September 17, 2026

The I.R.S.’s Multifaceted Scrutiny of Partnership Basis-Shifting Transactions

September 17, 2026/ Ruchelman P.L.L.C.

Volume 13 No 5 / Read Article

Over the past several years, the I.R.S. has targeted tax-free partnership transactions designed to shift tax basis to property in a way that will yield tax savings for the partner, the partnership, or both. The goal of these transactions is to use the interplay of rules governing inside basis and outside basis to shift tax basis from assets where it is less beneficial for income tax purposes to assets where a higher basis provides greater benefits, i.e., because the asset offers greater cost-recovery deductions or smaller taxable gains when sold. Regulations were adopted in final form during the last days of the Biden Administration, but were withdrawn in Notice 2025-23, with effect as of the date of their issuance. In his article, Wooyoung Lee observes that, while the regulations were withdrawn, the I.R.S. has not withdrawn Rev. Rul. 2024-14, which accompanied the proposed regulations when issued in 2024 and explains the three types of basis-shifting transactions that, in the view of the I.R.S., fail the economic substance doctrine that is codified in Code §7701(o). See more →

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The I.R.S.’s Multifaceted Scrutiny of Partnership Basis-Shifting Transactions

Over the past several years, the I.R.S. has targeted tax-free partnership transactions designed to shift tax basis to property in a way that will yield tax savings for the partner, the partnership, or both. The goal of these transactions is to use the interplay of rules governing inside basis and outside basis to shift tax basis from assets where it is less beneficial for income tax purposes to assets where a higher basis provides greater benefits, i.e., because the asset offers greater cost-recovery deductions or smaller taxable gains when sold. Regulations were adopted in final form during the last days of the Biden Administration, but were withdrawn in Notice 2025-23, with effect as of the date of their issuance. In his article, Wooyoung Lee (i) observes that, while the regulations were withdrawn, the I.R.S. has not withdrawn Rev. Rul. 2024-14, which accompanied the proposed regulations when issued in 2024 and explains the three types of basis-shifting transactions that, in the view of the I.R.S., fail the economic substance doctrine that is codified in Code §7701(o).

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The I.R.S.’s Multifaceted Scrutiny of Partnership Basis-Shifting Transactions

Volume 13 No 5 / Read Article

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