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Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Income Taxes  
Income Taxes

Note 9—Income Taxes

 

U.S. Federal and State Taxes

 

As an MLP, we are not subject to U.S. federal income taxes; rather the tax effect of our operations is passed through to our unitholders. Although we are subject to state income taxes in some states, the impact to the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 was immaterial.

 

Canadian Federal and Provincial Taxes

 

In 2010 and prior years, our Canadian operations were operated through a combination of corporate entities subject to Canadian federal and provincial taxes and a limited partnership which was treated as a flow-through entity for tax purposes. Due to changes in Canadian legislation and the Fifth Protocol to the U.S./Canada Tax Treaty, we restructured our Canadian investment on January 1, 2011. As of this date, all of our Canadian operations are conducted within entities that are treated as corporations for Canadian tax purposes (flow through for U.S. tax purposes) and that are subject to Canadian federal and provincial taxes. Additionally, payments of interest and dividends from Canada to other Plains entities are subject to Canadian withholding tax that is treated as a distribution to unitholders.