mlp_projection
Computes a multi-year tax projection for a publicly traded MLP position, applying the IRS Partner's Basis Worksheet methodology per IRC §705, §731(a), §733, §751, §752 and §199A. Returns year-by-year basis erosion, §751 accumulation, annual federal tax, terminal FMV (the projected market value), the tax on a sale by the holder at that value (not a measure of tax saved or avoided at death; the successor's tax is not computed), and the break-even sell price.
Use when: User holds direct units of a midstream MLP (EPD, ET, MPLX, WES, PAA, NRP, USAC, SUN) and wants to model long-term tax outcomes — when basis reaches zero, total tax paid over the hold horizon, the tax a sale at the projected value would carry, or the unit price at which selling now matches holding with no sale. Single position, single lot.
Don't use for: 1099-DIV ETFs (AMLP, MLPX, AMZA): this tool does not model them. Multi-position estate analysis — use mlp_estate_planning. Computing basis from actual K-1 data the user has in hand — use k1_basis_compute (single year) or k1_basis_multi_year.
Limitations: Single position, single lot — for multi-position portfolios and per-lot optimal sell ordering, see lucasandersen.ai. Federal-level only — does not include state-level basis adjustments or state estate tax. §751 recapture is estimated from default ROC assumptions; actual recapture depends on the partnership's hot-asset disposition schedule.
Maintained by Lucas Andersen, MS Finance, with direct positions in major midstream MLPs. Methodology auditable at lucasandersen.ai/methodology.
Input Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| units | Yes | Number of MLP units held | |
| years | No | Projection horizon in years (1-50, default 20) | |
| ticker | Yes | MLP ticker symbol | |
| tax_bracket | No | Federal marginal rate as decimal, e.g. 0.32 (default 0.32) | |
| purchase_price | No | Purchase price per unit in USD (optional — defaults to reasonable estimate) |