for our preceding taxable year. In preparing this information, which will not be reviewed by counsel, we will take various accounting and reporting positions, some of which have been mentioned
earlier, to determine each unitholders share of income, gain, loss and deduction. We cannot assure our unitholders that those positions will yield a result that conforms to all of the requirements of the Code, Treasury Regulations or
administrative interpretations of the IRS.
The IRS may audit our U.S. federal income tax information returns. Neither we nor
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. can assure prospective unitholders that the IRS will not successfully challenge the positions we adopt, and such a challenge could adversely affect the value of our common units. Adjustments resulting from an IRS
audit may require each unitholder to adjust a prior years tax liability, and may result in an audit of the unitholders own return. Any audit of a unitholders return could result in adjustments unrelated to our returns.
Publicly-traded partnerships are treated as entities separate from their owners for purposes of U.S. federal income tax audits, judicial
review of administrative adjustments by the IRS and tax settlement proceedings. The tax treatment of partnership items of income, gain, loss and deduction are determined in a partnership proceeding rather than in separate proceedings for each of the
partners. If the IRS makes audit adjustments to our income tax returns, it may assess and collect any taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustment directly from us, unless we elect to have our general
partner, unitholders and former unitholders take any audit adjustment into account in accordance with their interests in us during the taxable year under audit. Similarly, for such taxable years, if the IRS makes audit adjustments to income tax
returns filed by an entity in which we are a member or partner, it may assess and collect any taxes (including penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustment directly from such entity.
Generally, we expect to elect to have our general partner, unitholders and former unitholders take any such audit adjustment into account in
accordance with their interests in us during the taxable year under audit, but there can be no assurance that such election will be effective in all circumstances. If we are unable or if it is not economical to have our general partner, unitholders
and former unitholders take such audit adjustment into account in accordance with their interests in us during the taxable year under audit, then our current unitholders may bear some or all of the tax liability resulting from such audit adjustment,
even if such unitholders did not own our common units during the taxable year under audit. If, as a result of any such audit adjustment, we are required to make payments of taxes, penalties or interest, or, if we bear such payment directly, our cash
available for distribution to our unitholders might be substantially reduced. Congress has proposed changes to the rules regarding audits of tax partnerships, and we anticipate that amendments may be made. Accordingly, the manner in which these
rules may apply to us in the future is uncertain.
We are required to designate a partner, or other person, with a substantial presence in
the United States as the partnership representative (Partnership Representative). The Partnership Representative has the sole authority to act on our behalf for purposes of, among other things, U.S. federal income tax audits and judicial
review of administrative adjustments by the IRS. If we do not make such a designation, the IRS can select any person as the Partnership Representative. We have designated our general partner as the Partnership Representative. Further, any actions
taken by us or by the Partnership Representative on our behalf with respect to, among other things, U.S. federal income tax audits and judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS, will be binding on us and all of our unitholders.
Additional Withholding Requirements
Withholding taxes may apply to certain types of payments made to foreign financial institutions (as specially defined in the Code)
and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on withholdable payments, including interest, dividends and other fixed or determinable annual or periodic gains, profits
and income from sources within the United States (FDAP Income) paid to a foreign financial institution or to a non-financial foreign entity (as specially defined in the Code), unless
(i) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting, (ii) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies
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