The Hidden Tax Burden of MLP ETFs

In an environment of persistently low interest rates, investors have increasingly looked beyond traditional fixed income investments toward other income-producing alternatives. This helps explain the surge in popularity of energy master limited partnerships (MLPs), which offer attractive yields and the potential for dividend growth in the future. There is also a compelling fundamental case to be made for many MLPs, which are benefitting from the renaissance in oil and natural gas production in North America, as demand to transport these fossil fuels continues to grow. Unfortunately, in the process of providing a convenient vehicle for retail investors to gain exposure to MLPs, "pure-play" ETFs and mutual funds may also saddle investors with a hefty, although often unnoticed, tax burden.

Ironically, tax efficiency is one of the attributes to which investors in individual MLPs are often drawn. As long as certain guidelines are followed, individual MLPs' earnings are not subject to federal corporate income tax. Additionally, a large portion of MLP distributions are classified as returns of capital, which lower an investor's cost basis and defer taxes until the investor sells the MLP. On the other hand, because of their structure as partnerships, MLPs have additional tax and administrative considerations, of which investors are often wary, such as the requirement to issue a schedule K-1 to investors for each state in which income is received (rather than a single form 1099), as well as the potential for a portion of MLP distributions to be classified as unrelated business taxable income (UBTI), for which there are limits in retirement accounts.

One of the most important questions investors should consider when evaluating the many ways to invest in MLPs is how well each investment matches up with his or her investment goals. For pure-play MLP ETFs and mutual funds, the benefits of investing in MLPs come with a steep cost.