A limited partnership, a foreign limited partnership authorized to transact business in this State, and a partner of one of these partnerships are subject to taxation under Article 4 of Chapter 105 of the N.C. Gen. Stat. in accordance with their classification for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, if a limited partnership or a foreign limited partnership authorized to transact business in this State is classified for federal income tax purposes as a C corporation as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-131(b)(2) or an S corporation as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-131(b)(8), the partnership and its partners are subject to tax under Article 4 of Chapter 105 of the N.C. Gen. Stat. to the same extent as a C corporation or an S corporation, as the case may be, and its shareholders. If a limited partnership or a foreign limited partnership authorized to transact business in this State is classified for federal income tax purposes as a partnership, the partnership and its partners are subject to tax under Article 4 of Chapter 105 of the N.C. Gen. Stat. accordingly. If a limited partnership or a foreign limited partnership authorized to transact business in this State is classified for federal income tax purposes as other than a corporation or a partnership, the partnership and its partners are subject to tax under Article 4 of Chapter 105 of the N.C. Gen. Stat. in a manner consistent with that classification. This section does not require a limited partnership or a foreign limited partnership to obtain an administrative ruling from the Internal Revenue Service on its classification under the Internal Revenue Code. (2001-387, s. 150.)