704(b) safe harbors, the agreement will distribute
proceeds based on the partners’ positive capital accounts. In these safe harbor agreements, the
section 704(b) allocation language will directly affect the way the partners shared the economics
because the allocations drive the amount of the partners’ capital accounts. Many agreements will
instead liquidate with a specified distribution scheme, often referred to as a cash Waterfall, out of
concern that an error in the tax allocations could unintentionally affect the economics of the deal
(i.e., “cash is king”).]
Compliance With Certain Requirements of Regulations; Deficit Capital
[This provision specifies any partner obligations to restore negative capital accounts. This is
typically referred to as a Deficit Restoration Obligation, or DRO. Although a full DRO is
unusual because creditors of the partnership can enforce the DRO, sometimes a partner will have
a partial DRO.]
[This section lists the Capital Contributions and Percentage Interests of the partners.]
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