Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read, in
part, as follows:
Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
Par. 2. Section 1.704-2 is amended as follows:
1. The text of paragraph (f)(2), the first sentence of paragraph (g)(3),
and the third sentence of paragraph (i)(4) are revised.
2. Paragraph (l)(1)(iv) is added.
§1.752-2 Partner’s share of recourse liabilities.
(a) * * * A partner’s share of a recourse partnership liability
equals the portion of that liability, if any, for which the partner or related
person bears the economic risk of loss. The determination of the extent to
which a partner bears the economic risk of loss for a partnership liability
is made under the rules in paragraphs (b) through (k) of this section.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(6) * * * See paragraphs (j) and (k) of this section.
* * * * *
(h) * * *
(3) Valuation. The extent to which a partner
bears the economic risk of loss for a partnership liability as a result of
a direct pledge described in paragraph (h)(1) of this section or an indirect
pledge described in paragraph (h)(2) of this section is limited to the net
fair market value of the property (pledged property) at the time of the pledge
or contribution. If a partner provides additional pledged property, the addition
is treated as a new pledge and the net fair market value of the pledged property
(including but not limited to the additional property) must be determined
at that time. For purposes of this paragraph (h), if pledged property is
subject to one or more other obligations, those obligations must be taken
into account in determining the net fair market value of pledged property
at the time of the pledge or contribution.
* * * * *
(k) Effect of a disregarded entity—(1) In
general. In determining the extent to which a partner bears the
economic risk of loss for a partnership liability, an obligation under paragraph
(b)(1) of this section (§1.752-2(b)(1) payment obligation) of a business
entity that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner under sections
856(i) or 1361(b)(3) or §§301.7701-1 through 301.7701-3 of this
chapter (disregarded entity) is taken into account only to the extent of the
net value of the disregarded entity as of the allocation date (as defined
in paragraph (k)(2)(iv) of this section) that is allocated to the partnership
liability as determined under the rules of this paragraph (k). The rules
of this paragraph (k) do not apply to a §1.752-2(b)(1) payment obligation
of a disregarded entity to the extent that the owner of the disregarded entity
is otherwise required to make a payment (that satisfies the requirements of
paragraph (b)(1) of this section) with respect to the obligation of the disregarded
entity.
(2) Net value of a disregarded entity—(i) Definition.
For purposes of this paragraph (k), the net value of a disregarded entity
equals the following—
(A) The fair market value of all assets owned by the disregarded entity
that may be subject to creditors’ claims under local law (including
the disregarded entity’s enforceable rights to contributions from its
owner and the fair market value of an interest in any partnership other than
the partnership for which net value is being determined, but excluding the
disregarded entity’s interest in the partnership for which the net value
is being determined and the net fair market value of property pledged to secure
a liability of the partnership under paragraph (h)(1) of this section); less
(B) All obligations of the disregarded entity that do not constitute
§1.752-2(b)(1) payment obligations of the disregarded entity.
(ii) Timing of the net value determination—(A) Initial
determination. If a partnership interest is held by a disregarded
entity, and the partnership has or incurs a liability, all or a portion of
which may be allocable to the owner of the disregarded entity under this paragraph
(k), the disregarded entity’s net value must be initially determined
on the allocation date described in paragraph (k)(2)(iv) of this section.
(B) Other events. If a partnership interest is
held by a disregarded entity, and the partnership has or incurs a liability,
all or a portion of which may be allocable to the owner of the disregarded
entity under this paragraph (k), then, if one or more valuation events (as
defined in paragraph (k)(2)(iii) of this section) occur during the partnership
taxable year, except as provided in paragraph (k)(2)(iii)(E) of this section,
the net value of the disregarded entity is determined on the allocation date
described in paragraph (k)(2)(iv) of this section.
(iii) Valuation events. The following are valuation
events for purposes of this paragraph (k):
(A) A more than de minimis contribution to a disregarded
entity of property other than property pledged to secure a partnership liability
under paragraph (h)(1) of this section, unless the contribution is followed
immediately by a contribution of equal net value by the disregarded entity
to the partnership for which the net value of the disregarded entity otherwise
would be determined, taking into account any obligations assumed or taken
subject to in connection with such contributions.
(B) A more than de minimis distribution from a
disregarded entity of property other than property pledged to secure a partnership
liability under paragraph (h)(1) of this section, unless the distribution
immediately follows a distribution of equal net value to the disregarded entity
by the partnership for which the net value of the disregarded entity otherwise
would be determined, taking into account any obligations assumed or taken
subject to in connection with such distributions.
(C) A change in the legally enforceable obligation of the owner of the
disregarded entity to make contributions to the disregarded entity.
(D) The incurrence, refinancing, or assumption of an obligation of the
disregarded entity that does not constitute a §1.752-2(b)(1) payment
obligation of the disregarded entity.
(E) The sale or exchange of a non-de minimis asset
of the disregarded entity (in a transaction that is not in the ordinary course
of business). In this case, the net value of the disregarded entity may be
adjusted only to reflect the difference, if any, between the fair market value
of the asset at the time of the sale or exchange and the fair market value
of the asset when the net value of the disregarded entity was last determined.
The adjusted net value is taken into account for purposes of §1.752-2(k)(1)
as of the allocation date.
(iv) Allocation Date. For purposes of this paragraph
(k), the allocation date is the earlier of—
(A) The first date occurring on or after the date on which the requirement
to determine the net value of a disregarded entity arises under paragraph
(k)(2)(ii)(A) or (B) of this section on which the partnership otherwise determines
a partner’s share of partnership liabilities under §§1.705-1(a)
and 1.752-4(d); or
(B) The end of the partnership’s taxable year in which the requirement
to determine the net value of a disregarded entity arises under paragraph
(k)(2)(ii)(A) or (B) of this section.
(3) Multiple liabilities. If one or more disregarded
entities have §1.752-2(b)(1) payment obligations with respect to one
or more liabilities of a partnership, the partnership must allocate the net
value of each disregarded entity among partnership liabilities in a reasonable
and consistent manner, taking into account the relative priorities of those
liabilities.
(4) Reduction in net value of a disregarded entity.
For purposes of this paragraph (k), the net value of a disregarded entity
is determined by taking into account a subsequent reduction in the net value
of the disregarded entity if, at the time the net value of the disregarded
entity is determined, it is anticipated that the net value of the disregarded
entity will subsequently be reduced and the reduction is part of a plan that
has as one of its principal purposes creating the appearance that a partner
bears the economic risk of loss for a partnership liability.
(5) Information to be provided by the owner of a disregarded
entity. A partner that may be treated as bearing the economic
risk of loss for a partnership liability based upon a §1.752-2(b)(1)
payment obligation of a disregarded entity must provide information to the
partnership as to the entity’s tax classification and the net value
of the disregarded entity that is appropriately allocable to the partnership’s
liabilities on a timely basis.
(6) Examples. The following examples illustrate
the rules of this paragraph (k):
Example 1. Disregarded entity with net
value of zero. (i) In 2007, A forms a wholly owned domestic limited
liability company, LLC, with a contribution of $100,000. A has no liability
for LLC’s debts, and LLC has no enforceable right to contribution from
A. Under §301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii) of this chapter, LLC is a disregarded
entity. Also in 2007, LLC contributes $100,000 to LP, a limited partnership
with a calendar year taxable year, in exchange for a general partnership interest
in LP, and B and C each contributes $100,000 to LP in exchange for a limited
partnership interest in LP. The partnership agreement provides that only
LLC is required to make up any deficit in its capital account. On January
1, 2008, LP borrows $300,000 from a bank and uses $600,000 to purchase nondepreciable
property. The $300,000 debt is secured by the property and is also a general
obligation of LP. LP makes payments of only interest on its $300,000 debt
during 2008. LP has a net taxable loss in 2008, and under §§1.705-1(a)
and 1.752-4(d), LP determines its partners’ shares of the $300,000 debt
at the end of its taxable year, December 31, 2008. As of that date, LLC holds
no assets other than its interest in LP.
(ii) Because LLC is a disregarded entity, A is treated as the partner
in LP for Federal tax purposes. Only LLC has an obligation to make a payment
on account of the $300,000 debt if LP were to constructively liquidate as
described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section. Therefore, under this paragraph
(k), A is treated as bearing the economic risk of loss for LP’s $300,000
debt only to the extent of LLC’s net value. Because that net value
is $0 on December 31, 2008, when LP determines its partners’ shares
of its $300,000 debt, A is not treated as bearing the economic risk of loss
for any portion of LP’s $300,000 debt. As a result, LP’s $300,000
debt is characterized as nonrecourse under §1.752-1(a) and is allocated
as required by §1.752-3.
Example 2. Disregarded entity with positive
net value. (i) The facts are the same as in Example
1 except that on January 1, 2009, A contributes $250,000 to LLC.
On January 5, 2009, LLC borrows $100,000 and LLC shortly thereafter uses
the $350,000 to purchase unimproved land. LP makes payments of only interest
on its $300,000 debt during 2009. As of December 31, 2009, LLC holds its
interest in LP and the land, the value of which has declined to $275,000.
LP has a net taxable loss in 2009, and under §§1.705-1(a) and 1.752-4(d),
LP determines its partners’ shares of the $300,000 debt at the end of
its taxable year, December 31, 2009.
(ii) A’s contribution of $250,000 to LLC on January 1, 2009, constitutes
a more than de minimis contribution of property to LLC
under paragraph (k)(2)(iii)(A) of this section and the debt incurred by LLC
on January 5, 2009, is a valuation event under paragraph (k)(2)(iii)(D) of
this section. Accordingly, under paragraph (k)(2)(ii) of this section, LLC’s
value must be redetermined as of the end of the partnership’s taxable
year. At that time LLC’s net value is $175,000 ($275,000 land - $100,000
debt). Accordingly, $175,000 of LP’s $300,000 debt will be recharacterized
as recourse under §1.752-1(a) and allocated to A under this section,
and the remaining $125,000 of LP’s $300,000 debt will remain characterized
as nonrecourse under §1.752-1(a) and is allocated as required by §1.752-3.
Example 3. Multiple partnership liabilities.
(i) The facts are the same as in Example 2 except that
on January 1, 2010, A forms another wholly owned domestic limited liability
company, LLC2, with a contribution of $120,000. Shortly thereafter, LLC2
uses the $120,000 to purchase stock in X corporation. A has no liability
for LLC2’s debts, and LLC2 has no enforceable right to contribution
from A. Under §301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii) of this chapter, LLC2 is a disregarded
entity. On July 1, 2010, LP borrows $100,000 from a bank and uses the $100,000
to purchase nondepreciable property. The $100,000 debt is secured by the
property and is also a general obligation of LP. The $100,000 debt is senior
in priority to LP’s existing $300,000 debt. Also, on July 1, 2010,
LLC2 agrees to guarantee both LP’s $100,000 and $300,000 debts. LP
makes payments of only interest on both its $100,000 and $300,000 debts during
2010. LP has a net taxable loss in 2010 and, under §§1.705-1(a)
and 1.752-4(d), must determine its partners’ shares of its $100,000
and $300,000 debts at the end of its taxable year, December 31, 2010. As
of that date, LLC holds its interest in LP and the land, and LLC2 holds the
X corporation stock which has appreciated in value to $140,000.
(ii) Both LLC and LLC2 have obligations to make a payment on account
of LP’s debts if LP were to constructively liquidate as described in
paragraph (b)(1) of this section. Therefore, under paragraph (k)(1) of this
section, A is treated as bearing the economic risk of loss for LP’s
$100,000 and $300,000 debts only to the extent of the net values of LLC and
LLC2, as allocated among those debts in a reasonable and consistent manner
pursuant to paragraph (k)(3) of this section.
(iii) No events have occurred that would allow a valuation of LLC under
paragraph (k)(2)(iii) of this section. Therefore, LLC’s net value remains
$175,000. LLC2’s net value as of December 31, 2010, when LP determines
its partners’ shares of its liabilities, is $140,000. Under paragraph
(k)(3) of this section, LP must allocate the net values of LLC and LLC2 between
its $100,000 and $300,000 debts in a reasonable and consistent manner. Because
the $100,000 debt is senior in priority to the $300,000 debt, LP first allocates
the net values of LLC and LLC2, pro rata, to its $100,000
debt. Thus, LP allocates $56,000 of LLC’s net value and $44,000 of
LLC2’s net value to its $100,000 debt, and A is treated as bearing the
economic risk of loss for all of LP’s $100,000 debt. As a result, all
of LP’s $100,000 debt is characterized as recourse under §1.752-1(a)
and is allocated to A under this section. LP then allocates the remaining
$119,000 of LLC’s net value and LLC2’s $96,000 net value to its
$300,000 debt, and A is treated as bearing the economic risk of loss for a
total of $215,000 of the $300,000 debt. As a result, $215,000 of LP’s
$300,000 debt is characterized as recourse under §1.752-1(a) and is allocated
to A under this section, and the remaining $85,000 of LP’s $300,000
debt is characterized as nonrecourse under §1.752-1(a) and is allocated
as required by §1.752-3. This example illustrates one reasonable method
of allocating net values of disregarded entities among multiple partnership
liabilities.
Example 4. Disregarded entity with interests
in two partnerships. (i) In 2007, B forms a wholly owned domestic
limited liability company, LLC, with a contribution of $175,000. B has no
liability for LLC’s debts and LLC has no enforceable right to contribution
from B. Under §301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii) of this chapter, LLC is a disregarded
entity. LLC contributes $50,000 to LP1 in exchange for a general partnership
interest in LP1, and $25,000 to LP2 in exchange for a general partnership
interest in LP2. LLC retains the $100,000 in cash. Both LP1 and LP2 have
taxable years that end on December 31 and, under both LP1’s and LP2’s
partnership agreements, only LLC is required to make up any deficit in its
capital account. During 2007, LP1 and LP2 incur partnership liabilities that
are general obligations of the partnership. LP1 borrows $300,000 (Debt 1),
and LP2 borrows $60,000 (Debt 2) and $40,000 (Debt 3). Debt 2 is senior in
priority to Debt 3. LP1 and LP2 make payments of only interest on Debts 1,
2, and 3 during 2007. As of the end of taxable year 2007, LP1 and LP2 each
have a net taxable loss and must determine its partners’ shares of partnership
liabilities under§§1.705-1(a) and 1.752-4(d) as of December 31,
2007. As of that date, LLC’s interest in LP1 has a fair market value
of $45,000, and LLC’s interest in LP2 has a fair market value of $15,000.
(ii) Because LLC is a disregarded entity, B is treated as the partner
in LP1 and LP2 for federal tax purposes. Only LLC has an obligation to make
a payment on account of Debts 1, 2, and 3 if LP1 and LP2 were to constructively
liquidate as described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section. Therefore, under
this paragraph (k), B is treated as bearing the economic risk of loss for
LP1’s and LP2’s liabilities only to the extent of LLC’s
net value as of the allocation date, December 31, 2007.
(iii) LLC’s net value with respect to LP1 is $115,000 ($100,000
cash + $15,000 interest in LP2). Therefore, under paragraph (k)(1) of this
section, B is treated as bearing the economic risk of loss for $115,000 of
Debt 1. Accordingly, $115,000 of LP1’s $300,000 debt is characterized
as recourse under §1.752-1(a) and is allocated to B under this section.
The balance of Debt 1 ($185,000) is characterized as nonrecourse under §1.752-1(a)
and is allocated as required by §1.752-3.
(iv) LLC’s net value with respect to LP2 is $145,000 ($100,000
cash + $45,000 interest in LP1). Therefore, under paragraph (k)(1) of this
section, B is treated as bearing the economic risk of loss with respect to
Debts 2 and 3 only to the extent of $145,000. Because Debt 2 is senior in
priority to Debt 3, LP2 first allocates $60,000 of LLC’s net value to
Debt 2. LP2 then allocates $40,000 of LLC’s net value to Debt 3. As
a result, both Debts 2 and 3 are characterized as recourse under §1.752-1(a)
and allocated to B. This example illustrates one reasonable method of allocating
the net value of a disregarded entity among multiple partnership liabilities.
(l) Effective dates. Paragraph (a), the last sentence
of paragraph (b)(6), and paragraphs (h)(3) and (k) of this section apply to
liabilities incurred or assumed by a partnership on or after October 11, 2006,
other than liabilities incurred or assumed by a partnership pursuant to a
written binding contract in effect prior to that date. The rules applicable
to liabilities incurred or assumed (or subject to a binding contract in effect)
prior to October 11, 2006, are contained in §1.752-2 in effect prior
to October 11, 2006 (see 26 CFR part 1 revised as of April 1, 2006).