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Commingling Funds – Why you should NEVER do it

    By Ted Sutton, Esq.

Ryan was always ambitious and hard working. As a teen, he would regularly work on house flips with his dad. But when Ryan turned 18, he decided to start his own house flipping business.

 

After listening to his dad’s advice, Ryan formed an LLC for his house flipping business. A service helped him form an LLC with the Secretary of State, provide a registered agent address, and draft an operating agreement for his business. Once he began flipping houses, Ryan held himself out as the manager of the LLC.

 

But he skipped the step of forming a separate bank account. His dad never used one, so he didn’t feel the need to set one up. Any business funds were deposited and paid out from Ryan’s personal bank account. This was the same account Ryan used to pay his rent and other personal expenses.

 

After Ryan had been flipping homes for one year, one of his home buyers tripped and fell on a broken staircase. The buyer then filed suit against the LLC. After a lengthy trial, the court found that the LLC was liable for the buyer’s injuries. But because the LLC did not have a separate bank account, the buyer was able to reach Ryan’s personal bank account.

 

Because Ryan commingled business and personal funds, he was personally on the hook. He could not use the corporate veil to shield himself from personal liability.

 

What is Commingling Funds?

 

When you form a business, you can NEVER commingle funds. But what exactly does it mean to commingle funds?

 

A person commingles funds when they mix business and personal funds into a single bank account. But if you do this as a business owner, you can run into a lot of trouble.

 

When someone sues your business, a plaintiff may try to pierce the corporate veil to hold you personally liable. The corporate veil itself symbolizes that you are keeping your business property separate from your personal property.

 

But if you follow the list of corporate formalities, you can stop someone from piercing the corporate veil. The list varies by state, but it may include the following:

 

    1. Properly formed under the Secretary of State
    2. Maintaining separate bank accounts
    3. Maintaining separate records
    4. Having an operating agreement or bylaws
    5. Having bank accounts that are adequately capitalized
    6. Holding company out as a separate business
    7. Holding yourself out as manager of that business
    8. Conducting regular meetings
    9. Having minutes of those meetings
    10. Following other rules and regulations
    11. Legal entity separate from its owners
    12. No commingling of funds
    13. No personal obligations from business bank account
    14. No evidence of fraud or injustice
    15. Maintain annual filings, annual report, fees, good standing
    16. Having a registered agent
    17. Paying taxes for corporation
    18. Filing separate tax returns
    19. Making proper distributions
    20. Selling interests with proper approval
    21. Issuance of stock or membership certificates

 

If you follow most of these formalities, there will be a sufficient separation between you and your business. If this separation exists, you will not be held personally liable. But if there is no separation, then you are individually on the hook for any judgment entered against you. For more information on the corporate formalities, please check out my dad’s most recent book, Veil Not Fail.

 

In many states, the first formality that courts look at in veil piercing cases is whether the business owner commingled personal and business assets. You do not want this to work against you. If you don’t follow this first formality, it is very easy for the court to pierce the veil. But if you form a separate bank account that keeps your business assets separate from your personal ones, the veil will be much more difficult to pierce.

 

After you get an EIN number from the IRS, opening a business bank account at the beginning is very easy. In fact, many banks have low minimum balance requirements for business bank accounts. Having this separate account will protect you in the long run because it may shield you from personal liability.

 

Is it commingling or not?

 

It is also worth mentioning what constitutes commingling funds and what does not. Knowing these differences will help you properly operate your business.

 

One thing that does not constitute commingling is having bank statements mailed to your personal residence or a P.O. Box. This is especially true if your business is a passive holding company. If your business does not have a physical address, your personal residence may be the only address where banks can send bank statements. Another thing that does not constitute commingling is using your business bank account for all business income and expenses.

 

However, there are some things that do constitute commingling. Clearly, one of them is using one bank account for both business and personal expenses. Another is using your business bank account for any personal expenses, and vice versa. But if you keep these things separate, you will not be commingling funds.

 

Is Commingling
Is Not Commingling
- Using one bank account for business and personal expenses
- Sending bank statements to your - personal residence
- Loaning business funds to business owners for personal expenses
- Sending bank statements to a P.O. Box
- Using business funds to cover personal obligations
- Depositing business income into your business bank account
- Using personal funds to cover business obligations
- Paying business expenses from your business bank account
- Paying personal expenses from your personal bank account

Conclusion

 

Had Ryan set up a separate business bank account at the start, he would have stopped the buyer from piercing the corporate veil. After all, he followed many of the other corporate formalities. But because he didn’t have a business bank account, he was personally liable to the buyer.

 

Do not make the same mistake Ryan made. Have two separate bank accounts and use them as such.

The Q-Sub

By: Ted Sutton

What a Q-Sub is and How It Can Help Your Business

Diane has been obsessed with dogs from a very young age. She was very close with her childhood hound, and enjoyed spending time with other dogs she knew. After the hound’s passing, she vowed to make a career out of tending to our four-legged friends. She kept her word into adulthood. After graduating high school, she set up a dog store in town. Like a responsible business owner, she properly formed an LLC taxed as an S-Corp for the store.

After setting up shop, Diane soon discovered that there were very few dog grooming services in town. Given this business opportunity and her passion for dogs, Diane decided to capitalize. A few weeks later, she set up a dog grooming service in the dog store.

Over time, Diane began establishing a rapport with her clients. She noticed that many of them dropped off their dog for grooming before work and picked them up after the work day ended. What were the dogs to do after they had been groomed? Because the dogs spent all that time with her, Diane decided to provide a dog walking service.

Now Diane is in charge of three separate businesses operating under the same LLC. She has employees who work for all three and has separate obligations for each. Diane has a lot on her plate. She begins to worry about the direction of her businesses. What will she do with employee payroll? What if someone slips in the dog store? What happens if a dog bites someone while on a walk?

To address these fears, the IRS has a solution. Diane can set up Q-Subs for each of her businesses.

What are Q-Subs?

A Qualified Subchapter S Subsidiary (Q-Sub) is an S-Corp that is 100% owned by a parent S-Corp. Both the parent entity and the Q-Sub can be a corporation or an LLC. Parent S-Corps can own more than one Q-Sub, but they must make the election for each Q-Sub by filling out Form 8869 on the IRS website. This election must also be timely filed. If it is not, the Q-Sub will be taxed as a C-Corp.

Because the parent S-Corp files the tax return, the Q-Sub is not treated as a separate entity for tax purposes. However, Q-Subs are still responsible for a few things. Q-Subs must still obtain an EIN number from the IRS. Q-Subs are also separately responsible for some taxes, including employment taxes, some excise taxes, and certain other federal taxes. They should also follow all the corporate formalities (i.e. annual minutes) of a separate entity.

How they can help your business

There are a wide range of benefits that Q-Subs offer for business owners.

Q-Subs aid business owners when their S-Corp has more than one business activity. The S-Corp can limit its liability by separating its different business activities into different Q-Subs. Having this structure is certainly advantageous from an asset protection standpoint. Here, Diane only has one LLC set up for her dog store, dog grooming business, and dog walking business. Because Diane is concerned about liability, she sets up two separate Q-Subs for the dog grooming and dog walking businesses. In the event a dog bites someone on a walk, that person can only reach the assets inside the Q-Sub set up for the dog walking business. This business structure is diagrammed below:

qsub graph 1

Q-Subs come in handy when there are state and local transfer taxes that apply to sold property. In some states, transferring the property to a Q-Sub in exchange for 100% of the Q-Sub’s stock can avoid these types of transfer taxes. Let’s say that Diane lives in a state that allows these transfers without incurring tax. After setting up the Q-Sub for the dog grooming business, she wants to transfer title to the dog grooming tables into the new entity. If this transfer involves the dog store owning 100% of the dog grooming company’s stock, Diane will not have to pay any transfer taxes.

The IRS provides business owners with incentives when forming a Q-Sub. An S-Corp can deduct up to $5,000 in organizational costs the first year the Q-Sub is formed. After setting up the new dog grooming and dog walking businesses, Diane incurs $17,000 in such costs during the first year. Because the IRS offers these deductions, she can deduct $10,000 in organizational costs between the two new businesses, and deduct the remaining $7,000 in later years.

Businesses with two or more related entities use Q-Subs to minimize employee payroll taxes. When employees work for two related corporations, one corporation can set up a Q-Sub to employ the employee to avoid any double tax. Diane employs people who assist with the dog store, dog grooming, and dog walking. Instead of placing them on the payroll of all three entities, Diane sets up a third Q-Sub to employ everyone who helps with all three. This will prevent Diane from overpaying on payroll taxes. This business structure is diagrammed below:

qsub graph 2

Instead of filing separate tax returns for each entity, the parent S-Corp only needs to file one tax return for itself and its Q-Subs. At this point in time, Diane owns the dog store, dog grooming business, dog walking business, and a Q-Sub that employs everyone. With four entities, Diane thinks that tax season will be a nightmare. Fortunately, only the dog store will need to file a tax return on behalf of all four businesses. This certainly makes life easier for everyone during tax season.

Q-Sub elections are useful when S-Corps are bought and sold. If one S-Corp buys a second S-Corp, the first S-Corp could elect to treat the second as a Q-Sub.

Jack is a well-known figure and has the only doggy daycare in town. Many of the clients who buy products at Diane’s dog store give their dogs to Jack when they take a trip. At this point in time, Jack has run the daycare for over 30 years. While he also shares a passion for dogs, he decides that it is time to move on and calls it quits.

Diane views this as a perfect opportunity to add to her growing repertoire of dog businesses. Diane approaches Jack with an offer to buy the daycare. Jack is excited by this proposal. He can cash out, retire, and buy that coveted house in Hawaii to spend the rest of his days with his wife.

Both agree to the arrangement. After consultations from competent accountants and attorneys, Diane uses the dog store to buy the doggy daycare. The dog store now owns four Q-Subs, but both parties are happy. Diane has a near monopoly on dog products in town, and Jack can finally retire to Hawaii. This business structure is diagrammed below:

qsub graph 3

Lenders may want to create more lending protection by requiring S-Corp borrowers to hold loan collateral in a Q-Sub. After buying the doggy daycare from Jack, Diane realizes that she needs more kennels to house the growing number of dogs staying overnight. This will not be a cheap purchase.

Diane decides to buy the kennels on credit and approaches the bank seeking a loan. After reviewing her business credit, the bank tells Diane that they will need the kennels to be held as collateral in a Q-Sub. Fortunately, the doggy daycare business is already a Q-Sub. Both parties agree to the arrangement, and the kennels are held in the doggy daycare business as planned.

Given the numerous benefits that Q-Subs provide, business owners should consider forming them in the right circumstances. They helped Diane. And if you are faced with similar issues, they can certainly help you.

Employer Identification Number (EIN)

EIN stands for Employer Identification Number. The IRS requires that you have such a number when you incorporate or form an LLC. Think of an EIN as a Social Security number for your business. You will file all your tax returns using this number and you will need this number to open a bank account for the business.

Once you’ve filed your incorporation papers and they’ve been approved by the Secretary of State, your corporation needs to file for an Employer Identification Number, or EIN. An EIN is a permanent number assigned to your business, which is used for official corporate business such as opening bank accounts and paying taxes.

How Do I Get an EIN?

You can apply for the EIN yourself on the IRS.gov website for free; however, some people find this confusing and/or do not wish to spend the time doing it themselves. If this is the case for you, Corporate Direct can obtain one for you for a small service fee. Whichever way you choose, know that it required for your business.

The IRS allows businesses to apply for an EIN either online, by phone, fax or mail. If applying online, the EIN is assigned immediately upon completion of the interview-style application that walks you through type of business, identity of business, authentication, addresses, details and confirmation of the new EIN number.

Even though receiving the number is immediate, it can take up to two weeks to be added into the IRS database and until it is added, the number can’t be used for filing returns. In order to avoid any issues, be sure to obtain your EIN as soon as possible. 

C Corporation

What is a C Corporation?

illustration of a storefrontCorporations have been used for over 500 years to limit owners’ liability and thus encourage business investment and risk taking. Their use for this purpose continues to this day. 

You will hear about both C Corporations and S Corporations. Both are corporations with charters granted by the state of organization. You can organize in Nevada for the best asset protection laws, for example, and qualify to do business in California. In that case, you will have one corporation paying annual fees in two states (which many people do). While we like and often use S Corporations, we keenly appreciate the advantages of C Corporations. They certainly have their merit and a place in your entity structure strategy.

The C and the S refer to IRS Code Sections. C corps feature a double taxation – one tax at the company level and another tax on profits distributed to shareholders. This double tax is why many people consider S corps, which has only one level of tax. But there are restrictions on ownership of S corps, where as there are no such limits on C corps.

Here is a quick list of C Corporation advantages:

  • They can have an unlimited amount of shareholders, from anywhere in the world.
  • For Nevada and Wyoming corporations, officers and directors can reside anywhere in the world. This can be a boon for foreign investors. 
  • They can have several different classes of shares.
  • They have the widest range of deductions and expenses allowed by the IRS (more on this below).
  • They are the most widely recognized business entity in the world, and are the premier entity for going public.
  • In Nevada and Wyoming, nominee (or stand-in) officers and directors can be utilized, adding extra levels of privacy.
Image Link to download full c-corporation guide pdf

Tax Advantage: Wide Range of Deductions and Expenses

A C Corporation has the widest range of deductions and expenses allowed by the IRS, especially in the area of employee fringe benefits. A C Corporation can set up medical reimbursement and other employee benefits, and deduct the costs of running these programs, including all premiums paid. The employees, including you as the owner/shareholder, will also not pay taxes on the value of those benefits.

This is not the case in a flow-through entity, such as an S Corporation, LLC or LP. In each of those cases the entity may write off the costs of the benefits, but any employee/shareholder who owns more than 2% of the entity will pay taxes on the value of their benefits received. So, if having the maximum deductions and all of the employee fringe benefits on a tax-free basis is important to you, a C-Corp may be your entity choice.

Which type of business works well as a C Corp?

C Corporations are great for a business that sells products, has a storefront and employees, and may or may not have a warehouse where it keeps its inventory. C-Corps don’t work well with businesses that want to hold appreciating assets, such as real estate, because of the tax treatment on the sale of these assets.

Tax Disadvantage: Double Taxation Issues

The most often-cited disadvantage of using a C-Corp is the “double-taxation” issue. Double-taxation happens when a C-Corp has a profit left over at the end of the year and wants to distribute it to the shareholders as a dividend. The C-Corp has already paid taxes on that profit, but once it distributes the profit to its shareholders, those shareholders will have to declare the dividends they receive as income on their personal tax returns, and pay taxes again, at their own personal rates.

How to Avoid the Double-Taxation Scenario

There are many things you can do to avoid the double-taxation scenario:

  • Structure the C-Corp so that there are no profits left over – use all of the write-offs and deductions allowed by the IRS to reduce the C-Corp’s net income.
  • Offer great benefit plans!
  • Pay higher salaries to yourself and the other owner/employees than you would if you were using a flow-through entity such as an S-Corp. Yes, you will have to pay payroll taxes and personal income taxes on those monies, but you would pay personal taxes on dividends paid to you anyway. And it may be that in the big picture, the savings on one side outweigh the additional taxes paid on the other side.

The decision as to what entity is best for you really does, in so many cases, hinge on taxes, and that is why, with any corporate-related decision, you are wise to seek the advice and assistance of a good CPA.

Corporate Direct along with your CPA can help you decide which corporation is best for you.

S Corporation

Is an S Corporation the right entity type for you?

This is a great question to explore when starting a business, or changing your existing business from a Sole Proprietor or General Partnership. It can make a difference in asset protection as well as in taxes. An S Corporation is one of the three popular choices for those incorporating their business. Other choices include Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) and C Corporations.

Business owners can select how they wish to be taxed, and an S Corporation is one of those tax designations that can make a big difference in how much you pay in taxes, and how to handle profits and distribute shares. There are pros and cons to every entity type and it’s important to understand which business model is best for you.

An S Corporation is a corporation that has elected to be taxed as a flow-through entity (similar to an LLC or Limited Partnership). The “S” also refers to an IRS code section. This type of taxation, the S election, allows the shareholders to be taxed only at the individual level only instead of at both the corporate and individual level, thus avoiding the double taxation like the C Corporation.

Of all of the entities, the S Corporation has the tightest restrictions on ownership. There can only be 100 or fewer shareholders (owners), which all must be individuals or their living trusts. Corporations, multi-member LLCs, and non-US residents cannot be S Corporation owners. If the restrictions aren’t followed, the IRS will decide the corporation is C Corp and will double tax it accordingly.

S Corporations can help some service-oriented businesses to avoid being characterized as a Personal Service Corporation, or “PSC” by the IRS. PSCs are C Corporations that are classified by the IRS as providing a service, such as consulting, to the general public.

Now, as you may know, the IRS assesses C Corporations with a pretty low initial rate — 15% on earnings up to $50,000. That’s quite a bit lower than you would pay personally if you were receiving that same $50,000 as salary. And, that 15% rate is also lower than you would pay if your business was an S Corporation. So, to head off the anticipated revenue drain, the IRS closed the loophole by designating C Corporations that provide services as PSCs.

The tax rate for PSC earnings? 35%! That’s probably higher than you would pay through your S Corporation if you took a reasonable salary and the rest as passive income. And, it’s enough, in many cases, to make the difference between going “S” or going “C.” Again, you will work with your CPA, tax and/or legal advisors to determine the best entity for your specific situation.

Advantages Of S Corporations:

  • Limited liability for management and shareholders.
  • An unlimited number of management, no state residency requirements.
  • Distinct, court-recognized existence, which helps protect you from personal liability that can cause you to lose your personal wealth in assets like your home, car, or nest egg.
  • Flow-through taxation: Profits are distributed to the shareholders, who are taxed on profits at their personal level.
  • Good privacy protection, especially in Nevada and Wyoming.
  • Great income-splitting potential for owner/employees. Can take a smaller salary and pay income taxes and regular payroll deductions, then take the remainder of profit as a distribution subject to income tax only.
  • S Corporations are great for businesses that:
              • will provide a service (i.e. consultants);
              • will not have significant start-up costs;
              • will not need to make major equipment purchases before beginning operations; and
              • will make a sizable amount of money without a great deal of expense.

Disadvantages Of S Corporations:

  • At shareholder level, shares are subject to seizure and sale in court proceedings.
    Maximum of 100 shareholders, all of whom must be U.S. residents or resident aliens. Shares must be held directly, except in special circumstances.
  • Owner/employees holding 2% or more of the company’s shares cannot receive tax-free benefits.
  • Because flow-through taxes will be paid at the personal rate, high-income shareholders will pay more taxes on their distributions.
  • Not suitable for estate planning vehicle, as control is ultimately in the hands of the stockholders. In a planned gifting scenario, once majority control passes to children from parents, children can take full control of the company.
  • If tax status is compromised by either non-resident stockholder or stock being placed in corporate entity name, the IRS will revoke status, charge back-taxes for 3 years and impose a further 5-year waiting period to regain tax status.
  • Not suitable to hold appreciating investments. Capital gain on sale of assets will incur higher taxes than with other pass-through entities such as LLCs and Limited Partnerships.
  • Limited to one class of stock only.

What is needed to form a corporation? How does it protect me?

Essentially, you file a document that creates an independent legal entity with a life of its own. It has its own name, business purpose, and tax identity with the IRS. As such, it — the corporation — is responsible for the activities of the business. In this way, the owners, or shareholders, are protected. The owners’ liability is limited to the monies they used to start the corporation, not all of their other personal assets. In the event of a lawsuit it is the company, not the individuals, being sued.

A corporation is organized by one or more shareholders. Depending upon each state’s law, it may allow one person to serve as all officers and directors. In certain states, to protect the owners’ privacy, nominee officers and directors may be utilized. A corporation’s first filing, the articles of incorporation, is signed by the incorporator. The incorporator may be any individual involved in the company, including frequently, the company’s attorney.

The articles of incorporation set out the company’s name, the initial board of directors, the authorized number of shares, and other major items. Because it is a matter of public record, specific, detailed, or confidential information about the corporation should not be included in the articles of incorporation. The corporation is governed by rules found in its bylaws. Its decisions are recorded in meeting minutes, which are kept in the corporate minute book.

Can I change entity types?

Yes, if you think you may want to go public at some point in the future, but want initial losses to flow through, consider starting with an S Corporation or a Limited Liability Company. You can always convert to a C Corporation at a later date, after you have taken advantage of flowing through losses. Corporations can make the election at the beginning of its existence or at the beginning of a new tax year.

More benefits to business owners: No self-employment tax!

The big benefit of S Corporation taxation is that S Corporation shareholders do not have to pay self-employment tax on their share of the business’s profits. But they will be taxed on the salary they pay themselves. This is the catch. Before there can be any profits, each owner who also works as an employee must be paid a “reasonable” amount of compensation (e.g., salary) that is subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes to be paid half by the employee and half by the corporation. As such, the savings from paying no self-employment tax on the profits only kick in once the S Corporation is earning enough that there are still profits to be paid out after paying the mandatory “reasonable compensation.”

More Questions? An Incorporating Specialist can help!

Limited Partnerships – Advantages and Case Study

Advantages of Limited Partnerships

  • LPs allow for pass-through taxation for both the limited partner and the general partner.
  • Limited partners are not held personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business, although the GP, if an individual, may be personally responsible.
  • The general partner(s) have full control over all business decisions, which can be useful in family situations where ownership – but not control – has been gifted to children.
  • Estate planning strategies can be achieved with LPs.
  • Limited partners are not responsible for the partnership’s debts beyond the amount of their capital contribution or contribution obligation. So, unless they become actively involved, the limited partners are protected.
  • As a general rule, general partners are personally liable for all partnership debts. But as was mentioned above, there is a way to protect the general partner of a limited partnership. To reduce liability exposure, corporations or LLCs are formed to serve as general partners of the limited partnership. In this way, the liability of the general partner is encapsulated in a limited liability entity.
  • Because by definition limited partners may not participate in management, the general partner maintains complete control. In many cases, the general partner will hold only 2% of the partnership interest but will be able to assert 100% control over the partnership. This feature is valuable in estate planning situations where a parent is gifting or has gifted limited partnership interests to his children. Until such family members are old enough or trusted enough to act responsibly, the senior family members may continue to manage the LP even though only a very small general partnership interest is retained.
  • The ability to restrict the transfer of limited or general partnership interests to outside persons is a valuable feature of the limited partnership. Through a written limited partnership agreement, rights of first refusal, prohibited transfers, and conditions to permitted transfers are instituted to restrict the free transferability of partnership interests. It should be noted that LLCs can also afford beneficial restrictions on transfer. These restrictions are crucial for achieving the creditor protection and estate and gift tax advantages afforded by limited partnerships.
  • Creditors of a partnership can only reach the partnership assets and the assets of the general partner, which is limited by using a corporate general partner which does not hold a lot of assets.
  • The limited partnership provides a great deal of flexibility. A written partnership agreement can be drafted to tailor the business and family planning requirements of any situation. And there are very few statutory requirements that cannot be changed or eliminated through a well-drafted partnership agreement.
  • Limited partnerships, like general partnerships, are flow-through tax entities.

For more information on this topic, get the book!

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Case Study:

When a Limited Partnership is Best

Jim is the proud father of three boys. Aaron, Bob, and Chris are active, athletic, and creative boys almost ready to embark upon their own careers. The problem was that they were sometimes too active, too athletic, and too creative.

At the time Jim came to see me, Aaron was seventeen years old and every one of the seemingly unlimited hormones he had was shouting for attention. He loved the girls, the girls loved him, and his social life was frenetic and chaotic.

Bob was sixteen years old and sports were all that mattered. He played sports, watched sports, and lived and breathed sports.

Chris was fifteen years old and the lead guitarist in a heavy metal band. When they practiced in Jim’s garage the neighbors did not confuse them with the Beatles.

Jim has five valuable real estate holdings that he wants to go to the boys. His wife had passed on several years before and he needed to make some estate planning decisions. But given the boys’ energy level and lack of direction he did not want them controlling or managing the real estate.

Jim knew that if he left the assets in his own name, when he died the IRS would take 55% of his estate, which was valued at over $10 million. And while estate taxes were supposed to be gradually eliminated, Jim knew that Congress played politics in this arena and no certainty was guaranteed. Jim had worked too hard, and had paid income taxes once already before buying the properties, to let the IRS’s estate taxes take away half his assets. But again, he could not let his boys have any sort of control over the assets. While the government could squander 55% of his assets, he knew that his boys could easily top that with a 100% effort.

I suggested that Jim place the five real estate holdings into five separate limited partnerships.

I further explained to Jim that the beauty of a limited partnership was that all management control was in the hands of the general partner. The limited partners were not allowed to get involved in the business. Their activity was “limited” to being passive owners.

It was explained that the general partner can own as little as 2% of the limited partnership, with the limited partners owning the other 98% of it, and yet the general partner can have 100% control in how the entity was managed. The limited partners, even though they own 98%, cannot be involved. This was a major and unique difference between the limited partnership and the limited liability company or a corporation. If the boys owned 98% of an LLC or a corporation they could vote out their dad, sell the assets, and have a party for the ages. Not so with a limited partnership.

The limited partnership was perfect for Jim. He could not imagine his boys performing any sort of responsible management. At least not then. And at the same time he wanted to get the assets out of his name so he would not pay a huge estate tax. The limited partnership was the best entity for this. The IRS allows discounts when you use a limited partnership for gifting. So instead of annually gifting $14,000 tax free to each boy he could gift $16,000 or more to each boy. Over a period of years, his limited partnership interest in each of the limited partnerships would be reduced and the boys’ interest would be increased. When Jim passes on, his estate tax will be based only on the amount of interest he had left in each limited partnership. If he lives long enough he can gift away his entire interest in all five limited partnerships.

Except for his general partnership interest. By retaining his 2% general partnership interest, Jim can control the entities until the day he dies. While he is hopeful his boys will straighten out, the limited partnership format allows him total control in the event that does not happen.

Jim also liked my advice that each of the five properties be put into five separate limited partnerships. I explained to him that the strategy today is to segregate assets. If someone gets injured at one property and sues, it is better to only have one property exposed. If all five properties were in the same limited partnership, the person suing could go after all five properties to satisfy his claim. By segregating assets into separate entities the person suing can only go after the one property where they were injured.

Jim liked the control and protections afforded by the limited partnership entity and proceeded to form five of them.

Is a Limited Partnership right for you? Get your free 15-minute consultation today!