Exam 10: Partnerships: Formation, Operation, and Basis

Syndication costs arise when partnership interests are being marketed to investors. These costs are amortized over 180 months.

Alicia and Barry form the AB Partnership at the start of the current year with a land contribution by Barry and a cash contribution by Alicia. Barry's contributed property is subject to a recourse mortgage assumed by the partnership. Barry has an 80% interest in AB's profits and losses. The land has been held by Barry for the past 6 years as an investment. It will be used by AB as an operating asset in its parking lot business. Which of the following statements is correct?

If the partnership properly makes an election for treatment of a specific tax item, the partner is bound by that treatment.

The governing document of a limited liability company (LLC) is a partnership agreement which should spell out the partners' rights and obligations.

BCD Partners reported the following items on the partnership's Schedule K: ordinary income, $72,000; interest income, $5,000; long-term capital gain, $8,000; charitable contributions, $3,000; post-1986 depreciation adjustment, $4,000; and cash distributions to partners, $20,000. How much will BCD show as net income (loss) on its Analysis of Income (Loss)?

A partnership's allocations of income and deductions to the partners are required to be proportionate to the partners' percentage ownership of partnership capital in order to meet the substantial economic effect tests.

In the current year, Derek formed an equal partnership with Cody. Derek contributed land with an adjusted basis of $110,000 and a fair market value of $200,000. Derek also contributed $50,000 cash to the partnership. Cody contributed land with an adjusted basis of $80,000 and a fair market value of $230,000. The land contributed by Derek was encumbered by a $60,000 nonrecourse debt. The land contributed by Cody was encumbered by $40,000 of nonrecourse debt. Assume the partners share debt equally. Immediately after the formation, what is the basis of Cody's partnership interest?

One of the disadvantages of the partnership form is that the partner's share of the partnership's taxable income is taxed to the partner, regardless of whether or not distributed.

Rebecca is a partner in the RST Partnership, which is not publicly traded. Her allocable share of RST's passive ordinary losses from a nonrealty activity for the current year is ($60,000). Rebecca has a $40,000 adjusted basis (outside basis) for her interest in RST (before deduction of any of the passive losses). Her amount "at risk" under § 465 is $30,000 (before deduction of any of the passive losses). She also has $25,000 of passive income from other sources. How much of her ($60,000) allocable loss can Rebecca deduct on her current year's tax return?

James and Kendis created the JK Partnership by contributing $60,000 each. The $120,000 cash was used by the partnership to acquire a depreciable asset. The partnership agreement provides that the partners' capital accounts will be maintained in accordance with Reg. § 1.704-1(b) (the "economic effect" Regulations) and that any partner with a deficit capital account will be required to restore that capital account when the partner's interest is liquidated. The partnership agreement provides that MACRS will be allocated 10% to James and 90% to Kendis. All other items of partnership income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit will be allocated equally between the partners. In the first year, MACRS is $20,000 and no other operating transactions occur. The property is sold at the end of the year for $100,000 and the partnership is liquidated immediately thereafter. To satisfy the economic effect test, how much of the $100,000 cash (from the sale) is allocated each to James and Kendis?

Ashley purchased her partnership interest from Lindsey on the first day of the current year for $40,000 cash. She received a $10,000 cash distribution from the partnership during the year, and her share of partnership income is $15,000. If her share of partnership liabilities on the last day of the partnership year is $20,000, her outside basis for her partnership interest at the end of the year is $65,000.

Match each of the following statements with the terms below that provide the best definition.

The MOG Partnership reports ordinary income of $60,000, long-term capital gain of $12,000, and tax-exempt income of $12,000. The partnership agreement provides that Molly will receive all long-term capital gains and George will receive all tax-exempt interest income. Their allocation of ordinary income will be reduced accordingly, and Olivia will be allocated a proportionately greater share of ordinary income. (In other words, each partner will receive allocations totaling 1/3 of the total $84,000 of partnership income.) This allocation was agreed upon because Molly and George are in a high marginal tax bracket and Olivia is in a low marginal tax bracket.

Julie owns property that is treated as a capital asset in her hands. She contributed a parcel of land (basis $60,000; fair market value $58,000) to a real estate partnership, which will hold it as inventory. After three years, the partnership sells the land for $56,000. The partnership will recognize a $4,000 ordinary loss on sale of the property.

The partnership must allocate nonrecourse debt among the partners according to the "constructive liquidation scenario."

During the current year, John and Ashley form the JA Partnership and agree to share profits and losses equally. Ashley contributes land with a fair market value of $80,000 (subject to a $30,000 nonrecourse mortgage). On the contribution date, Ashley's adjusted basis in the land is $40,000. Immediately after formation, Ashley's partnership outside basis is $25,000.

Maria owns a 60% interest in the KLM Partnership. Four years ago her father gave her a parcel of land. The gift basis of the land to Maria is $60,000. In the current year, Maria had still not figured out how to use the land for her own personal or business use; consequently, she sold the land to the partnership for $75,000. The partnership immediately started using the land as a parking lot for its employees. Maria's recognized gain of $15,000 on the sale is capital-not ordinary.

Harry and Sally are considering forming a partnership. Both taxpayers use the calendar year and are cash basis taxpayers. The partnership will not be a tax shelter. The partners are uncertain as to whether the partnership should use the cash or accrual method of accounting. Also, the idea of a tax deferral in the first year of operations has led them to consider using a June 30 fiscal year-end for the partnership.

On Form 1065, partners' capital accounts should be determined using the same method on Schedule L, Schedule M-2, and the Schedules K-1 prepared for the partners.

Meagan is a 40% general partner in the calendar year, cash basis MKK Partnership. The partnership received $100,000 income from services and paid the following other amounts: How much will Meagan's adjusted gross income increase as a result of the above items?