Problem - Formation of a Partnership. On May 31, six brothers decided to form the Grimm Brothers Partnership to publish and print children's stories. The contributions of the brothers and their partnership interests are listed below. They share the economic risk of loss from liabilities according to their partnership interests.
Individual Asset Basis FMV Partnership to Partner Interest
Al Cash $15,000 $15,000 15%
Bob accounts Receiv. 0 20,000 20%
Clay Office equip. 13,000 15,000 15%
Dave Land 50,000 15,000 15%
Ed Building 15,000 150,000 20%
Fred Services ? 15,000 15%
The following other information about the contributions may be of interest:
1. Bob contributes accounts receivable from this proprietorship, which uses the cash method of accounting.
2. Clay uses the office equipment in a small business he owns. When he joins the partnership, he sells the remaining business assets to an outsider. He has claimed $8,000 of MACRS depreciation on the office equipment.
3. The partnership assumes a $130,000 mortgage on the building Ed contributes. Ed claimed $100,000 of straight-line MACRS depreciation on the commercial property.
4. Fred, an attorney, drew up all the partnership agreements and filed the neccessary paperwork. He receives a full 15% capital and profits interest for his services.
a. How much gain, loss or income must each partner recognize as a result of the formation?
b. How much gain, loss, or income must the partnership recognize as a result of the formation?
c. What is each partner's basis in the partnership interest?
d. What is the partnership's basis in its assets?
e. What is the partnership's initial book value of each asset?
f. What effects do the depreciation recapture provisions have on the property contributions?
g. How would your answer to Part a change if Fred received only a profits interest?
h. What are the tax consequences to the partners and the partnership when the partnership sells for $9,000 the land contributed by Dave? Prior to the sale, the partnership held the land as an investment for two years.