Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

AB Holding is a “grandfathered” publicly-traded partnership (“PTP”) for federal tax purposes and, accordingly, is not subject to federal or state corporate income taxes. However, AB Holding is subject to the 4.0% New York City unincorporated business tax (“UBT”), net of credits for UBT paid by AB, and to a 3.5% federal tax on partnership gross income from the active conduct of a trade or business. AB Holding’s partnership gross income is derived from its interest in AB.

AB Holding’s federal income tax is computed by multiplying certain AB qualifying revenues (primarily U.S. investment advisory fees and brokerage commissions) by AB Holding’s ownership interest in AB, multiplied by the 3.5% tax rate. AB Holding Units in AB’s consolidated rabbi trust are not considered outstanding for purposes of calculating AB Holding’s ownership interest in AB.

	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
	2019			2018			% Change		2019			2018			% Change
	(in thousands)
Net income attributable to AB Unitholders	$	166,252		$	181,665		(8.5	)%	$	315,366		$	365,861		(13.8	)%
Multiplied by: weighted average equity ownership interest	35.5		%	36.0		%			35.4		%	35.8		%
Equity in net income attributable to AB Unitholders	$	59,023		$	65,388		(9.7	)	$	111,661		$	131,086		(14.8	)
AB qualifying revenues	$	643,019		$	643,009		—		$	1,229,569		$	1,345,927		(8.6	)
Multiplied by: weighted average equity ownership interest for calculating tax	29.4		%	30.2		%			29.5		%	30.2		%
Multiplied by: federal tax	3.5		%	3.5		%			3.5		%	3.5		%
Federal income taxes	6,619			6,794					12,700			14,204
State income taxes	130			137					248			265
Total income taxes	$	6,749		$	6,931		(2.6	)	$	12,948		$	14,469		(10.5	)
Effective tax rate	11.4		%	10.6		%			11.6		%	11.0		%

In order to preserve AB Holding’s status as a “grandfathered” PTP for federal income tax purposes, management ensures that AB Holding does not directly or indirectly (through AB) enter into a substantial new line of business. If AB Holding were to lose its status as a “grandfathered” PTP, it would be subject to corporate income tax, which would reduce materially AB Holding’s net income and its quarterly distributions to AB Holding Unitholders.