Origins and Evolution of Section 751(b)

30 Pages Posted: 20 Aug 2008

See all articles by Karen C. Burke

Karen C. Burke

University of Florida Levin College of Law

Abstract

Section 751(b), reputedly one of the most widely ignored provisions of Subchapter K, reserves its most daunting complexity for nonprorata current distributions of property other than cash. While partnership tax has been revolutionized by increasingly sophisticated capital-accounting rules, the 1956 regulations implementing section 751(b) have never been updated to reflect the modern concept of revaluations and section 704(c) special allocations. Recently, the Treasury Department has requested comments concerning alternative approaches that would simplify and rationalize accounting for shifts of ordinary income and capital gain among partners.

This article considers proposals to replace the imputed exchange mechanism under the current section 751(b) regulations with a simple hot asset sale approach, coupled with a revaluation of partnership property and reverse section 704(c) allocations. It examines the evolution of the collapsible partnership rules as part of the larger process of enacting the 1954 Code, and traces the flaws of the current provision to the Congress' failure to focus on disproportionate current distributions. While Subchapter K has yet to achieve coherent treatment of disproportionate distributions, reexamining section 751(b)'s origin and evolution offers fresh insights concerning the proper scope of the nonrecognition rules.

Keywords: partnership, 704(c), 751, hot assets, ordinary income, basis adjustments, disproportionate, Notice 2006-14, collapsible

JEL Classification: K34

Suggested Citation

Burke, Karen C., Origins and Evolution of Section 751(b). Tax Lawyer, Vol. 60, 2007, San Diego Legal Studies Paper No. 08-065, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1236702

Karen C. Burke (Contact Author)

University of Florida Levin College of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 117625
Gainesville, FL 32611-7625
United States

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