INCOME TAXES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

The Company elected to be taxed as a REIT under sections 856-860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), commencing with the filing of its 2015 tax return for its tax year ended December 31, 2015. To the extent the Company meets certain requirements under the Code, the Company will not be taxed on its federal taxable income. If we fail to qualify as a REIT for any taxable year, we will be subject to federal income taxes at regular corporate rates, including any alternative minimum tax, which, for corporations, was repealed under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) and may not be able to qualify as a REIT for the four subsequent taxable years. The Company is subject to certain foreign and state and local income taxes, including a 29% non-resident withholding tax on its two Puerto Rico malls, which are included in income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income. The Company is also subject to certain other taxes, including state and local franchise taxes which are included in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income.

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, certain non-real estate operating activities that could not be performed by the REIT directly, occurred through the Company’s taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”), and the Company’s TRS is subject to federal, state and local income taxes. These income taxes are included in the income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income.

Our two Puerto Rico malls are subject to a 29% non-resident withholding tax which is included in income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income. The Puerto Rico tax expense recorded was $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Both properties are held in a special partnership for Puerto Rico tax purposes (the general partner being a qualified REIT subsidiary or “QRS”).

The REIT and the other minority members are partners in the Operating Partnership. As such, the partners are required to report their share of taxable income on their tax returns.