A publicly traded partnership (PTP) is a business organization owned by two or more co-owners whose shares are regularly traded on an established securities market. PTPs, mostly in energy-related businesses, can offer investors quarterly income that receives favorable tax treatment.

Are MLPs worth it?

The Bottom Line. MLPs offer a cost advantage over regular company stocks since they’re not hit with a double tax on dividends. In fact, their cash distributions are not taxed at all when unitholders receive them, which is very appealing.

How is an investor treated in a partnership?

The investor owns an interest in a partnership and is treated as a limited partner (or a member, in the case of a limited liability company (LLC)) of a flowthrough entity. There are numerous tax implications of investing in a partnership, some of which are not favorable, that investors should be aware of when making an investment in a PTP.

What makes a PTP a publicly traded partnership?

Publicly traded partnerships A PTP is any partnership if interests in the partnership are traded on an established securities market or interests in the partnership are readily tradable on a secondary market or its substantial equivalent.

What kind of tax treatment does a partnership get?

A partner in a PTP treated as a partnership receives a Schedule K-1, Partner’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc.,which lists the various items flowing through to the owner from the PTP. The multitude and complexity of items often found on PTP Schedules K-1 frequently make federal tax reporting for PTP interests difficult for partners.

Is the sale of a PTP interest treated as ordinary income?

The sale of a PTP interest is far more complicated because of Sec. 751 (a), resulting in the gain being partially treated as ordinary income in certain cases, as discussed below.