PLR 1346007: Methanol and synthesis gas processing income qualifies under section 7704

Plain-English summary

The IRS ruled that a limited partnership’s income from processing and marketing methanol and synthesis gas produced from natural gas would be qualifying income under section 7704(d)(1)(E). The partnership planned to operate facilities through affiliated entities and sell the products to third-party distributors. The ruling relied on the representation that the products were produced through processing natural gas and treated that activity as processing or marketing a natural resource. The IRS did not rule on the partnership’s separate status for federal tax purposes.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Does income from processing and marketing methanol and synthesis gas produced from natural gas qualify under IRC § 7704(d)(1)(E)?
• Outcome: Approved
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 7704(a), 7704(b), 7704(c), 7704(d)(1)(E), and 708(b)(1)(B)

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201346007 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 11/15/2013 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 7704.03-00
Person To Contact:
---------------------------------------------- -------------------, ID No. ------------------
------------------------ Telephone Number:
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--------------------------------- Refer Reply To:
CC:PSI:B02
PLR-126653-13
Date:
July 18, 2013

Legend:

X = -----------------------
------------------------

State = --------------

Dear -----------:

This letter responds to a letter dated June 7, 2013 submitted on behalf of X, requesting
a ruling under § 7704(d)(1)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code.

X is a limited partnership organized under the laws of State. X intends to become a
publicly-traded partnership within the meaning of § 7704.

X will, through affiliated operating partnerships, limited liability companies, or
disregarded entities, operate two facilities that will process natural gas into methanol
and synthesis gas. Methanol and synthesis gas are produced through an integrated
process. First, the natural gas enters a steam methane reformer where under high heat
the natural gas is combined with steam to produce synthesis gas. Second, the
synthesis gas is converted into methanol, hydrogen and water in the presence of a
copper-based catalyst. X will then sell the methanol and synthesis gas to third-party
distributors, who then further distribute the methanol and synthesis gas to end-user
customers.
PLR-126653-13 2

X requests a ruling that income derived from processing and marketing of methanol and
synthesis gas produced through the processing of natural gas will constitute qualifying
income under § 7704(d)(1)(E).

Section 7704(a) provides generally that a publicly traded partnership shall be treated as
a corporation.

Section § 7704(b) provides that the term “publicly traded partnership” means any
partnership if (1) interests in the partnership are traded on an established securities
market, or (2) interests in the partnership are readily tradable on a secondary market (or
substantial equivalent thereof).

Section 7704(c)(1) exempts from treatment as a corporation any publicly traded
partnership for any tax year if the partnership meets the gross income requirements of
§ 7704(c)(2) for that year and each preceding tax year beginning after December 31,
1987, during which the partnership (or any predecessor) was in existence. Section
7704(c)(2) provides that a partnership meets the gross income requirements of § 7704
for any tax year if 90% or more of the partnership's gross income for that year consists
of qualifying income.

Section 7704(d)(1)(E) defines “qualifying income” to include income and gains derived
from the exploration, development, mining or production, processing, refining,
transportation, or marketing of any mineral or natural resource.

Based solely on the facts submitted and the representations made, we conclude that
the income derived by X from processing and marketing methanol and synthesis gas
produced from the processing of natural gas will constitute qualifying income under
§ 7704(d)(1)(E).

Except for the specific ruling above, we express or imply no opinion concerning the
federal tax consequences of the facts of this case under any other provision of the
Code. Specifically, we express or imply no opinion as to whether X is taxable as a
partnership for federal tax purposes.

This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer requesting it. However, in the event of a
technical termination of X under § 708(b)(1)(B), the resulting partnership may continue
to rely on this ruling in determining its qualifying income under § 7704(d)(1)(E).

According to § 6110(k)(3), this ruling may not be used or cited as precedent.
PLR-126653-13 3

Under a power of attorney on file with this office, we are sending a copy of this letter to
your authorized representative.

                                   Sincerely,



                                   Bradford R. Poston
                                   Senior Counsel, Branch 2
                                   (Passthroughs & Special Industries)

Enclosures (2)
Copy of this letter
Copy for § 6110 purposes