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If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than the gross income tests and the asset tests, and such failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, we will be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure.
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Generally, we will be subject to a 100% excise tax on transactions with a taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS, that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis.
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If we acquire any asset from a C corporation, or a corporation that generally is subject to full corporate-level tax, in a merger or other transaction in which we acquire a basis in the asset that is determined by reference either to the C corporation’s basis in the asset or to another asset, we will pay tax at the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate applicable if we elect to recognize such gain immediately or subsequently recognize gain on the taxable disposition of the asset during the 5-year period after we acquire the asset. The amount of gain on which we will pay tax generally is the lesser of:
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the amount of gain that we recognize at the time of the sale or disposition, and
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the amount of gain that we would have recognized if we had sold the asset at the time we acquired it.
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The earnings of our subsidiary entities that are C corporations, including TRSs, will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax.
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We may elect to retain and pay income tax on our net capital gain.
In addition, we may be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state, local and foreign income, property and other taxes, on our assets and operations. We also could be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently contemplated.
Requirements for Qualification as a REIT
A REIT is a corporation, trust or association that satisfies each of the following requirements:
(1)
It is managed by one or more trustees or directors;
(2)
Its beneficial ownership is evidenced by transferable shares of stock, or by transferable shares or certificates of beneficial interest;
(3)
It would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for its election to be subject to tax as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, i.e., the REIT provisions;
(4)
It is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to special provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws;
(5)
At least 100 persons are beneficial owners of its stock or shares of beneficial interest (determined without reference to any rules of attribution);
(6)
Not more than 50% in value of its outstanding stock or shares of beneficial interest are owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals, which the U.S. federal income tax laws define to include certain entities, during the last half of any taxable year;
(7)
It elects to be a REIT, or has made such election for a previous taxable year, and satisfies all relevant filing and other administrative requirements established by the IRS that must be met to qualify to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
(8)
It uses a calendar year for U.S. federal income tax purposes and complies with the recordkeeping requirements of the U.S. federal income tax laws; and
(9)
It meets certain other requirements, described below, regarding the sources of its gross income, the nature and diversification of its assets and the distribution of its income.
We must satisfy requirements (1) through (4), and (8), during our entire taxable year and must satisfy requirement (5) during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a