Case Name: MUBEN-LAMAR, L.P., a New Jersey Limited Partnership, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2000-04-20
Citations: 763 So. 2d 1209
Docket Number: No. 1D99-1810
Parties: MUBEN-LAMAR, L.P., a New Jersey Limited Partnership, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, Appellee.
Judges: BARFIELD, C.J., and ALLEN, J., CONCUR. LAWRENCE, J„ SPECIALLY CONCURS WITH OPINION.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 763
Pages: 1209–1211

Head Matter:
MUBEN-LAMAR, L.P., a New Jersey Limited Partnership, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, Appellee.
No. 1D99-1810.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
April 20, 2000.
Larry Levy of The Levy Law Firm, Tallahassee, and William J. Deas, P.A., Jacksonville, for Appellant.
Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, and Jeffrey M. Dikman, Assistant Attorney General, Tallahassee, for Appellee.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Muben-Lamar, L.P., appeals an order entering final summary judgment in favor of the Department of Revenue and deter mining Muben-Lamar was not entitled to refund of documentary stamp tax paid. We affirm.
Muben-Lamar has three partners. Mu-ben Realty Company and Lamar Eastern, L.P. each hold a 1% interest in the partnership. Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company (Mutual Benefit) holds a 98% interest in the partnership. Muben Lamar's partnership agreement provided that the initial capital contribution of Mu-ben and Mutual Benefit "shall consist of the real property interests identified on Exhibit A attached hereto. Within 30 days of execution of this agreement, Mutual Benefit, on behalf of itself and Muben, shall contribute to the partnership the initial properties.... The partners agree that the fair market value of each of the initial properties and related property contributed by Mutual Benefit is as stated on exhibit A." Exhibit A of the partnership agreement indicated the property had a value of $22,890,391. Lamar Eastern, L.P. contributed a $280,160, ten-year, non-interest bearing promissory note in lieu of cash contribution. Mutual Benefit transferred the properties, and Muben-Lamar paid documentary stamp tax in the amount of $207,561.15.
Muben-Lamar later sought a refund of the taxes paid. The Department denied a refund, asserting the 1990 amendment to section 201.02, Florida Statutes, indicated a legislative intent that transfers of property to corporations, partnerships, or other business entities were to be subject to tax on their fair market values. Muben-La-mar then filed an action for declaratory judgment. Muben-Lamar asserted it was not a purchaser within the purview of section 201.02 and no consideration flowed from Muben-Lamar to Mutual Benefit.
The trial judge issued summary final judgment in favor of the Department. The trial judge correctly determined that the partnership bought the real property by issuing valuable partnership interests in consideration for land. This case involved a straightforward exchange of land for personalty. By statute, a partnership is an entity separate and distinct from its partners. § 620.8201, Fla. Stat. (1997). We acknowledge that our decision conflicts with the decision in Kuro, Inc. v. State, Department of Revenue, 713 So.2d 1021 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998).
AFFIRMED.
BARFIELD, C.J., and ALLEN, J., CONCUR. LAWRENCE, J" SPECIALLY CONCURS WITH OPINION.