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A.R.S. § 14-7420

Mineral & Resource Income in a Trust

Verified April 4, 202657th Legislature, 1st Regular Session

When a trust holds interests in minerals, water, oil, gas, or other natural resources, specific rules divide receipts. Most royalties and production income follow a ninety-ten split favoring principal. Extracting these resources depletes a non-renewable asset.

Title 14, TRUST ADMINISTRATION

azleg.gov

The Ninety-Ten Split for Natural Resources

Natural resources held in trust are unique assets. Unlike stocks or bonds, extracting minerals or pumping water reduces what is left for future beneficiaries. These assets produce income for a limited time.

Arizona accounts for this by directing the bulk of receipts to principal.

If an amount received as a royalty, shut-in-well payment, take-or-pay payment, bonus or delay rental is more than nominal, ninety per cent must be allocated to principal and the balance to income.

A.R.S. § 14-7420(A)(3)

The same ninety-ten split applies to receipts from working interests and other interests not covered elsewhere. However, the trustee allocates nominal delay rentals and nominal annual rent on a lease to income. Only amounts above nominal levels follow the ninety-ten split.

Water Rights and Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Distinctions

Arizona's approach to water rights recognizes a practical reality. Renewable water sources, such as wells that replenish naturally, generate receipts that go entirely to income. Non-renewable water follows the same ninety-ten split as minerals.

The statute applies even if the trust creator was already extracting resources before the trust existed. For trusts that owned resource interests before this article took effect, the trustee has a choice. The trustee can apply the new rules or keep using the prior method.

Trusts that acquire resource interests after the effective date must follow the statutory allocation.

Production payments receive their own treatment. To the extent the agreement includes a factor for interest, that portion goes to income. The balance goes to principal.

14-7420. Minerals, water and other natural resources A. To the extent that a trustee accounts for receipts from an interest in minerals or other natural resources pursuant to this section, the trustee shall allocate them as follows: 1. If received as nominal delay rental or nominal annual rent on a lease, a receipt must be allocated to income. 2. If received from a production payment, a receipt must be allocated to income if and to the extent that the agreement creating the production payment provides a factor for interest or its equivalent. The balance must be allocated to principal. 3. If an amount received as a royalty, shut-in-well payment, take-or-pay payment, bonus or delay rental is more than nominal, ninety per cent must be allocated to principal and the balance to income. 4. If an amount is received from a working interest or any other interest not provided for in paragraph 1, 2 or 3, ninety per cent of the net amount received must be allocated to principal and the balance to income. B. An amount received on account of an interest in water that is renewable must be allocated to income. If the water is not renewable, ninety per cent of the amount must be allocated to principal and the balance to income. C. This article applies whether or not a decedent or donor was extracting minerals, water or other natural resources before the interest became subject to the trust. D. If a trust owns an interest in minerals, water or other natural resources on the effective date of this article, the trustee may allocate receipts from the interest as provided in this article or in the manner used by the trustee before the effective date of this article. If the trust acquires an interest in minerals, water or other natural resources after the effective date of this article, the trustee shall allocate receipts from the interest as provided in this article.

This page provides general legal information about Arizona statutes and is not legal advice. For guidance on how this law applies to your situation, speak with a qualified attorney.

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