A state urban-development subsidiary is condemning land in midtown Manhattan and will ground-lease it to our LLC for 99 years (with an option to buy for $10 after 29 years) so we can build an office tower to be converted to condominium units for our two members. (1) Is transfer tax due when the state delivers vacant possession of the land to us and our lease rights actually begin? (2) Is the tax based only on the $85.56 million land price plus limited percentage rent, or does it include reimbursable excess acquisition costs? (3) Does merely signing the ground lease and recording a memorandum of it trigger tax before possession is delivered? (4) Is transferring the finished condominium units from the LLC to its two members, who always beneficially owned their own space, exempt?

Plain-English summary

This ruling addresses the real estate transfer tax treatment of the land acquisition and development structure for what became the New York Times Building project on the east side of Eighth Avenue between 40th and 41st Streets in midtown Manhattan. Petitioners -- The New York Times Company and Forest City Ratner, on behalf of themselves and a newly formed entity, The New York Times Building LLC ("LLC") -- structured the project as follows: 42nd St. Development Project, Inc. ("42DP"), a subsidiary of the Empire State Development Corporation (a state instrumentality, collectively with 42DP the "State Parties"), would acquire fee title to the land ("Land") through condemnation, funded by LLC posting letters of credit of at least $106 million ($85,560,000 as the "Initial Land Acquisition Amount" plus $21 million in assurance funds). Once the State Parties obtained title and delivered vacant possession, 42DP would ground-lease the Land to LLC for 99 years under a "Ground Lease" -- but LLC's actual rights and obligations as ground lessee wouldn't commence until vacant possession was delivered, which was expected to take about a year after title transfer.

Why the "lease" is really a sale. Although labeled a lease, the Department found the LADA (Land Acquisition and Development Agreement) and Ground Lease together effect a sale for tax purposes: the agreed transaction price is $85,560,000, LLC has an option to buy the land outright for a nominal $10 after 29 years, payments for the first 29 years are limited to PILOT (payment-in-lieu-of-taxes) payments, a theater surcharge, and limited percentage rent (no market rent), and it's a "triple net lease" under which LLC bears all costs and burdens of ownership throughout. Combined, these terms transfer beneficial ownership of the Land to LLC (and ultimately its members) upon delivery of possession.

Issue 1 -- when tax is due: The Department held the real estate transfer tax applies to this conveyance of beneficial ownership, but the taxable event is the delivery of vacant possession of the Land to LLC (when LLC's rights/obligations as ground lessee actually commence), not the earlier execution of the Ground Lease. Tax is due 15 days after that possession-delivery date.

Issue 2 -- how consideration is measured: The taxable consideration is $85,560,000 plus the value of the limited percentage rent payable under the Ground Lease. Any additional funds LLC advances above that amount (to cover excess condemnation costs) do NOT count as consideration, because those excess amounts are fully repaid to LLC through credits against future PILOT payments -- they're a reimbursable advance, not a price paid for the land.

Issue 3 -- signing documents before possession: Executing the Ground Lease, the LADA, and recording the Memorandum of Ground Lease and related documents, all before vacant possession is delivered, is exempt under Tax Law §1405(b)(9) as the execution of a contract to sell real property (or the grant of an option) without use or occupancy of the property.

Issue 4 -- LLC-to-members condo transfer: After construction, LLC would convert the completed building to condominium ownership and then assign its interest in the Ground Lease to 42DP (via a non-merger structure so 42DP becomes both lessor and lessee, with the Members' subleases converting into direct ground leases between 42DP and each Member). The Department held the resulting transfer of condominium units to each Member is exempt as a mere change of form under §1405(b)(6): LLC's operating agreement made each Member the sole beneficial owner of its own unit/space and its own membership interest from the very inception of the project -- LLC existed only as a practical construction-and-financing vehicle (the State Parties required a single lessee entity, and construction lenders preferred a single title-holder), not as a genuine shift in who beneficially owned what. This follows the Department's established condo/co-op conversion line: 115 Spring Street Co. (1994), Vacation Village Homeowners Assn. (1994), Armory Place LLC (1999), and Columbus Centre LLC (2001) -- all cases where each participant held a beneficial interest solely in the unit or space they occupied from the start.

What this means for you

A "ground lease" with a nominal purchase option and no real rent is taxed as a sale, and the tax attaches when possession changes hands, not when the paperwork is signed

If your long-term ground lease functions economically like an installment sale (nominal buyout option, triple-net terms, payments that are really tax pass-throughs rather than rent), expect the Department to look through the lease label -- but also expect the taxable moment to be delayed until actual possession/occupancy rights begin, which can matter significantly for timing your tax planning and payment deadline.

Reimbursable cost advances aren't taxable consideration

If you're fronting money to a government condemning authority that will be credited back to you later (here, via PILOT payment credits), that portion doesn't inflate your transfer tax base -- only genuinely non-refundable consideration counts.

Signing a ground lease/contract of sale before you get possession or occupancy rights is a separate, exempt event

Don't assume executing and recording lease/development documents triggers transfer tax on its own -- if the contract doesn't grant use or occupancy yet, §1405(b)(9)'s contract-to-sell exemption can cover that step, with the real tax event deferred to actual delivery of possession.

Using a single LLC as a construction vehicle for multiple ultimate owners doesn't create a taxable event when you later distribute the finished units, if the operating agreement locked in each owner's beneficial interest in their own space from day one

This is a well-established pattern for complex multi-owner developments (single entity holds title during construction/financing, then distributes condo units to the real beneficial owners) -- as long as the operating agreement clearly and consistently allocates each member's own space, profits, losses, and financing obligations to that member alone from inception, with no cross-ownership between members' spaces.

Common questions

Q: If my long-term ground lease looks and functions like a sale (nominal purchase option, no real rent, tenant bears all ownership costs), will New York tax it as a lease or a sale?
A: As a sale -- the Department looks at economic substance, and terms like a $10 buyout option after 29 years and triple-net obligations point to a transfer of beneficial ownership, taxable like any other conveyance.

Q: When is the transfer tax actually due if the lease document is signed well before the tenant can occupy the property?
A: When vacant possession/occupancy rights actually commence, not when the lease is signed -- tax is then due 15 days after that delivery date.

Q: Does money I advance to a condemning government agency, which will later be credited back to me, count as part of the taxable consideration?
A: No -- amounts that are fully reimbursed (here, via credits against future PILOT payments) are not consideration; only the non-refundable purchase price and equivalent payments count.

Q: If several parties use one LLC to jointly finance and build a project, then split the finished building into separately-owned condo units, is that final distribution taxable?
A: It can be exempt as a mere change of form, if the LLC's operating agreement establishes from the outset that each party is the sole beneficial owner of its own designated space, profits, and losses -- meaning no real change in beneficial ownership occurs at the distribution.

Citations and references

Statutes, guidance, and case law:

• Section 1402 of the Tax Law
• Section 1401(d) of the Tax Law
• Section 1401(e) of the Tax Law
• Section 1401(f) of the Tax Law
• Section 1405(b)(6) of the Tax Law
• Section 1405(b)(9) of the Tax Law
• Section 1410(a) of the Tax Law
• 115 Spring Street Company, Adv Op Comm T&F, March 30, 1994, TSB-A-94(3)-R
• Vacation Village Homeowners Association, Inc., Adv Op Comm T&F, May 24, 1994, TSB-A-94(6)-R
• Armory Place LLC, Adv Op Comm T&F, May 19, 1999, TSB-A-99(3)-R
• Columbus Centre LLC and its Members, Adv Op Comm T&F, April 18, 2001, TSB-A-01(3)-R

Source

• Landing page: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pubs_and_bulls/advisory_opinions/real_estate_tran_ao_2001.htm
• Opinion: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/advisory_opinions/real_estate/a01_8r.pdf

Original ruling text

New York State Department of Taxation and Finance

Office of Tax Policy Analysis
Technical Services Division

TSB-A-01(8)R
Real Estate Transfer Tax
December 6, 2001

STATE OF NEW YORK
COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND FINANCE
ADVISORY OPINION

PETITION NO. M010809B

On August 8, 2001, the Department of Taxation and Finance received a Petition for Advisory
Opinion from the New York Times Company and Forest City Ratner on behalf of themselves and
The New York Times Building LLC (LLC) and its members, which will be New York limited
liability companies formed by Petitioners. The members of LLC (each a “Member” and collectively
“the Members”) will be FC Lion, LLC (FC Member) and NYT Real Estate Company LLC (NYT
Member). Additional information related to the Petition was received on September 5, 2001,
November 15, 2001 and November 28, 2001.
The issues raised by Petitioners, based on the facts described in this Petition, are:
1.

Whether the real estate transfer tax is due upon transfer of vacant possession of the
Land from the State Parties to LLC when the rights and obligations of LLC with
respect to the Land as ground lessee under the Ground Lease commence.

2.

Whether the real estate transfer tax due upon the conveyance of the Land by the State
Parties to LLC is to be computed based upon $85,560,000 (“the Initial Land
Acquisition Amount”) and the value of the limited percentage rent due for the first
twenty-nine years of the term of the Ground Lease.

3.

Whether real estate transfer tax will be due upon the execution of the Ground Lease
and other documents and the recording of the Memorandum of the Ground Lease and
other related documents, as described below.

4.

Whether the transfers of condominium units from LLC to its respective members are
exempt from the real estate transfer tax.

Petitioners present the following facts as the basis for this Advisory Opinion.
Petitioners, through LLC, will develop a real estate project (the "Project") on property (the
"Land") located on the east side of Eighth Avenue between 40th and 41st Streets, which is situated
in an area of midtown Manhattan that is being rehabilitated and renewed by the State of New York.
It is intended that the Project, when constructed, will be converted to condominium ownership and

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will comprise a number of condominium units, the FC Units 1 (referred to herein as the "FC Member
Space"), the NYT Unit and the Special Purpose Unit 2 or "SPU", and common elements including
core mechanical facilities, lobbies, etc. The NYT Unit and SPU are both to be owned by NYT
Member (the NYT Unit and the SPU, collectively, are referred to as the "NYT Member Space").
The Members intend to construct upon the Land an office building (the "Building") of approximately
1,430,000 gross square feet of above grade space, additional below grade space and additional roof
top and mechanical space, which shall include retail space and subway improvements. The New
York Times Company, an affiliate of NYT Member, intends to locate its world headquarters in the
NYT Member Space; FC Member intends to create commercial office space and retail space in the
FC Member Space.
The Land
In furtherance of the Project development plan, 42nd St. Development Project, Inc. ("42DP"),
a subsidiary of New York State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development
Corporation, and which is a corporate governmental agency of the State of New York constituting
an instrumentality of the State of New York and public benefit corporation (collectively referred to
as the “State Parties), will obtain fee title to the Land through condemnation proceedings. The Land
is being acquired by the State Parties pursuant to the Land Acquisition and Development Agreement
(the "LADA") by and among the State Parties and LLC. Pursuant to the LADA, LLC will post with
the State Parties one or more letters of credit in an amount equal to 120% of the aggregate amount
of the appraised value of the Land to be taken by condemnation and the estimated costs to relocate
existing tenants and occupants. The amount of the letters of credit will be at least $106 million
(consisting of $85,560,000 and additional assurance funds of $21 million) for such initial land
acquisition fund ( $85,560,000 is hereinafter called the "Initial Land Acquisition Amount"). The
State Parties will draw upon the letters of credit to obtain the funds necessary to acquire the Land
through condemnation proceedings. Upon completion of condemnation, title to the Land will be
held by 42DP and will be leased to LLC pursuant to a ground lease (the "Ground Lease"), but LLC
will not have the rights of a tenant under the Ground Lease until vacant possession of the Land has
been delivered to LLC, as described below. It is anticipated that upon execution of the necessary

1

The "FC Units" shall consist of a FC Retail Unit and FC Individual Office Units. Each FC
Individual Office Unit will be its own separate condominium unit, with each such Unit comprising
a floor of the Building. The FC Retail Unit and FC Individual Office Units will be leased to one or
more space tenants under separate unit subleases as set forth in the declaration of condominium to
be finalized by the Members following the Land acquisition and substantial completion of the
improvements (the "Condominium Declaration") for the Project.
2

The Special Purpose Unit shall contain public amenities, including an auditorium and
exhibition space, which will be used by NYT Member, not-for-profit entities, and other third parties.

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documents with the State Parties, including the Ground Lease, a Memorandum of Ground Lease and
other related documents will be recorded.3
In the event that the State Parties expend more than the Initial Land Acquisition Amount to
acquire vacant possession of the Land, the State Parties will draw upon the $21 million additional
assurance funds available under the letters of credit, and if additional funds are required, LLC will
pay such amounts to the State Parties. To the extent such funds in excess of the Initial Land
Acquisition Amount are expended, LLC will be entitled to a reimbursement of such excess by means
of a credit against 85% of future Payments in Lieu of Real Estate Taxes (“PILOT payments”)
otherwise due from LLC to 42DP as occupancy payments under the Ground Lease. In the event that
the State Parties expend less than the Initial Land Acquisition Amount to acquire title to and vacant
possession of the Land, LLC will nevertheless be obligated to pay the Initial Land Acquisition
Amount for the Land.
The Ground Lease will take effect and the letters of credit will be posted upon execution of
the Ground Lease and the LADA. However, the rights and obligations of LLC with respect to the
Land as ground lessee under the Ground Lease will not commence until title has been acquired by
the State Parties through condemnation proceedings (which has not yet occurred) and vacant
possession of the Land has been delivered to LLC. (It is anticipated that it may take approximately
one year for the State Parties to obtain vacant possession of the Land once title has been acquired).
Although entitled a “Lease”, for tax purposes, the LADA and Ground Lease result in a sale between
the State Parties and LLC of the Land. Pursuant to the terms of the LADA, the LLC and State
Parties have agreed that the transaction price for the Land is $85,560,000 (the Initial Land
Acquisition Amount). While the Ground Lease is for a term of 99 years, the LLC as ground lessee
has an option to purchase the Land pursuant to the Ground Lease after 29 years following delivery
of possession for a purchase price of $10. Payments under the Ground Lease for the first 29 years
will be limited to PILOT payments, a theater surcharge, which relates to real estate taxes for the
Times Square District, and limited percentage rent. If the Ground Lease continues after 29 years,
the only occupancy payments required then will be actual real estate taxes instead of PILOT
payments. The Ground Lease is a “triple net lease,” as a result of which, LLC bears all the costs and
burdens of ownership throughout the term of the Ground Lease.
Simultaneously with entering into the Ground Lease, LLC will enter into subleases with FC
Member (the "FC Sublease") for the FC Member Space and a sublease with NYT Member (the
"NYT Sublease") for the NYT Member Space (the FC Sublease and the NYT Sublease, collectively,
the "Members' Subleases"), which will allocate all financial obligations under the Ground Lease
between the two Members' subleases.

3

The related documents include the Members’ Subleases, discussed infra, the LADA, and a
Declaration and Agreement of Design, Use and Operation.

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The Building
The Building will be developed, beneficially owned from the outset, and operated, by FC
Member and NYT Member. However, the State Parties have insisted on a single lease and a unified
(or cross collateralized) set of obligations covering all project components during the development
and construction phase. In addition, it is anticipated that the construction lender will prefer that title
be held by a single entity during construction. To this end, NYT Member and FC Member will form
LLC which will lease the Land from 42DP pursuant to the Ground Lease and develop the Project.
LLC will enter into the construction loan and construction agreements for the core and shell of the
Building but permanent financing will be separately obtained by each Member for its Member Space.
Following substantial completion of the improvements, LLC will submit its leasehold interest in the
Project to condominium ownership pursuant to a Declaration of Leasehold Condominium
("Condominium Declaration"), in accordance with New York law, and the Condominium
Declaration will be recorded. After completion of the improvements, LLC will assign to 42DP all
of its interest in the Project and the Ground Lease pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption of
Ground Lease (the "Lease Assignment"). The Ground Lease contains a non-merger clause and the
Lease Assignment will contain a non-merger provision, which ensure that 42DP remains as lessor
under the Ground Lease and that 42DP becomes lessee under the Ground Lease and sublessor under
the Members' Subleases, such that the Members' Subleases remain in existence as direct ground
leases between 42DP as lessor and FC Member and NYT Member as lessees, (collectively, the "Unit
Leases"). The Unit Leases shall contain the same terms as the Members' Subleases contained with
LLC, except that such Unit Leases will be amended to more accurately describe the Members' Spaces
as constructed.
LLC's Operating Agreement (the “Operating Agreement”) provides that, from inception and
at all times thereafter, each Member is the sole beneficial owner of such Member's Space. In the
case of the FC Units, the Operating Agreement makes clear that FC Member is the sole beneficial
owner of the FC Member Space from the inception of the Project. FC Member also is the beneficial
owner of the FC Membership Interest in LLC from the inception of the Project. Likewise, NYT
Member is the beneficial owner of the NYT Member Space from the inception of the Project, as well
as, the beneficial owner of the NYT Membership Interest in LLC. The Operating Agreement further
provides that each Member will receive all benefits, and bear all obligations, attributable to its
respective space and the common elements of the condominium. All items of profit and loss, tax
deductions and credits, and cash flow, attributable to a Member's Space, will be fully allocated to
that Member. No Member will have any beneficial interest in any other Member's Space.
Liquidating distributions will also be based on separate ownership by each Member of its respective
Member Space.
The project will be financed through a combination of Member investments and one or more
construction loans. The Operating Agreement apportions the construction financing between the

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Members pursuant to a formula based on the relative share of the total costs of construction allocable
to each Member's Space. Upon conveyance by LLC of the Units to the Members, it is anticipated
that each Member will arrange its own permanent financing.
Applicable Law and Regulations
Section 1402 of the Tax Law imposes the real estate transfer tax on each conveyance of real
property or interest therein when the consideration exceeds five hundred dollars.
Subdivision (d) of Section 1401 of the Tax Law provides, in part:
“Consideration” means the price actually paid or required to be paid for the
real property or interest therein, including payment for an option or contract to
purchase real property, whether or not expressed in the deed and whether paid or
required to be paid by money, property, or any other thing of value. It shall include
the cancellation or discharge of an indebtedness or obligation. It shall also include
the amount of any mortgage, purchase money mortgage, lien or other encumbrance,
whether or not the underlying indebtedness is assumed or taken subject to.
Subdivision (e) of Section 1401 of the Tax Law provides:
“Conveyance” means the transfer or transfers of any interest in real property
by any method, including but not limited to sale, exchange, assignment, surrender,
mortgage foreclosure, transfer in lieu of foreclosure, option, trust indenture, taking
by eminent domain, conveyance upon liquidation or by a receiver, or transfer or
acquisition of a controlling interest in any entity with an interest in real property.
Transfer of an interest in real property shall include the creation of a leasehold or
sublease only where (i) the sum of the term of the lease or sublease and any options
for renewal exceeds forty-nine years, (ii) substantial capital improvements are or may
be made by or for the benefit of the lessee or sublessee, and (iii) the lease or sublease
is for substantially all of the premises constituting the real property. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, conveyance of real property shall not include a conveyance pursuant
to devise, bequest or inheritance; the creation, modification, extension, spreading,
severance, consolidation, assignment, transfer, release or satisfaction of a mortgage;
a mortgage subordination agreement, a mortgage severance agreement, an instrument
given to perfect or correct a recorded mortgage; or a release of lien of tax pursuant
to this chapter or the internal revenue code.
Subdivision (f) of Section 1401 of the Tax Law provides, in part:

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“Interest in the real property” includes title in fee, a leasehold interest , a
beneficial interest, an encumbrance, development rights, air space and air rights, or
any other interest with the right to use or occupancy of real property or the right to
receive rents, profits or other income derived from real property....
Subdivision (b) of Section 1405 of the Tax Law provides, in part:
The tax shall not apply to the following conveyances:

6. Conveyances to effectuate a mere change of identity or form of ownership
   or organization where there is no change in beneficial ownership....
   *

*

*

9. Conveyances of real property which consist of the execution of a contract
   to sell real property without the use or occupancy of such property or the granting of
   an option to purchase real property without the use or occupancy of such property;
   Subdivision (a) of Section 1410 of the Tax Law provides, in part:
   The tax imposed hereunder shall be paid to the commissioner, or to any agent
   of the commissioner appointed pursuant to section fourteen hundred seven of this
   article, no later than the fifteenth day after the delivery of the instrument effecting the
   conveyance by the grantor to the grantee....
   Opinion
   Under the LADA, LLC has the obligation to fund the State Parties’ acquisition costs of the
   land. To that end, LLC will advance an amount currently estimated to be not less than $106 million
   to the State Parties; $85,560,000 as consideration for the acquisition of the land, and additional
   amounts (currently estimated to be a minimum of $21,000,000) representing assurance funds for
   possible additional acquisition costs for the Land which may be incurred by the State Parties. Any
   acquisition costs in excess of $85,560,000 million will be credited against future PILOT payments
   under the Ground Lease. Once the State Parties have obtained the Land, the LADA provides that
   the State Parties shall remove all occupants and deliver possession of the Land to LLC. At this point
   in time, the rights and obligations of LLC with respect to the Land as ground lessee under the
   Ground Lease shall commence.
   Although entitled a “lease,” for tax purposes, the LADA and Ground Lease result in a sale
   between the State Parties and LLC of the Land. The Ground Lease is a “triple net lease,” as a result

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of which, LLC bears all the costs and burdens of ownership throughout the term of the Ground
Lease. While the Ground Lease is for a term of ninety-nine years, the Ground Lease contains a
purchase option that allows LLC to acquire the property 29 years after delivery of vacant possession
for the nominal amount of $10. The annual payments required under the Ground Lease for the first
29 years of the term of the lease are limited to PILOT payments, a theater surcharge (which relates
to real estate taxes for the Times Square District), and limited percentage rent. No other occupancy
charges are payable under the Ground Lease. The combined effect of the purchase option and
payments under the Ground Lease and LLC’s obligations under the LADA is to transfer beneficial
ownership of the Land to LLC and its Members upon delivery of possession.
As noted above, Section 1402 of the Tax Law imposes the real estate transfer tax on each
conveyance of real property or interest therein when the consideration exceeds five hundred dollars.
Section 1401(e) of the Tax Law defines the term “conveyance” as the transfer or transfers of any
interest in real property by any method. Section 1401(f) of the Tax Law states that an interest in real
property “includes title in fee, a leasehold interest, a beneficial interest, an encumbrance,
development rights, air space and air rights, or any other interest with the right to use or occupancy
of real property or the right to receive rents, profits or other income derived from real property.” As
defined in Section 1401(d) of the Tax Law, consideration “means the price actually paid or required
to be paid for the real property or interest therein, including payment for an option or contract to
purchase real property . . . whether paid or required to be paid by money, property, or any other thing
of value. . . .”
Thus, with respect to Issues 1 and 2, the conveyance of beneficial ownership of the Land to
LLC and its members under the Ground Lease and LADA is subject to the real estate transfer tax as
a conveyance of an interest in real property. The date of delivery of vacant possession of the Land
is deemed to be the date that the conveyance is effected. Moreover, the real estate transfer tax is due
fifteen days following this date. As any funds advanced by LLC to the State Parties in excess of the
Initial Land Acquisition Amount of $85,560,000 will be repaid to LLC through a reduction in the
PILOT payments under the terms of the Ground Lease, such excess amounts do not constitute
consideration for purposes of the real estate transfer tax. It is noted, however, that in addition to the
Initial Land Acquisition Amount of $85,560,000, the Ground Lease requires payment of a limited
percentage rent. Therefore, the consideration for the conveyance is equal to the sum of $85,560,000
plus the value of the limited percentage rent.
With respect to Issue 3, Section 1405(b)(9) of the Tax Law provides an exemption from real
estate transfer tax for conveyances of real property which consist of the execution of a contract to
sell real property without the use or occupancy of such property or the granting of an option to
purchase real property without the use or occupancy of such property. Thus, the mere execution of
the necessary documents and recording of the Memorandum of the Ground Lease and other related
documents effect an exempt conveyance pursuant to Section 1405(b)(9) of the Tax Law.

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As noted above, Section 1405 (b)(6) of the Tax Law provides an exemption from the real
estate transfer tax for conveyances that effectuate a mere change of identity or form of ownership
or organization where there is no change in beneficial ownership.
In 115 Spring Street Company, Adv Op Comm T&F, March 30, 1994, TSB-94(3)-R, where
each partner, pursuant to a partnership agreement, held a beneficial interest solely in the unit the
partner occupied and had no interest in the other partners’ units, it was recognized that the beneficial
ownership of each unit vested with each individual partner without regard to ownership of the
property being held by the petitioner, a cooperative housing corporation. Thus, the transfer of the
shares allocated to the units from petitioner to each partner whereby each partner received shares
allocated to the unit occupied by such partner constituted a mere change of identity or form of
ownership or organization, since there was no change in the beneficial ownership of each unit.
In Vacation Village Homeowners Association, Inc., Adv Op Comm T&F, May 24, 1994,
TSB-A-94(6)-R, where each participant in the conversion of a homeowners association into
condominium units held a beneficial interest solely in the lot and home he or she occupied as his or
her residence and held no interest in the other homeowner’s lots or homes, it was recognized that the
beneficial ownership of each lot and home had continuously vested with each individual homeowner,
without regard to the homeowner being a member of a homeowners association. Thus, the
conversion of the lots and homes within a homeowners association into condominium units and the
resulting exchange by the homeowners of their lot deeds for condominium deeds constituted a mere
change of identity or form of ownership or organization, since there was no change in the beneficial
ownership of each lot and home.
In Armory Place LLC, Adv Op Comm T&F, May 19, 1999, TSB-A-99(3(-R) and in
Columbus Centre LLC and its Members, Adv Op Comm, April 18, 2001, TSB-A-(3)-R, where each
member of an LLC held a beneficial interest in its own unit of the real property and held no interest
in the units of the other members, it was recognized that the beneficial ownership of each unit had
continuously vested with each unit owner. Thus, the conversion of the units within the LLC into
condominium units and the resulting conveyance to each unit owner of its respective unit constituted
a mere change of identity or form of ownership or organization, since there was no change in the
beneficial ownership of each unit.
As set forth above, LLC will beneficially own the Land and the Building during the Project’s
construction for the benefit of its members. The LLC Operating Agreement clearly provides that the
interest of each Member is limited to its interest in its respective Member Space and the common
elements of the condominium. All benefits and obligations regarding a particular Member’s Space
will be attributed to that Member, and all items of profit and loss, tax credits and deductions, and
cash flow derived from such Members’ Space will be allocated to that Member.

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Following substantial completion of the project, LLC will submit its leasehold interest under
the Ground Lease to condominium ownership pursuant to a Condominium Declaration and cause
the Condominium Declaration to be recorded. Upon completion of the Project, LLC will effectuate
the transfer of the Units to its Members by assigning to 42DP all of its interests in the Ground Lease
pursuant to the Lease Assignment. As a result of a non-merger provision in the Ground Lease, 42DP
will remain ground lessor, as well as ground lessee, under the Ground Lease. Additionally, as a result
of a non-merger provision in the Lease Assignment, the terms of the Members’ Subleases continue
to apply as direct leases with 42DP as lessor. The direct leases incorporate the same terms as those
found in the Members’ Subleases.
LLC is being used by its Members as a vehicle to address the practical realities of
constructing and financing a complex real estate project. Use of LLC during construction is a
solution that enables the Members to complete the Project while preserving their agreement that each
Member be the beneficial owner of its units or Member Space from the outset. This beneficial
ownership is explicitly set forth in the Operating Agreement. In the case of the FC Units, the
Operating Agreement makes clear that FC Member is the beneficial owner of the FC Member Space
from the inception of the Project. FC Member also is the beneficial owner of the FC Membership
Interest in LLC from the inception of the Project. Likewise, NYT Member is the beneficial owner
of the NYT Membership Space from the inception of the Project, as well as the beneficial owner of
the NYT Membership Interest in LLC.
Thus, with respect to Issue 4 and, consistent with the rationale set forth in 115 Spring Street
Company, supra, Vacation Village Homeowners Association, Inc., supra, Armory Place LLC, supra,
and Columbus Centre LLC and its Members, supra, it is concluded that the conversion of the
Building by LLC into condominium units and the resulting conveyances of legal title of the units to
the respective Members of the LLC will constitute a mere change of identity or form of ownership
or organization, and such conveyances will be exempt from the real estate transfer tax.

DATED: December 6, 2001

NOTE:

/s/
Jonathan Pessen
Tax Regulations Specialist IV
Technical Services Division

The opinions expressed in Advisory Opinions are
limited to the facts set forth therein.