Tax Law

Tax law is a complex and ever-evolving area of legal practice that has significant implications for private investment funds businesses. We help deal with key issues and considerations related to tax law in the context of private investment funds and business operations.

Private Investment Funds - Tax Issues

Private investment funds, such as venture capital funds, real estate funds, private equity funds and hedge funds, are typically structured as limited partnerships or limited liability companies and are created for the purpose of pooling capital from a group of investors for the purpose of making investment decisions on their behalf. Funds are subject to various tax rules and regulations, both at the federal and state levels.

Tax Issues for a Fund, the Investors and the Fund Manager

One of the primary considerations for tax attorneys advising private investment funds is the tax treatment of the fund itself and its investors. In general, private investment funds are treated as pass-through entities for tax purposes, meaning that the income and losses of the fund are passed through to the individual investors and taxed at their individual rates. However, there are certain exceptions and special rules that apply to private investment funds, including rules related to the treatment of carried interest and the allocation of income and expenses among the fund and its investors. While entities taxed as partnerships provide substantial flexibility in allocating income and losses, the U.S. tax code can be complex and there are several potential pitfalls for general partners and investors when using this tax structure for a private investment fund.

Tax Treatment Based on the Fund’s Investments

Another key area of tax law that is relevant to private investment funds is the tax treatment of the investments held by the fund. This includes the tax treatment of dividends, capital gains, and other forms of investment income, as well as the tax implications of selling investments and realizing capital gains or losses. Tax attorneys advising private investment funds must be familiar with the various tax rules and regulations that apply to different types of investments, including stocks, real estate, and other assets, and must be able to advise fund managers on the most tax-efficient strategies for making and disposing of investments. Depending on the type of investments a fund makes, various tax implications could exist for the general partner and manager of a fund as well as for the limited partners. For example, non-US investors often want to avoid being subject to filing a US tax return. Certain investments (such as in US real property) will likely subject them to US taxation (without, for example, a blocker entity), while other investments (such as most venture capital investments in corporations) will not.

Tax Issues for Fund Managers and General Partners

In addition to the tax considerations related to private investment funds themselves, tax attorneys also play a crucial role in advising fund managers and investors on the tax implications of their business and investment activities. This includes advising on the tax consequences of entering into various types of business transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, and on the tax implications of different business structures, such as partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations. Additionally, carried interest (or promote) generally is subject to different holding period requirements to be treated as long-term capital gain. And due to the structure of most funds, general partners can be allocated income without actually being entitled to distributions without a tax distribution clause in the partnership or operating agreement of the fund. There are other potential tax benefits, such as Section 1202 (QSBS), that may apply for certain investments and pass through the limited partners of a fund.

New Businesses - Legal and Tax Issues

We also assist new businesses determining an efficient tax and legal structure. When starting a new business, entrepreneurs and business owners must consider a wide range of legal and tax issues, including the choice of business structure, the allocation of ownership interests, and the creation of employee benefit plans. Tax attorneys play a key role in advising clients on these and other issues and in helping them to structure their businesses in a way that is tax-efficient and compliant with relevant laws and regulations.

Entity Selection

One of the first decisions that business owners must make when forming a new business is the choice of business structure. The most common business structures are sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), and corporations. Each type of business structure has its own unique set of legal and tax implications, and tax attorneys can help clients to understand the pros and cons of each option and to choose the structure that is best suited to their needs.

For example, sole proprietorships are the simplest and most straightforward type of business structure, but they offer the least protection to the owner in terms of liability. Additionally, they do not allow for bringing on other equity owners of the businesses. Certain partnerships, on the other hand, offer some liability protection but can be more complex in terms of tax treatment, as the profits and losses of the business are passed through to the individual partners and taxed at their individual rates. LLCs are the most flexible entity choice. For tax purposes, by default they are pass-through entities (either disregarded if there is only a single owner or partnerships if more than one owner), but they can also elect to be taxed as a corporation (either S or C). Corporations are more rigid from a corporate governance perspective and offer protection from liability but are subject to corporate income tax and may also be subject to double taxation on the profits of the business. The determination of entity type from a legal and tax perspective is highly dependent on the goals of the business, its exit strategy, the industry it is in, whether it plans to raise capital and from whom, whether it will offer employee equity and expected profitability and cash flows.

Ownership Determinations & Structuring

Another important area of tax law that is relevant to business formation is the allocation of ownership interests in the business. This includes the issuance of stock to founders, employees, and outside investors, as well as the allocation of profits and losses among the owners of the business. Tax attorneys can help business owners to understand the tax consequences of different ownership structures and to allocate ownership interests in a way that is tax-efficient and consistent with the overall goals of the business.

In conclusion, tax law is a vital area of legal practice that has significant implications for private investment funds and businesses. Tax attorneys play a crucial role in advising clients on the tax implications of their business and investment activities and in helping them to structure their affairs in a way that is tax-efficient and compliant with relevant laws and regulations. Whether working with private investment funds, advising on business structure and employee benefits, or helping with the allocation of ownership interests, tax attorneys play a vital role in ensuring that businesses and investors are able to navigate the complex landscape of tax law and achieve their goals.