One of the hottest investment products being pitched by Wall Street, in the low interest environment that has persisted over the past few years, has been Energy Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) – an investment product with above average yields and, all too often, above average commissions for the financial advisors who have touted them.
Unfortunately, for many investors, one of the material facts associated with MLPs, that never seems to have been included in the sales presentations of their financial advisors, is the fact that tax-exempt accounts, such as IRAs and employee benefit plans, may incur substantial income tax liabilities if they own a MLP.
There is a concept in the tax code (I.R.C. §§511-514) called “unrelated business income tax” (“UBIT”). Under the UBIT rules, tax-exempt organizations and retirement accounts must pay tax on their “unrelated business taxable income” (UBTI) – income from a business that is not related to their exempt purpose.
If your IRA invests in an MLP, it becomes a limited partner in that MLP, just as you would if you invested directly. Because an MLP, like all partnerships, is a pass-through entity (no tax paid by the partnership, all tax items flow through to the limited partners/shareholders, who pay tax on their share), the partners are treated by the tax code as if they are directly earning the MLP’s income. Thus, as a partner in the MLP, the IRA or other account is considered to be “earning” its share of the MLP’s business income. The MLP’s business is not related to the retirement account’s tax-exempt purpose; therefore the IRA’s share of the MLP’s income is treated as UBTI and is taxed accordingly.
The latest U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission filings by a number of energy-related MLPs provide a clear example of the undisclosed income tax ramifications that could potentially impact investors in these products.
A case in point is clearly illustrated, for example, by the specific risk factor disclosure that was contained within the annual report (“Form 10-K”) that was filed by Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE:ETP) on February 29, 2016 for its fiscal year that ended on December 31, 2015:
Tax-exempt entities and non-U.S. persons face unique tax issues from owning Common Units that may result in adverse tax consequences to them.
“Investment in Common Units by tax-exempt entities, including employee benefit plans and individual retirement accounts (known as IRAs) and non-U.S. persons raises issues unique to them. For example, virtually all of our income allocated to Unit holders who are organizations exempt from federal income tax, including IRAs and other retirement plans, will be ‘unrelated business taxable income’ and will be taxable to them . . . If you are a tax exempt entity or non-U.S. person, you should consult your tax advisor before investing in our common units.”
Another clear illustration is the specific risk factor disclosure that was contained within the annual report (“Form 10-K”) that was filed by Plains All American Pipeline L.P. (NYSE:PAA) on February 25, 2016 for its fiscal year that ended on December 31, 2015:
Tax-exempt entities and non-U.S. persons face unique tax issues from owning our common units that may result in adverse tax consequences to them.
“Investment in common units by tax-exempt entities, such as employee benefit plans and IRAs, and non-U.S. persons raises issues unique to them. For example, virtually all of our income allocated to organizations that are exempt from federal income tax, including IRAs and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to them . . . Tax-exempt entities and non-U.S. persons should consult their tax advisor before investing in our common units.”
Finally there is the specific risk factor disclosure that was contained within the annual report (“Form 10-K”) that was filed by Buckeye Partners L.P. (NYSE:BPP) on February 25, 2016 for its fiscal year that ended on December 31, 2015:
Tax-exempt entities and non-U.S. persons face unique tax issues from owning our LP Units that may result in adverse tax consequences to them.
“Investment in LP Units by tax-exempt entities, such as employee benefit plans and individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), and non-U.S. persons raises issues unique to them. For example, virtually all of our income allocated to organizations that are exempt from federal income tax, including IRAs and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to them . . . If you are a tax-exempt entity or a non-U.S. person, you should consult your tax advisor before investing in our LP Units.”
The common theme that emerges from all of these risk disclosures – investors in MLPs who hold these products in their retirement accounts or other tax-exempt accounts may owe taxes, in some instances substantial taxes, on the “unrelated business income” that is allocated to their holdings.
If you are an individual or institutional investor who has any concerns about your investment in any Master Limited Partnership investment, please contact us for a no-cost and no-obligation evaluation of your specific facts and circumstances. You may have a viable claim for recovery of your investment losses by filing an individual securities arbitration claim with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).