Mining and processing income qualifies under the publicly traded partnership rules

Plain-English summary

A limited liability company planned to form a publicly traded partnership that would mine and process a mineral or natural resource and earn income from sales, storage, and transportation. The partnership asked whether this income would be qualifying income under the publicly traded partnership rules. The IRS concluded that income from the described mining, processing, marketing, storage, and transportation activities would qualify under § 7704(d)(1)(E). The ruling did not determine whether the partnership would satisfy the separate 90 percent gross-income requirement.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Would the partnership's income from mining, processing, marketing, storage, and transportation qualify under § 7704(d)(1)(E)?
• Outcome: Approved, income treated as qualifying income
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 708(b)(1)(B), 7704(a), (b), (c), and (d)(1)(E)

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201408025 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 2/21/2014 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 7704.03-00
Person To Contact:
-------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------, ID No. -------------------
-------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------- Telephone Number:
--------------------------------- ----------------------
Refer Reply To:
CC:PSI:B01
PLR-129821-13
Date:
November 13, 2013

Legend

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

Y= -----------------

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

Feedstock = ----------------

Product = -----------------------

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

This letter responds to a letter dated June 28, 2013, submitted on behalf of X by X’s
authorized representative, requesting a ruling under § 7704(d)(1)(E) of the Internal
Revenue Code.

                                                 FACTS

X is a limited liability company organized under the laws of State. X intends to form a
limited partnership, Y, under the laws of State. After the consummation of an initial
public offering, Y will be publicly-traded partnership within the meaning of § 7704(b).
Y’s employer identification number will be applied for at the time of its organization.

Y will mine and process Feedstock to produce Products used in the --------------------------
----------------------------------. Feedstock will be processed into Product by being conveyed
through a series of steps in which ---------------------------------------------------. The
Feedstock is then ------------------------------------------------------ to produce Product.

PLR-129821-13 2

Product is sold to third --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------. In some cases, Y will enhance
the effectiveness of Product by ------------------------ Product -----------------------------. Y will
not sell Product at the retail level. In connection with the processing and sale of
Product, Y will also earn income from the storage and transportation of Product.

X requests a ruling that income derived from the mining, processing, sales, storage, and
transportation of Product, will constitute qualifying income under § 7704(d)(1)(E).

                                       LAW & ANALYSIS

Section 7704(a) provides that, except as provided in § 7704(c), a publicly traded
partnership will be treated as a corporation.

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

Section 7704(c)(1) provides that § 7704(a) does not apply to a publicly traded
partnership for any taxable year if such partnership meets the gross income
requirements of § 7704(c)(2) for the taxable year and each preceding taxable year
beginning after December 31, 1987, during which the partnership (or any predecessor)
was in existence.

Section 7704(c)(2) provides, in relevant part, that a partnership meets the gross income
requirements of § 7704(c)(2) for any taxable year if 90 percent or more of the gross
income of the partnership for the taxable year consists of qualifying income.

Section 7704(d)(1)(E) provides that the term “qualifying income” includes income and
gains derived from the exploration, development, mining or production, processing,
refining, transportation (including pipelines transporting gas, oil, or products thereof), or
the marketing of any mineral or natural resource (including fertilizer, geothermal energy,
and timber).

                                          CONCLUSION

Based solely on the facts submitted and the representations made, we conclude that
income derived by Y from the mining, processing, marketing, storage, and
transportation of Product will constitute qualifying income under § 7704(d)(1)(E).

Except as expressly provided herein, no opinion is expressed or implied concerning the
federal tax consequences of any aspect of any transaction or item discussed or

PLR-129821-13 3

referenced in this letter. In particular, no opinion is expressed as to whether X meets
the 90 percent gross income requirement of § 7704(c)(1) in any taxable year for which
this ruling may apply.

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). Section
6110(k)(3) of the Code provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.

                                  Sincerely,


                                  Laura C. Fields
                                  Laura C. Fields
                                  Senior Technician Reviewer, Branch 1
                                  Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
                                  (Passthroughs & Special Industries)

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

cc: