An MLP is required to pay out most of its annual income to investors ( Q 7769) and is permitted to carry on an active business. Distributions issued to limited partners are treated as a return of capital; the distributions issued act to reduce a limited partner’s basis to the point of that partner’s cost basis.2 Once that basis reaches zero, any subsequent distribution is then taxed at current tax rates.3
The MLP business entity allows for some corporate characteristics to persist: limited liability to investors and publicly traded units. Also, the MLP provides the tax advantages of a pass-through entity partnership. As such, partners are generally permitted to take into account any loss, deduction or credit produced by the partnership at the individual level, while avoiding taxation at the entity level.4
1. IRC § 7704(b).
2. IRC § 733.