LP Cash Flow & Return Model
Enter deal economics. The model builds a 15-year LP cash flow stream and computes return metrics. Credits flow Years 1–10; cash distributions and exit happen Year 15.
Model assumptions: equity paid Year 0; credits + cash + tax savings flow Years 1–10; cash + tax savings continue Years 11–15; exit Year 15. Simplifying assumptions: uniform credit delivery, uniform cash distributions, single exit at Year 15. Tax-loss benefit is held flat through Year 15; real deals taper as debt amortizes. Real deals have more complex timing and waterfall structures.
How LP economics work
A LIHTC limited partner contributes equity in exchange for:
- Tax credits (Years 1–10): dollar-for-dollar reduction in federal tax liability
- Tax losses (passed through): depreciation + interest expense reduces taxable income at the LP's tax rate
- Cash distributions: limited (cash-poor deals), typically nominal annual pref
- Year-15 exit: small residual (QC price > debt, or ROFR-priced exit)
The LP IRR is typically 3–7% all-in — driven mostly by the credits, modestly by tax losses, and barely by cash or exit. Yields below 5% are common in CRA-driven deals (banks accept lower returns for CRA credit).