96-151

Response November 6, 1996

 

 

Request

XXXXX

 

October 2, 1996

 

XXXXX

Utah State Tax Commission

Fax XXXXX

 

Dear XXXXX

 

RE: Utah Law on Investment Partnerships

 

We have an investment partnership who invests in other investment partnerships that have no Utah source income for 1995 as all the partnerships invested in are outside the state. However, for 1996, we do have one investment in a Utah investment partnership located in Utah and producing Utah source income. We would like to get some written documentation from you or the Utah Tax Code regarding treatment of Utah source income for non-resident partners. Based on the instructions for the TC-65, non-residents are to file in Utah and be taxed on the Utah source income. In other states that we file in due to source income from them, there are no exclusions in their tax code for non-residents who have no other source income from their state and the source income being passed through to them is from an investment partnership training on their behalf, and the income consists solely of capital gains, interests and dividends. We would like to determine before our 1996 filing, if something of this nature exists under the Utah Tax Code. Some examples from other states are as follows:

 

New York State

 

As all of the partnership's items of income, gain, loss and deductions are attributable to the trading of intangible property for its own account, they are not considered as derived from, or connected with, New York State sources (NYS tax law section 631(D)). Accordingly, non- resident limited partners are not required to file New York non-resident returns with respect to their interest in Example, L.P.

 

New York City

 

Example, L.P. is not subject to the New York City unincorporated business tax under section 11- 502 (C) of the New York City tax code which exempts an unincorporated entity that trades for its own account as does Example, L.P.

 

North Carolina

 

If a partnerships only activities within North Carolina are in the nature of an investment account in which the securities are held for capital appreciation and income, the receipt of dividends and interest and the occasional sales of stocks and bonds does not constitute carrying on a trade or business in this State. A non-resident partner does not include his distributive share of the partnership income in the numerator of the fraction in determining North Carolina taxable income.

 

California

 

Example, L.P. is a limited partner in several California based limited partnerships, all of which are investment partnerships which trade in qualified investment securities for the purpose of California Revenue and the Tax Code Section 17955. Accordingly, California non-resident partners are not required to file California non-resident income tax returns with respect to their interest in Example, L.P.

 

Please fax or mail us any written/verbal information you may have discussing the issue as it pertains to the state of Utah.

 

Thank you for your help.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

XXXXX

 

November 6, 1996

 

XXXXX

 

Advisory Opinion - Taxation of Investment Partnership Income from Utah Sources

 

Dear XXXXX

 

We have received your request for tax guidance for non-resident investors who receive income from an investment partnership which earns income from Utah sources. We offer the following guidance:

 

Under section 59-10-303 of the Utah Code, a non-resident partner is subject to Utah income tax on his distributive share of partnership income, gains, and losses derived from Utah sources. (See Utah Administrative Rule R865-9I-21, enclosed). If the partners have interest or capital gains arising from investments in real or tangible personal property located in Utah, the interest or capital gains is taxable in Utah. If the interest or capital gains is earned from investments in intangibles (such as stock), or from investments in real or tangible personal property outside Utah, the income is taxable in the partner’s state of domicile.

 

For non-resident partners, the partnership may file a composite return for those partner who have no other income from Utah sources. See Utah Administrative Rule R865-9I-13 (enclosed) for more information about the composite return.

 

Please let us know if you have other questions.

 

For the Commission,

 

Joe B. Pacheco,

Commissioner