Research Problem

Your clients, Grayson Investments, Inc. (Ana Marks, President), and Blake Caldwell, each contributed $200,000 of cash to form the Realty Management Partnership, a limited partnership. Grayson is the general partner, and Blake is the limited partner. The partnership used the $400,000 cash to make a down payment on a building. The rest of the buildings $4,000,000 purchase price was financed with an interest-only nonrecourse loan of $3,600,000, which was obtained from an independent third-party bank.

The partnership allocates all partnership items equally between the partners except for the MACRS deductions and building maintenance, which are allocated 70% to Blake and 30% to Grayson. The partnership wants to satisfy the economic effect requirements of Reg. 1.7041 and 1.7042 and will reallocate MACRS, if necessary, to satisfy the requirements of the Regulations.

Under the partnership agreement, liquidation distributions will be paid in proportion to the partners positive capital account balances. Capital accounts are maintained as required in the Regulations. Grayson Investments has an unlimited obligation to restore its capital account, while Blake is subject to a qualified income offset provision.

Assume that all partnership items, except for MACRS, will net to zero throughout the first three years of the partnership operations. Also assume that each years MACRS deduction will be $200,000 (to simplify the calculations).

Research and read Reg. 1.7041 and 2 and evaluate the allocation of MACRS in each of the three years under. Draft a short paper (3 5 paragraphs) summarizing what you have found. You may copy provisions of the regulations in your explanation; however, I want a summary in your own words that explains to me your understanding of the provision.