Edgar Filing: TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

tpl20151201_10k.htm

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

☒

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2015

☐

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to .

Commission file No.: 1-737

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Not Applicable

75-0279735

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 2770

Dallas, Texas

75201

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (214) 969-5530

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Sub-shares in Certificates of Proprietary Interest

(par value $.03-1/3 per share)

New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☑

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web Site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☑

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One)

	Large accelerated filer ☑	Accelerated filer ☐

	Non-accelerated filer ☐	Smaller reporting company ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☑

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter (June 30, 2015) was approximately $1,189,777,052.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

None.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding management’s expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Trust’s future operations and prospects, the markets for real estate in the areas in which the Trust owns real estate, applicable zoning regulations, the markets for oil and gas, production limits on prorated oil and gas wells authorized by the Railroad Commission of Texas, expected competition, management’s intent, beliefs or current expectations with respect to the Trust’s future financial performance and other matters. All forward-looking statements in this Report are based on information available to us as of the date this Report is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and we assume no responsibility to update any such forward-looking statements, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed in Item 1A “Risk Factors” and Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

PART I

Item 1. Business.

(a) General Development of Business. The registrant (hereinafter called “Texas Pacific” or the “Trust”) was organized under a Declaration of Trust, dated February 1, 1888, to receive and hold title to extensive tracts of land in the State of Texas, previously the property of the Texas and Pacific Railway Company, and to issue transferable Certificates of Proprietary Interest pro rata to the holders of certain debt securities of the Texas and Pacific Railway Company. The Trustees are empowered under the Declaration of Trust to manage the lands with all the powers of an absolute owner, and to use the lands and the proceeds of sale of the lands, either to pay dividends to the Certificate holders or to buy in and cancel outstanding Certificates. The Trust’s income is derived primarily from land sales, oil and gas royalties, easements and sundry income, grazing leases, and interest. This method of operation has continued through the present. During the last five years there has not been any reorganization, disposition of any material amount of assets not in the ordinary course of business (although in the ordinary course of business Texas Pacific does sell or lease large tracts of land owned by it), or any material change in the mode of conducting business.

Texas Pacific’s income from oil and gas royalties has been limited in the past by the level of production authorized for prorated wells each year by the regulations of the Railroad Commission of the State of Texas. The monthly percentage of allowable production has averaged 100% in recent years, but, because of the limited capacity of older wells and other operating problems, the percentage permitted by the Railroad Commission may not be produced by all operators.

(b) Financial Information about Industry Segments. Texas Pacific does not have identifiable industry segments, although, as shown in the Statements of Income and Total Comprehensive Income included in the financial statements incorporated by reference in Item 8 of this Report on Form 10-K (the “Report”), land sales, oil and gas royalties, easements and sundry income, grazing leases, and interest income are the major contributors to the income of Texas Pacific. The Trust’s management views its operations as one segment and believes the only significant activity is managing the land which was conveyed to the Trust in 1888. Managing the land includes sales and leases of such land and the retention of oil and gas royalties. See the Statements of Income and Total Comprehensive Income for additional sources of income for the last three (3) years of Texas Pacific.

(c) Narrative Description of Business. As previously indicated, the business done and intended to be done by Texas Pacific consists of sales and leases of land owned by it, retaining oil and gas royalties and the overall management of the land owned by it.

(i)

During the last three fiscal years each of the following items has accounted for at least fifteen percent (15%) of total revenues.

	2015		2014		2013
Oil and Gas Royalties		31%		53%		56%
Land Sales		28%		*		15%
Easements and Sundry Income		40%		39%		28%

*Denotes less than 15%


	(ii)	Texas Pacific is not in the business of development of new products.

(iii)

Raw materials are not necessary to the business of Texas Pacific.

(iv)

Patents, trademarks, licenses, franchises or concessions held are not material to any business of Texas Pacific.

(v)

The business of Texas Pacific is not seasonal in nature, as that term is generally understood, although land sales may vary widely from year to year and quarter to quarter.

(vi)

The business of Texas Pacific does not require Texas Pacific to maintain any particular amount or item of working capital.

(vii)

During 2015, Texas Pacific received $19,840,000, or approximately 25.0 percent of its total revenues (87.7 percent of land sale revenues), for a land sale of approximately 19,607 acres in Upton/Crane Counties, Texas. Texas Pacific also received $7,646,239, or approximately 30.8 percent of its oil and gas royalty income, from Chevron USA, Inc. and $4,937,142, or approximately 19.9 percent of its oil and gas royalty income, from Anadarko E&P Company, LP during 2015. Lastly, Texas Pacific received $3,703,025, or approximately 11.8 percent of its easements and sundry income, from BHP Billiton Petroleum during 2015.

(viii)

Backlogs are not relevant to an understanding of Texas Pacific’s business.

(ix)

No material portion of Texas Pacific’s business is subject to renegotiation or termination at the election of the Government.

(x)

The Trust does not have competitors, as such, in that it sells, leases and generally manages land owned by it and, to that extent, any owner of property located in areas comparable to the Trust is a potential competitor.

(xi)

Research activities relating to the development of new products or services or to the improvement of existing products or services are not material to the Trust’s business.

(xii)

Compliance with Federal, State and local provisions that have been enacted or adopted regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, have had no material effect upon the capital expenditures, earnings and competitive position of Texas Pacific. To date, Texas Pacific has not been called upon to expend any funds for these purposes.

(xiii)

As of February 29, 2016, Texas Pacific had eight (8) full-time employees.

(d) Financial Information about Geographic Areas. Texas Pacific does not have any foreign operations. For each of its last three fiscal years, all of the Trust’s revenues have been derived from, and all of its long-lived assets have been located in, the United States.

(e) Available Information. The Trust makes available, free of charge, on or through its Internet website copies of its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). We maintain our website at http://www.TPLTrust.com. The information contained on our website is not part of this Report.

Item 1A: Risk Factors.

An investment in our securities involves a degree of risk. The risks described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on us. If any of the following risks actually occur, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or business could be harmed. In that case, the market price of our securities could decline and you could lose part or all of your investment.

Global economic conditions may materially and adversely affect our business.

Our business and results of operations are affected by international, national and regional economic conditions. A recurrence of recessionary conditions in the United States and elsewhere may lead to reduced industrial production which, in turn, may lead to lower demand and lower prices for oil and gas, which may adversely affect our results of operations.

The Trust’s oil and gas royalty revenue is dependent upon the market prices of oil and gas which fluctuate.

The oil and gas royalties which the Trust receives are dependent upon the market prices for oil and gas. The market prices for oil and gas are subject to national and international economic and political conditions and, in the past, have been subject to significant price fluctuations. Price fluctuations for oil and gas have been particularly volatile in recent years. Although the Trust’s oil and gas royalties benefited from the substantial increases in the market prices for oil and gas, the current trend toward lower market prices for oil and gas will have an adverse effect on our oil and gas royalty revenues.

The Trust is not an oil and gas producer. Its revenues from oil and gas royalties are subject to the actions of others.

The Trust is not an oil and gas producer. Its oil and gas income is derived from perpetual non-participating oil and gas royalty interests which it has retained. As wells age the costs of production may increase and their capacity may decline absent additional investment. However, the owners and operators of the oil and gas wells make all decisions as to investments in, and production from, those wells and the Trust’s royalties will be dependent upon decisions made by those operators, among other factors. The Railroad Commission of the State of Texas sets authorized production levels for pro rated wells by regulation. The monthly percentage of allowable production has averaged 100% in recent years. However, in the past the Trust’s income from oil and gas royalties has been limited by the production levels authorized by the Railroad Commission and we cannot assure you that they may not be so limited in the future.

Our revenues from the sale of land are subject to substantial fluctuation. We are a passive seller of land and land sales are subject to many factors that are beyond our control.

Land sales vary widely from year to year and quarter to quarter. The total dollar amount, the average price per acre, and the number of acres sold in any one year or quarter should not be assumed to be indicative of land sales in the future. The Trust is a passive seller of land and does not actively solicit sales of land. The demand for, and the sale price of, any particular tract of the Trust’s land is influenced by many factors, including the national and local economies, the rate of residential and commercial development in nearby areas, livestock carrying capacity and the condition of the local agricultural industry, which itself is influenced by range conditions and prices for livestock and agricultural products. Approximately 99% of the Trust’s land is classified as ranch land and intermingled with parcels owned by third parties to form ranching units. The Trust’s ability to sell ranch land is, therefore, largely dependent on the actions of adjoining landowners.

The Trust’s remaining holdings of land in metropolitan areas are limited.

The sale price of land suitable for development in metropolitan areas is generally substantially higher than the price of land in rural or ranching areas. The Trust’s remaining holdings of land suitable for development in metropolitan areas are limited.

If the liability of holders of Certificates of Proprietary Interest and Sub-shares were to be found to be governed by the laws of Texas, holders of Certificates of Proprietary Interest and Sub-shares might be held to have personal liability for claims against the Trust, to the extent such claims exceeded the assets of the Trust.

The Declaration of Trust which established the Trust was executed and delivered in New York. Under the laws of the State of New York, the holders of Certificates of Proprietary Interest and Sub-shares are not subject to any personal liability for the acts or obligations of the Trust. The assets of the Trust are located in Texas. Under the laws of the State of Texas the holders of Certificates of Proprietary Interest and Sub-shares may be held personally liable with respect to claims against the Trust, but only after the assets of the Trust first have been exhausted. Thus, if a court were to hold that the liability of holders of Certificates of Proprietary Interest and Sub-shares for obligations is governed by the laws of Texas, rather than New York, it is possible that holders of Certificates of Proprietary Interest and Sub-shares might be held to have personal liability for claims against the Trust to the extent such claims exceeded all of the Trust’s assets.

The Trustees are not subject to annual election and, as a result, the ability of the holders of Certificates of Proprietary Interest and Sub-shares to influence the policies of the Trust may be limited.

Directors of a corporation are generally subject to election at each annual meeting of stockholders or, in the case of staggered boards, at regular intervals. Under the Declaration of Trust, however, the Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of holders of Certificates of Proprietary Interest and Sub-shares to elect Trustees and Trustees generally hold office until their death, resignation or disqualification. As a result, the ability of holders of Certificates of Proprietary Interest and Sub-shares to effect changes in the Board of Trustees, and the policies of the Trust, is significantly more limited than that of the stockholders of a corporation.

Our results of operations for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of our results of operations for a full year.

Sales of land fluctuate from quarter to quarter. Revenues from oil and gas royalties may also fluctuate from quarter to quarter based upon market prices for oil and gas and production decisions made by the operators. As a result, the results of our operations for any particular quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full year.

Item 1B:

Unresolved Staff Comments.

Not Applicable.

Item 2:

Properties.

As of February 15, 2016, Texas Pacific Land Trust owned the surface estate in approximately 888,324 acres of land, comprised of numerous separate tracts, located in 18 counties in the western part of Texas. There were no material liens or encumbrances on the Trust’s title to the surface estate in those tracts.

The Trust also owns a 1/128 nonparticipating perpetual oil and gas royalty interest under 85,414 acres of land and a 1/16 nonparticipating perpetual oil and gas royalty interest under 373,777 acres of land in the western part of Texas. Generally speaking, if the Trust sells the surface estate in real property with respect to which it holds a perpetual oil and gas royalty interest, that oil and gas royalty interest is excluded from the sale and retained by the Trust.

At December 31, 2015, grazing leases were in effect on over 99 percent or approximately 886,647 acres of the Trust’s land. The Trust regularly enters into grazing leases with many different local ranchers which grant the ranch owner lessees the right to graze livestock on the Trust’s properties. These leases are generally in a standard form common in the locality. Grazing leases are generally entered into for terms ranging from three (3) to five (5) years. The Trust generally retains the right to cancel a grazing lease upon thirty (30) days notice in the event of a sale of the land. No individual grazing lease is material to the Trust.

Approximately 20,941 acres of land were sold in 2015.

The Trust leases office space in Dallas, Texas.

Item 3:

Legal Proceedings.

Texas Pacific is not involved in any material pending legal proceedings.

Item 4:

Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not Applicable.

PART II

Item 5:

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Security Holder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

The principal United States market on which Sub-shares in the Trust’s Certificates of Proprietary Interest are traded is the New York Stock Exchange, under the symbol “TPL”. The range of reported sale prices for Sub-shares on the New York Stock Exchange for each quarterly period during the past two fiscal years was as follows:

	2015				2014
	High		Low		High		Low

1st Quarter	$	151.49	$	106.24	$	147.80	$	93.00
2nd Quarter	$	164.47	$	140.06	$	173.86	$	125.00
3rd Quarter	$	148.61	$	96.54	$	242.00	$	157.98
4th Quarter	$	153.60	$	119.80	$	193.70	$	103.57

Certificates of Proprietary Interest and Sub-shares are interchangeable in the ratio of one Certificate for 3,000 Sub-shares or 3,000 Sub-shares for one Certificate of Proprietary Interest. Texas Pacific has paid a cash dividend each year for the preceding 59 years. The cash dividend was $.29 per Sub-share in 2015 and $.27 per Sub-share in 2014 and was paid during the first quarter of each year. Texas Pacific is not a party to any agreement that would limit its ability to pay dividends in the future, although any future dividends are subject to the discretion of the Board of Trustees and will depend upon the Trust’s earnings, capital requirements and financial position, applicable requirements of law, general economic conditions and other factors considered relevant by the Board of Trustees.

The approximate numbers of holders of Certificates of Proprietary Interest and Sub-shares, respectively, as of January 31, 2016, were as follows:

Certificates of Proprietary Interest			–
Sub-shares in Certificates of Proprietary Interest			308
TOTAL			308

The Trust has not incorporated equity-related compensation elements in its compensation programs. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Trust did not sell any equity securities.

During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Trust repurchased Sub-share certificates as follows:

Period

Total Number of

Sub-shares

Purchased

Average

Price Paid

per Sub-

share

Total

Number of Sub-
shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs

Maximum

Number (or

Approximate Dollar
Value) of Sub-
shares that May Yet
Be Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs

October 1, through October 31, 2015

11,158

146.95

–

November 1, through November 30, 2015

20,933

144.13

–

December 1, through December 31, 2015

23,931

137.67

–

Total

56,022*

141.93

–

* The Trust purchased and retired 56,022 Sub-shares in the open market.

Item 6:

Selected Financial Data.

The selected financial data set forth below for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011, were derived from our audited financial statements. The data presented below should be read in conjunction with Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Financial Statements and Notes thereto incorporated by reference in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

	Year Ended December 31,
	2015		2014		2013		2012		2011
Gross income	$	79,442,293	$	55,216,753	$	44,121,079	$	32,606,891	$	34,319,036
Expenses		4,159,271		3,785,199		3,978,501		3,284,005		3,563,118
Income before income taxes		75,283,022		51,431,554		40,142,578		29,322,886		30,755,918
Income taxes		25,244,515		16,666,534		12,924,070		9,675,068		10,161,149
Net income	$	50,038,507	$	34,765,020	$	27,218,508	$	19,647,818	$	20,594,769
Net income per Sub-share	$	6.10	$	4.14	$	3.16	$	2.20	$	2.21
Dividends per Sub-share*	$	.29	$	.27	$	.00	$	.48	$	.21
Average number of Sub-shares outstanding		8,197,632		8,397,314		8,601,171		8,939,045		9,336,998

	As of December 31,
	2015		2014		2013		2012		2011
Total assets, exclusive of property with no assigned value	$	50,435,545	$	33,102,488	$	22,356,948	$	21,186,872	$	27,432,257

*The figure for 2012 includes a $.25 dividend for 2013 which was paid in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Item 7:

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion and analysis should be read together with the factors discussed in Item 1A “Risk Factors” and with the Financial Statements, including the Notes thereto, and the other financial information appearing elsewhere in this Report. Period-to-period comparisons of financial data are not necessarily indicative, and therefore should not be relied upon as indicators, of the Trust’s future performance. Words or phrases such as “does not believe” and “believes,” or similar expressions, when used in this Form 10-K or other filings with the SEC, are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Overview

The Trust was organized in 1888 and holds title to extensive tracts of land in numerous West Texas counties which were previously the property of the Texas and Pacific Railway Company. We continue to manage those lands for the benefit of the holders of Certificates of Proprietary Interest in the Trust. Our revenues are derived primarily from sales of land, oil and gas royalties, easements and sundry income, grazing leases of the land and interest. Due to the nature of our operations, our revenue is subject to substantial fluctuations from quarter to quarter and year to year. We are a passive seller of land and do not actively solicit sales of land. In addition, the demand for, and sale price of, particular tracts of land is influenced by many factors beyond our control, including general economic conditions, the rate of development in nearby areas and the suitability of the particular tract for the ranching uses prevalent in western Texas. The Trust is not an oil and gas producer. Rather, its oil and gas revenue is derived from retained perpetual non-participating oil and gas royalty interests. Thus, in addition to being subject to fluctuations in response to the market prices for oil and gas, our oil and gas royalty revenues are also subject to decisions made by the owners and operators of the oil wells to which our royalty interests relate as to investments in and production from those wells. We monitor production reports by the oil and gas companies to assure that we are being paid the appropriate royalties. We review conditions in the agricultural industry in the areas in which our lands are located and seek to keep as much of our lands as possible under lease to local ranchers. In recent years, we have been successful at keeping over 98% of our land subject to grazing leases.

Results of Operations

The Trust’s primary sources of income are revenue derived from sales of land, either for cash or a combination of cash and mortgage notes, and revenue derived from the Trust’s land and mineral interests.

2015 Compared to 2014

Total operating and investing revenues in 2015 aggregated $79,442,293, an increase of $24,225,540, or 43.9%, from the $55,216,753 of total operating and investing revenues recorded in 2014. This increase resulted primarily from increases in land sales and easements and sundry income. These increases were partially offset by decreases in oil and gas royalties and interest income from notes receivable. Earnings per Sub-share certificate were $6.10 for 2015 compared to $4.14 in 2014. The Trust purchased and retired 204,335 Sub-shares during 2015, leaving 8,118,064 Sub-shares outstanding at December 31, 2015.

Land sales in 2015 were $22,616,635 compared to $3,698,312 in 2014, an increase of $18,918,323, or 511.5%. A total of approximately 20,941 acres were sold in 2015 at an average price of $1,080 per acre, compared to 1,950 acres in 2014 at an average price per acre of $1,897.

Rentals, royalties and other income (including interest on investments) were $56,825,658 in 2015 compared to $51,518,441 in 2014, an increase of 10.3%.

Oil and gas royalty revenue in 2015 was $24,860,205 compared to $29,346,103 in 2014, a decrease of 15.3%. Oil royalty revenue was $18,607,031 and gas royalty revenue was $6,253,174 in 2015. Crude oil production subject to the Trust’s royalty interest increased 47.2% in 2015 from 2014. This increase in production was offset by a 44.5% decrease in the average price per royalty barrel of crude oil during 2015 compared to 2014. Total gas production increased 39.4%, and the average price of gas decreased by 31.9% in 2015 compared to 2014.

Grazing lease income in 2015 was $483,989 compared to $500,292 in 2014, a decrease of 3.3%. This decrease is caused by the reduction in acres available to lease due to land sale activity.

Interest revenue (including interest on investments) was $68,306 in 2015 compared to $154,814 in 2014, a decrease of 55.9%. Interest on notes receivable amounted to $40,866 in 2015 compared to $140,291 in 2014. This decrease is primarily due to principal prepayments received on notes due to the Trust. At year end 2015, notes receivable from land sales were $139,114 compared to $923,115 at year end 2014. Interest on investments amounted to $27,440 in 2015 and $14,523 in 2014, respectively. Total principal cash payments on notes receivable were $784,001 in 2015 including $713,062 of prepaid principal.

Easements and sundry income in 2015 was $31,413,158 compared to $21,517,232 in 2014 due to a continued increase in drilling and exploration activity on land owned by the Trust. This increase resulted primarily from an increase in the amount of pipeline easement income to $18,182,259 for 2015, an increase of $8,997,209, or 98.0%, from the $9,185,050 received in 2014. This increase was partially offset by decreases in sundry lease rental income and seismic easement income. Easements and sundry income is unpredictable and may vary significantly from period to period.

Taxes, other than income taxes, were $1,476,576 in 2015 compared to $1,692,256 in 2014. Oil and gas production taxes were $1,324,909 in 2015 compared to $1,540,735 in 2014. Ad valorem taxes were $94,219 in 2015 compared to $97,054 in 2014. All other expenses were $2,682,695 in 2015 compared to $2,092,943 in 2014. This increase resulted primarily from increases in salaries and related employee benefits expense, legal and professional fees expense and a project that began in the third quarter of 2015 to enhance the information systems of the Trust.

2014 Compared to 2013

Total operating and investing revenues in 2014 aggregated $55,216,753, an increase of $11,095,674, or 25.1%, from the $44,121,079 of total operating and investing revenues recorded in 2013. This increase resulted primarily from increases in easements and sundry income and oil and gas royalty revenue. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in land sales and interest income from notes receivable. Earnings per Sub-share certificate were $4.14 for 2014 compared to $3.16 in 2013. The Trust purchased and retired 150,803 Sub-shares during 2014, leaving 8,322,399 Sub-shares outstanding at December 31, 2014.

Land sales in 2014 were $3,698,312 compared to $6,413,588 in 2013, a decrease of $2,715,276, or 42.3%. A total of 1,950 acres were sold in 2014 at an average price of $1,897 per acre, compared to 10,399 acres in 2013 at an average price per acre of $617.

Rentals, royalties and other income (including interest on investments) were $51,518,441 in 2014 compared to $37,707,491 in 2013, an increase of 36.6%.

Oil and gas royalty revenue in 2014 was $29,346,103 compared to $24,496,851 in 2013, an increase of 19.8%. Oil royalty revenue was $22,766,264 and gas royalty revenue was $6,579,839 in 2014. Crude oil production from Trust royalty wells increased 19.8% in 2014 from 2013. The average prices per royalty barrel of crude oil for 2014 and 2013 were $87.28 and $91.56, respectively. Total gas production increased 28.6%, and the average price of gas increased by 11.9% in 2014 compared to 2013.

Grazing lease income in 2014 was $500,292 compared to $494,210 in 2013.

Interest revenue (including interest on investments) was $154,814 in 2014 compared to $496,243 in 2013, a decrease of 68.8%. Interest on notes receivable amounted to $140,291 in 2014 compared to $484,238 in 2013. At year end 2014, notes receivable from land sales were $923,115 compared to $3,887,906 at year end 2013. Interest on investments amounted to $14,523 in 2014 and $12,005 in 2013, respectively. Total principal cash payments on notes receivable were $2,964,791 in 2014 including $1,764,928 of prepaid principal.

Easements and sundry income revenue in 2014 was $21,517,232 compared to $12,220,187 in 2013. This increase resulted primarily from an increase in the amount of pipeline easement income to $9,185,050 for 2014, an increase of $6,024,520, or 190.6%, from the $3,160,530 received in 2013. Sundry income, seismic easement income, and, to a lesser extent, sundry lease rental income also increased in 2014 compared to 2013 due to an increase in drilling and exploration activity on land owned by the Trust. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in pole line easement income. Easements and sundry income is unpredictable and may vary significantly from period to period.

Taxes, other than income taxes, were $1,692,256 in 2014 compared to $1,420,635 in 2013. Oil and gas production taxes were $1,540,735 in 2014 compared to $1,259,287 in 2013. Ad valorem taxes were $97,054 in 2014 compared to $99,984 in 2013. All other expenses were $2,092,943 in 2014 compared to $2,557,866 in 2013. This decrease resulted primarily from decreases in salaries and related employee benefits expense and legal and professional fees expense.

Liquidity

The Trust’s principal sources of liquidity are its revenues from oil and gas royalties, easements and sundry income, and land sales. In the past, these sources have generated more than adequate amounts of cash to meet the Trust’s needs and, in the opinion of management, should continue to do so in the foreseeable future.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Trust has not engaged in any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations

The Trust executed a ten year extension to its office lease in 2015. The new expiration date of the lease is March 31, 2025. As of December 31, 2015, the Trust’s known contractual obligations were as follows:

Payment Due by Period

Contractual Obligations

Total

Less than
1 Year

1-3
Years

3-5
Years

More than
5 Years

Long-term debt obligations

–

Capital lease obligations

–

Operating lease obligations

771,213

72,608

153,065

163,531

382,009

Purchase obligations

–

Other long-term liabilities reflected on the Trust’s balance sheet under GAAP

–

Total

771,213

72,608

153,065

163,531

382,009

Effects of Inflation

We do not believe that inflation has had a material impact on our operating results. We cannot assure you, however, that future increases in our costs will not occur or that any such increases that may occur will not adversely affect our results of operations.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. It is our opinion that we fully disclose our significant accounting policies in the Notes to the Financial Statements. Consistent with our disclosure policies, we include the following discussion related to what we believe to be our most critical accounting policies that require our most difficult, subjective or complex judgment.

Valuation of Notes Receivable - Management of the Trust monitors delinquencies to assess the propriety of the carrying value of its notes receivable. At the point in time that notes receivable become delinquent, management reviews the operations information of the debtor and the estimated fair value of the collateral held as security to determine whether an allowance for losses is required. Any required allowance for losses is recorded in the period of determination. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, there were no significant delinquencies and, as such, no allowances for losses have been recorded.

Valuation of Real Estate Acquired Through Foreclosure - The value of real estate acquired through foreclosure is established at the lower of cost or fair value less disposition costs at the date of foreclosure. Cost is considered to be the aggregate of the outstanding principal and interest, past due ad valorem taxes and other fees associated with the foreclosure. Subsequent to the foreclosure date, valuations are periodically performed or obtained by management when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the full carrying amount may not be recoverable. At such time, a valuation allowance is established to reduce the carrying value to the estimated fair value. Valuation of the real estate is based on the estimates of management and is subject to judgment. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, no valuation allowances were recorded.

Gain Recognition on Land Sales - Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America dictate the manner in which the gain or loss on the sale of land is recorded. The Trust has established policies for the sale of land which result in the full accrual method of gain recognition. This policy generally requires that the Trust receive a minimum cash down payment of 25% of the sales price on each sale and that any related notes receivable require regular principal and interest payments, payable over terms from 5 to 15 years.

Item 7A:

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

The Trust’s primary market risk exposure relates to changes in interest rates related to its notes receivable. To limit the impact of interest rate changes, the Trust enters into fixed rate notes receivable that approximate the current interest rate for land sales at the time. As a result, the Trust’s only interest rate risk is the opportunity loss should interest rates increase. The following table summarizes expected maturities of the Trust’s notes receivable. As the interest rates represent rates which management believes are current rates on similar land sales, the Trust believes the fair values of its notes receivable approximate the carrying amounts.

Year Ending December 31,	Maturity
2016	$	32,906
2017		30,688
2018		32,860
2019		35,165
2020		7,495
Thereafter		—
	$	139,114

The Trust’s remaining financial instruments consist of cash, accounts payable and other liabilities and the carrying amounts of these instruments approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

Item 8:

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

See the Index to Financial Statements included in Item 15. The Financial Statements listed therein are incorporated herein by reference to pages F-1 through F-20 of this Report on Form 10-K.

Item 9:

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

Not applicable.

Item 9A:

Controls and Procedures.

(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

Pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, management of the Trust under the supervision and with the participation of David M. Peterson, the Trust’s Chief Executive Officer, and Robert J. Packer, the Trust’s Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the Trust’s fiscal year covered by this Report on Form 10-K. Based upon that evaluation, Mr. Peterson and Mr. Packer concluded that the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Trust required to be included in the Trust’s periodic SEC filings.

(b) Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

Management of the Trust is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Management has assessed the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on that assessment, management believes that the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2015.

The Trust’s independent registered public accountants have issued an audit report on the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. This audit report appears on page F-1 of this Report.

(d) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

There were no changes in the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B:

Other Information.

Not applicable.

PART III

Item 10: Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

(a) Trustees:

Name	Age		Position and Offices Held With Registrant	Period During Which Person Has Served in Office

Maurice Meyer III		80	Trustee, Chairman of the Trustees, Chairman of Audit Committee and Member of Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee	Trustee since February 28, 1991; Chairman of Trustees since May 28, 2003.

John R. Norris III		62	Trustee and Member of Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee	Trustee since June 7, 2000.

James K. Norwood		74	Trustee, Member of Audit Committee and Member of Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee	Trustee since June 14, 2006.

We believe Mr. Meyer’s qualifications to serve as a Trustee include the wealth of knowledge and understanding concerning the Trust which he has gained in his twenty-five (25) years of service as a Trustee. In addition, prior to his retirement, he spent his entire career in the securities industry which enables him to bring particularized expertise to provide guidance and assistance to management in administering the Trust’s Sub-share repurchase program prescribed by the terms of the Declaration of Trust.

We believe Mr. Norris’ qualifications to serve as a Trustee include his legal expertise and extensive background as a practicing attorney in Dallas which allows him to provide counsel and insight to his fellow Trustees and management with respect to the various legal issues which the Trust faces. In addition to his fifteen (15) years experience as a Trustee, Mr. Norris advised the Trust on legal matters for many years prior to his election as a Trustee.

We believe Mr. Norwood’s extensive experience as a real estate appraiser in Texas makes him particularly well-suited to serve as a Trustee. The Trust is a large landholder and Mr. Norwood’s real estate expertise is invaluable to the Trust in administering its holdings including its leasing and sale of land.

(b) Executive Officers:

Name	Age		Position and Offices Held With Registrant	Period During Which Person Has Served in Office

David M. Peterson		50	General Agent, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary	General Agent, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of the Trust from January 1, 2014. Mr. Peterson had previously served as Assistant General Agent from January 1, 1997 through December 31, 2013 and Chief Financial Officer from November 12, 2002 through December 1, 2014.

Robert J. Packer		46	Chief Financial Officer	Chief Financial Officer of the Trust from December 1, 2014. Mr. Packer had previously served as Accounting Supervisor from March 21, 2011 through December 1, 2014.

The Trustees hold office until their death, resignation or disqualification. The General Agent, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary and the Chief Financial Officer hold office until their death, resignation, discharge or retirement pursuant to the Texas Pacific Land Trust Revised Employees’ Pension Plan. No Trustee or executive officer was selected to be an officer pursuant to any arrangement or understanding between him and any other person or persons other than the Trustees acting solely in their capacity as such.

(c) Certain Significant Employees. The Trust does not employ any person who is not an executive officer who makes or is expected to make significant contributions to the business of the Trust.

(d) Family Relations. There are no family relationships among any of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust.

(e) Business Experience.

Name of Trustee or Executive Officer		Principal Occupation or Employment During the Past Five Years

Maurice Meyer III		Former Vice Chairman of Henderson Brothers; personal investments

John R. Norris III		Attorney; Calloway, Norris, Burdette & Weber, PLLC, Dallas, Texas

James K. Norwood		Licensed Real Estate Appraiser; James K. Norwood, Inc.

David M. Peterson		General Agent, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary commencing January 1, 2014; Assistant General Agent and Chief Financial Officer of Texas Pacific Land Trust

Robert J. Packer		Chief Financial Officer commencing December 1, 2014; Accounting Supervisor of Texas Pacific Land Trust; Controller at StarCrest Realty, LLC

(f) Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings. During the past ten years, no Trustee or executive officer has been involved in any event reportable under this caption.

(g) Promoters and Control Persons. Not applicable.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Trustees, the Trust’s executive officers and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of its Sub-share Certificates to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Commission and to furnish the Trust with copies of all such reports they file. Based on the Trust’s review of the copies of such forms received by it, or written representations from certain reporting persons, the Trust believes that none of its Trustees, executive officers or persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the Sub-share Certificates failed to comply with Section 16(a) reporting requirements in 2015.

Code of Ethics

The Trust has adopted a Code of Conduct and Ethics applicable to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and certain other employees. A copy of the Code of Ethics has been made available on the Trust’s corporate website. We maintain our website at http://www.TPLTrust.com. The information contained on our website is not part of this Report.

Changes in Procedures Regarding Nomination of Trustees

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to the Trust’s Board of Trustees. The Trust has a standing Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee. The current members of the Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee are Messrs. Meyer, Norris and Norwood. The Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee has adopted a formal written charter (the “Nominating, Compensation and Governance Charter”). The Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee is responsible for identifying and evaluating potential trustees in the event that a vacancy arises, determining compensation of the Trustees and the executive officers, and overseeing corporate governance matters. The Nominating, Compensation and Governance Charter is available on the Trust’s Internet website at http://www.TPLTrust.com.

Audit Committee

The Trust has a standing Audit Committee of its Board of Trustees. The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Meyer and Norwood. The Audit Committee has adopted a formal written charter (the “Audit Charter”). The Audit Committee is responsible for ensuring that the Trust has adequate internal controls and is required to meet with the Trust’s auditors to review these internal controls and to discuss other financial reporting matters. The Audit Committee is also responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the auditors. The Audit Charter is available on the Trust’s Internet website at http://www.TPLTrust.com.

Audit Committee Financial Expert

The Board of Trustees has determined that no current member of the Board of Trustees serving on the Trust’s Audit Committee would meet the requirements of the definition of “audit committee financial expert” set forth in the applicable rules of the SEC. The terms of the Trust, which was established in 1888, and governing law would require an amendment of the Trust in order to add new Trustees who would satisfy the requirements of the definition. Any amendment of the Trust to do so would necessarily involve judicial proceedings and an expensive time-consuming process with no assurance that an individual meeting the requirements of the definition, who would be willing to serve as Trustee given the modest compensation offered ($2,000 per annum, $4,000 per annum for the Chairman), could be located. The Audit Committee consists of two independent Trustees, each of whom has been determined by the Board of Trustees to be qualified, in their judgment, to monitor the performance of management, the Trust’s internal accounting operations and the independent auditors and to be qualified to monitor the disclosures of the Trust. In addition, the Audit Committee has the ability to retain its own independent accountants, attorneys and other advisors, whenever it deems appropriate, to advise it. As a result, the Board of Trustees believes that the time and expense involved in an amendment of the Trust, with no assurance that an individual meeting the requirements of the definition of “audit committee financial expert” could be persuaded to become a member of the Board of Trustees, would not be in the best interests of the Trust at this time.

Item 11:

Executive Compensation.

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

The Trust’s compensation program is designed to reward the performance of the Named Executive Officers (as defined below) in achieving the Trust’s primary goals of protecting and maintaining the assets of the Trust. The compensation program consists principally of a salary and an annual cash bonus. Base salaries provide our Named Executive Officers with a steady income stream that is not contingent on the Trust’s performance, while the addition of a cash bonus allows the Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee flexibility to recognize and reward the Named Executive Officers’ contributions to the Trust’s performance in a given year. Salaries are reviewed annually and salary increases and the amounts of cash bonuses are determined by the Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee of the Trustees based upon an evaluation of the Named Executive Officer’s performance against the goals and objectives of the Trust. Differences in salary for the Named Executive Officers may reflect the differing responsibilities of their respective positions, the differing levels of experience of the individuals and internal pay equity considerations. The Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee does not have a specific list of factors to which it assigns various weights and against which it measures the Named Executive Officers’ performance in making its compensation decisions. The Committee’s decisions are based on their overall impression of the Named Executive Officers’ individual performances.

The Trust has not incorporated equity-related or other long-term compensation elements in its compensation programs. The Declaration of Trust pursuant to which the Trust was created empowers the Trustees to use the lands originally contributed to the Trust either to pay dividends to the certificate holders or to repurchase and cancel outstanding certificates. In view of that general directive to the Trustees, the issuance of equity to executive officers has not been made a part of the Trust’s compensation program.

As part of its compensation program the Trust maintains both a qualified defined benefit pension plan and a qualified defined contribution plan which are both available to employees generally, as well as the Named Executive Officers. These plans are designed to assist employees in planning adequately for their retirement.

The Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee has the sole authority to determine the compensation of the General Agent and Chief Executive Officer of the Trust. The Committee obtains and considers recommendations from the General Agent in connection with its review and approval of the annual compensation, including the amount of annual bonus, paid to the Chief Financial Officer.

Since the Trust was not required to, and did not, hold an annual or other meeting of certificate holders during 2015 at which Trustees were elected, the Trust was not required to conduct an advisory vote of certificate holders to approve the compensation of its Named Executive Officers.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information concerning compensation for services in all capacities awarded to, earned by, or paid to, the Trust’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, who are its only executive officers (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”):

Name and Position	Year	Salary ($)		Bonus ($)		Change in Actuarial Present Value of Accumulated Benefits ($)(1)		All Other Compensation ($)(2)(3)		Total ($)
David M. Peterson	2015	$	254,167	$	50,000	$	34,782	$	15,250	$	354,199
General Agent, Chief	2014	$	208,750	$	40,000	$	152,379	$	12,525	$	413,654
Executive Officer and Secretary	2013	$	172,917	$	38,000	$	0	$	10,375	$	221,292


Robert J. Packer	2015	$	127,083	$	30,000	$	7,992	$	7,625	$	172,700
Chief Financial	2014	$	106,667	$	20,000	$	14,600	$	6,400	$	147,667
Officer	2013	$	95,833	$	12,500	$	5,257	$	5,750	$	119,340

(1)

Represents the aggregate change in the actuarial present value of the Named Executive Officer’s accumulated benefit under all defined benefit and actuarial pension plans (including supplemental plans) from the pension plan measurement date used for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the Trust’s audited financial statements for the prior completed fiscal year to the pension plan measurement date used for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the Trust’s audited financial statements for the covered fiscal year. For Mr. Peterson, the actual change for 2013 is ($7,987). Overall, the increase for 2014 is larger than previous years due to an update in the mortality assumptions and decrease in the discount rate used to calculate the value of the benefits.

(2)	Represents contributions by the Trust to the account of the Named Executive Officer under the Trust’s defined contribution retirement plan.

(3)	The aggregate value of the perquisites and other personal benefits, if any, received by the Named Executive Officer for all years presented have not been reflected in the table because the amount was below the Securities and Exchange Commission’s $10,000 threshold for disclosure.

Employment Agreements

The Trust is not a party to any employment agreements with any of its Named Executive Officers. There is no compensation plan or arrangement with respect to any individual named in the Summary Compensation Table that results, or will result, from the resignation, retirement or

any other termination of such individual’s employment or from a change in control of Texas Pacific or from a change in the individual’s responsibilities following a change in control of Texas Pacific.

Pension Benefits

Name	Plan Name	Number of Years Credited Service	Actuarial Present Value of Accumulated Benefit ($)		Payments during Last Fiscal Year
David M. Peterson	Restated Texas Pacific Land Trust Revised Employees’ Pension Plan	20.5	$	400,807	$	0

Robert J. Packer	Restated Texas Pacific Land Trust Revised Employees’ Pension Plan	3.5	$	31,187	$	0

The Restated Texas Pacific Land Trust Revised Employees’ Pension Plan is a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code in which the employees, excluding the Trustees, participate. The remuneration covered by the Plan is Salary. The Plan provides a normal retirement benefit equal to 1.5% of a participant’s average Salary for the last five years prior to retirement for each year of Credited Service under the Plan. Credited Service is earned from the participant’s date of membership in the Plan, which is generally not the participant’s date of hire by the Trust. For information concerning the valuation method and material assumptions used in quantifying the present value of the Named Executive Officers’ current accrued benefits, see Note 5 of the Notes to Financial Statements incorporated by reference in Item 8 of this Report.

As of December 31, 2015, the annual accrued normal retirement benefits are estimated to be $58,425 and $5,382 for Mr. Peterson and Mr. Packer, respectively.

The Plan provides for early retirement after 20 years of service with the Trust. Early retirement benefits are calculated in the same manner as the normal retirement benefit, but are reduced by 1/15 for each of the first five years and 1/30 for each of the next five years that benefits commence prior to normal retirement. If benefits commence more than 10 years prior to normal retirement, the early retirement benefit payable at age 55 is reduced actuarially for the period prior to age 55. The annual early retirement benefit payable to Mr. Peterson as of January 1, 2016 is estimated to be $19,070. Mr. Packer is not currently eligible for an early retirement benefit.

Trustee Compensation Table

Name	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) (1)		Total ($)
Maurice Meyer III	$	4,000	$	4,000
John R. Norris III	$	2,000	$	2,000
James K. Norwood	$	2,000	$	2,000

(1)	As Chairman, Mr. Meyer receives $4,000 annually for his services as Chairman of the Trustees. Each of the other Trustees receives $2,000 annually for his services as such.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Each of the Trustees is a member of the Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee of the Trustees. None of the Trustees is, or has been in the past, an officer or employee of the Trust. None of the Trustees had any relationship requiring disclosure by the Trust pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K. There are no interlocking relationships requiring disclosure by the Trust pursuant to Item 407(e)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K.

Compensation Committee Report

The Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Item 11 and, based on such review and discussion, recommended that it be included in this Report.

Maurice Meyer III

John R. Norris III

James K. Norwood

Item 12:

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Security Holder Matters.

The Trust does not maintain any compensation plans (or individual compensation arrangements) under which equity securities of the Trust are authorized for issuance.

(a) Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners. The following table sets forth information as to all persons known to the Trust to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Trust’s voting securities (Certificates of Proprietary Interest and Sub-share Certificates) as of February 16, 2016. The Certificates of Proprietary Interest and Sub-share Certificates are freely interchangeable in the ratio of one Certificate of Proprietary Interest for 3,000 Sub-shares or 3,000 Sub-shares for one Certificate of Proprietary Interest, and are deemed to constitute a single class.

Name and Address	Number of Securities Beneficially Owned		Type of Securities	Percent of Class

Craig D. Hodges (1) 2905 Maple Ave. Dallas, TX 75201		565,323	Sub-share certificates		6.96%

Horizon Kinetics LLC (2) 470 Park Avenue South, 4^th Floor South, New York, New York 10016		1,615,822	Sub-share certificates		19.90%

Kinetics Asset Management, LLC (2) 470 Park Avenue South, 4^th Floor South, New York, New York 10016		944,291	Sub-share certificates		11.63%

Horizon Asset Management LLC (2) 470 Park Avenue South, 4^th Floor South, New York, New York 10016		616,901	Sub-share certificates		7.60%

______________________

(1)

The information set forth is based on a joint filing on Schedule 13G made on February 12, 2016 by Craig D. Hodges (“Hodges”), Hodges Capital Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”), First Dallas Securities, Inc. (“Securities”), Hodges Capital Management, Inc. (“HCM”), Hodges Fund (“HF”), Hodges Small Cap Fund (“HSCF”), Hodges Blue Chip 25 Fund (“HBCF”), Hodges Small Intrinsic Value Fund (“HSIVF”) and Hodges Small-Mid Cap Fund (“HSMCF”). According to the filing, (i) Hodges shares voting power with respect to 427,410 of the Sub-share certificates and shares dispositive power with respect to 565,323 of the Sub-share certificates, (ii) Holdings shares voting power with respect to 427,410 of the Sub-share certificates and shares dispositive power with respect to 565,323 of the Sub-share certificates, (iii) Securities shares dispositive power with respect to 52,277 of the Sub-share certificates, (iv) HCM shares voting power with respect to 422,600 of the Sub-share certificates and shares dispositive power with respect to 508,236 of the Sub-share certificates, (v) HF shares voting and dispositive power with respect to 177,300 of the Sub-share certificates, (vi) HSCF shares voting and dispositive power with respect to 235,300 of the Sub-share certificates, (vii) HBCF shares voting and dispositive power with respect to 3,500 of the Sub-share certificates, (viii) HSIVF shares voting and dispositive power with respect to 4,000 of the Sub-share certificates, and (ix) HSMCF shares voting and dispositive power with respect to 2,500 of the Sub-share certificates. The Schedule 13G indicates that (A) Securities is a broker-dealer and an investment adviser, (B) HCM is an investment adviser, (C) HF is a series of an investment company, (D) HSCF is a series of an investment company, (E) HBCF is a series of an investment company, (F) HSIVF is a series of an investment company, (G) HSMCF is a series of an investment company, and (H) Holdings is a holding company. The Schedule 13G further indicates that Hodges is the controlling shareholder of Holdings, that Holdings is the parent holding company of Securities and HCM and that HF, HSCF, HBCF, HSIVF and HSMCF are all series of an investment company as to which HCM serves as the investment adviser. The filing indicates that the Sub-share certificates were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of, or with the effect of, changing or influencing the control of the Trust and are not held in connection with, or as a participant in, any transaction having that purpose or effect.

(2)

The information set forth is based on a joint filing on Schedule 13G made on February 16, 2016 by Horizon Kinetics LLC (“Horizon”), Kinetics Asset Management, LLC (“Kinetics”) and Horizon Asset Management LLC (“HAM”). According to the Schedule 13G, Horizon has sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to 1,615,822 of the Sub-share certificates, Kinetics has sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to 944,291 of the Sub-share certificates, and HAM has sole voting power and dispositive power with respect to 616,901 of the Sub-share certificates. The filing indicates that Horizon is a holding company and Kinetics and HAM are investment advisers and that the Sub-share certificates were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of, or with the effect of, changing or influencing the control of the Trust and were not acquired and are not held in connection with, or as a participant in, any transaction having that purpose or effect.

(b) Security Ownership of Management: The following table sets forth information as to equity securities (Certificates of Proprietary Interest and Sub-share Certificates) beneficially owned directly or indirectly by all Trustees, naming them, and by all Trustees and executive officers of the registrant, as a group:

Title and Class (1)	Name of Beneficial Owner	Amount and Nature of Ownership on February 16, 2016		Percent of Class

Sub-share certificates:	Maurice Meyer III		74,750(2)		*
Sub-share certificates:	John R. Norris III		1,000		*
Sub-share certificates:	James K. Norwood		1,600		*
Sub-share certificates:	David M. Peterson		50		*
Sub-share certificates:	Robert J. Packer		--		--
Sub-share certificates:	All Trustees and Officers as a Group		77,400		*

_______________________

*Indicates ownership of less than 1% of the class.

(1)

The Certificates of Proprietary Interest and Sub-share Certificates are freely interchangeable in the ratio of one Certificate of Proprietary Interest for 3,000 Sub-shares or 3,000 Sub-shares for one Certificate of Proprietary Interest, and are deemed to constitute a single class. The figures set forth in the table represent Sub-share certificates. On February 29, 2016, no Trustee or executive officer was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of any Certificates of Proprietary Interest.

(2)	Does not include 11,500 Sub-shares owned by the wife of Mr. Meyer with respect to which Mr. Meyer disclaims any beneficial ownership.

(c) Changes in Control. Texas Pacific has no knowledge of any arrangement that may result in any change of control of the Trust.

Item 13:

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

(a) Transactions with Related Persons. There are no reportable transactions or currently proposed transactions between Texas Pacific and any Trustee or executive officer of Texas Pacific or any security holder of Texas Pacific or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons.

(b) Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons. Transactions with Trustees, executive officers or five percent or greater stockholders, or immediate family members of the foregoing, which might require disclosure pursuant to paragraph (a), above, would be subject to review, approval or ratification by the Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee of the Trustees. That Committee is composed of all of the Trustees. The Committee’s charter empowers it to review any transactions, including loans, which may confer any benefit upon any Trustee, executive officer or affiliated entity to confirm compliance with the Trust’s Code of Conduct and Ethics and applicable law. The Committee has not adopted specific standards for evaluating such transactions beyond that mentioned above, because it is the sense of the Trustees that the activities and procedures of the Committee should remain flexible so that it may appropriately respond to changing circumstances.

(d) Independence. Each Trustee is an “independent director” within the meaning of the applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange. Each member of the Audit and the Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committees of the Trustees is “independent” within the meaning of the applicable committee independence standards of the New York Stock Exchange.

Item 14:

Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

All professional services rendered by Lane Gorman Trubitt, PLLC (“Lane Gorman Trubitt”) during 2015 and 2014 were furnished at customary rates. A summary of the fees which Lane Gorman Trubitt billed the Trust for services provided in 2015 and 2014 is set forth below:

Audit Fees. Lane Gorman Trubitt billed the Trust approximately $96,800 in 2015 and $93,500 in 2014 in connection with its audits of the financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting of the Trust in 2015 and 2014.

Audit-Related Fees. Lane Gorman Trubitt did not bill the Trust any amount for audit-related services in either 2015 or 2014 not included in “Audit Fees”, above.

Tax Fees. Lane Gorman Trubitt did not bill the Trust for any tax fees in 2015 or 2014.

All Other Fees. Lane Gorman Trubitt did not bill the Trust any other fees in either 2015 or 2014.

The Audit Committee has established a policy requiring approval by it of all fees for audit and non-audit services to be provided by the Trust’s independent registered public accountants, prior to commencement of such services. Consideration and approval of fees generally occurs at the Committee’s regularly scheduled meetings or, to the extent that such fees may relate to other matters to be considered at special meetings, at those special meetings.

None of the fees described above under the captions “Audit-Related Fees,” “Tax Fees” and “All Other Fees” were approved by the Committee pursuant to the “de minimis” exception set forth in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) under SEC Regulation S-X.

PART IV

Item 15:

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a) Financial Statements.

The following financial statements are filed as a part of this Report on Form 10-K and appear on pages F-1 through F-20 hereof:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Balance Sheets – December 31, 2015 and 2014

Statements of Income and Total Comprehensive Income – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

Statements of Net Proceeds from All Sources – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

Statements of Cash Flows – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

Notes to Financial Statements

All schedules have been omitted because the required information is contained in the financial statements or related notes, or is not applicable or immaterial.

(b) Exhibits.

The exhibits listed in the accompanying index to exhibits are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this Report on Form 10-K.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 29^th day of February, 2016.

		TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST


		By:	/s/ David M. Peterson
			David M. Peterson General Agent, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on the 29^th day of February, 2016. .

	Signature		Title(s)

	/s/ David M. Peterson		General Agent, Chief Executive Officer
	David M. Peterson		and Secretary (Principal Executive Officer)


	/s/ Robert J. Packer		Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial
	Robert J. Packer		Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)


	/s/ Maurice Meyer III		Chairman of the Trustees
	Maurice Meyer III

	/s/ John R. Norris III		Trustee
	John R. Norris III

	/s/ James K. Norwood		Trustee
	James K. Norwood

Item 15(a): Financial Statements.

Table of Contents

	Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	F-1
Balance Sheets – December 31, 2015 and 2014	F-3
Statements of Income and Total Comprehensive Income – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013	F-4
Statements of Net Proceeds From All Sources – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013	F-5
Statements of Cash Flows – Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013	F-6
Notes to Financial Statements	F-7

All schedules have been omitted because the required information is contained in the financial statements or related notes, or is not applicable or immaterial.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Trustees and Certificate Holders

Texas Pacific Land Trust

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Texas Pacific Land Trust (the “Trust”) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 and the related statements of income and total comprehensive income, net proceeds from all sources, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015. We also have audited the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). The Trust’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A trust’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A trust’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Trust; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Trust are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and trustees of the Trust; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Trust’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Members of AICPA and The Leading Edge Alliance

2626 Howell Street l Suite 700 l Dallas, TX 75204 l Main 214.871.7500 l Fax 214.871.0011 l www.lgt-cpa.com

F-1

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Trust as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Trust maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

Dallas, Texas

February 29, 2016

F-2

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST
BALANCE SHEETS

December 31, 2015 and 2014

	2015			2014
ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents	$	45,011,969		$	26,814,759
Accrued receivables		3,787,534			3,220,020
Other assets		121,426			114,491
Prepaid income taxes		—			815,937
Notes receivable for land sales ($32,906 due in 2016 and $75,185 due in 2015) (note 2)		139,114			923,115
Water wells, vehicles, furniture, and equipment – at cost less accumulated depreciation		260,901			89,107
Real estate acquired (notes 2 and 4)		1,114,601			1,125,059
Real estate and royalty interests assigned through the 1888 Declaration of Trust, no value assigned (note 2):
Land (surface rights) situated in eighteen counties in Texas – 878,268 acres in 2015 and 899,149 acres in 2014		—			—
1/16 nonparticipating perpetual royalty interest in 373,777 acres		—			—
1/128 nonparticipating perpetual royalty interest in 85,414 acres		—			—
Total assets	$	50,435,545		$	33,102,488
LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	868,807		$	828,672
Income taxes payable		634,911			406,945
Other taxes payable		167,290			159,301
Unearned revenue (note 2)		2,579,406			3,940,353
Deferred taxes (note 6)		163,213			293,140
Pension plan liability (note 5)		333,239			754,260
Total liabilities		4,746,866			6,382,671
Commitments and contingencies (note 7)		—			—

Capital (notes 1, 2 and 8):
Certificates of Proprietary Interest, par value $100 each; outstanding 0 Certificates		—			—
Sub-share Certificates in Certificates of Proprietary Interest, par value $.03 1/3 each; outstanding 8,118,064 Sub-shares in 2015 and 8,322,399 Sub-shares in 2014		—			—
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(1,248,906	)		(1,352,794	)
Net proceeds from all sources		46,937,585			28,072,611

Total capital		45,688,679			26,719,817

Total liabilities and capital	$	50,435,545		$	33,102,488

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

F-3

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

	2015			2014			2013
Income:
Oil and gas royalties	$	24,860,205		$	29,346,103		$	24,496,851
Grazing lease rentals		483,989			500,292			494,210
Land sales		22,616,635			3,698,312			6,413,588
Interest income from notes receivable		40,866			140,291			484,238
Easements and sundry income		31,413,158			21,517,232			12,220,187
		79,414,853			55,202,230			44,109,074
Expenses:
Taxes, other than income taxes		1,476,576			1,692,256			1,420,635
Salaries and related employee benefits		1,195,598			917,726			1,189,141
General expense, supplies, and travel		777,842			629,990			589,307
Basis in real estate sold		10,458			—			—
Legal and professional fees		665,423			517,497			755,132
Depreciation		25,374			19,730			16,286
Trustees’ compensation		8,000			8,000			8,000
		4,159,271			3,785,199			3,978,501
Operating income		75,255,582			51,417,031			40,130,573
Interest income earned from investments		27,440			14,523			12,005
Income before income taxes		75,283,022			51,431,554			40,142,578
Income taxes (note 6):
Current		25,430,382			17,641,531			13,708,995
Deferred		(185,867	)		(974,997	)		(784,925	)
		25,244,515			16,666,534			12,924,070
Net income	$	50,038,507		$	34,765,020		$	27,218,508

Amortization of net actuarial costs and prior service costs, net of income taxes of $51,638, $18,109, and $39,093 respectively		95,899			33,632			72,601
Net actuarial gain (loss) on pension plan net of income taxes of $4,302, $(423,848), and $145,211 respectively		7,989			(764,414	)		259,352
Total other comprehensive gain (loss)		103,888			(730,782	)		331,953
Total comprehensive income	$	50,142,395		$	34,034,238		$	27,550,461
Net income per Sub-share Certificate	$	6.10		$	4.14		$	3.16

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

F-4

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

STATEMENTS OF NET PROCEEDS FROM ALL SOURCES

Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

	Sub-share Certificates of Proprietary Interest			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Net Proceeds From All Sources			Total
Balances at December 31, 2012		8,795,258		$	(953,965	)	$	16,550,110		$	15,596,145
Net income		—			—			27,218,508			27,218,508
Periodic pension costs, net of income taxes of $184,304		—			331,953			—			331,953
Cost of 322,056 Sub-share Certificates in Certificates of Proprietary Interest purchased and cancelled		(322,056	)		—			(25,216,940	)		(25,216,940	)
Dividends paid - $.00 per Sub-share Certificate		—			—			—			—
Balances at December 31, 2013		8,473,202			(622,012	)		18,551,678			17,929,666
Net income		—			—			34,765,020			34,765,020
Periodic pension costs, net of income taxes of $(405,739)		—			(730,782	)		—			(730,782	)
Cost of 150,803 Sub-share Certificates in Certificates of Proprietary Interest purchased and cancelled		(150,803	)		—			(22,963,786	)		(22,963,786	)
Dividends paid - $.27 per Sub-share Certificate		—			—			(2,280,301	)		(2,280,301	)
Balances at December 31, 2014		8,322,399			(1,352,794	)		28,072,611			26,719,817
Net income		—			—			50,038,507			50,038,507
Periodic pension costs, net of income taxes of $55,940		—			103,888			—			103,888
Cost of 204,335 Sub-share Certificates in Certificates of Proprietary Interest purchased and cancelled		(204,335	)		—			(28,771,073	)		(28,771,073	)
Dividends paid - $.29 per Sub-share Certificate		—			—			(2,402,460	)		(2,402,460	)
Balances at December 31, 2015		8,118,064		$	(1,248,906	)	$	46,937,585		$	45,688,679

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

F-5

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

	2015			2014			2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	50,038,507		$	34,765,020		$	27,218,508
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Deferred taxes		(129,927	)		(1,380,735	)		(600,621	)
Depreciation and amortization		25,374			19,730			16,286
(Gain) loss on disposal of fixed assets		(712	)		5,083			2,795
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accrued receivables and other assets		(563,991	)		689,129			(1,240,703	)
Income taxes payable		227,966			52,258			113,800
Prepaid income taxes		815,937			(815,937	)		416,882
Notes receivable for land sales		784,001			2,964,791			4,483,078
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		(1,629,956	)		2,553,084			(344,671	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		49,567,199			38,852,423			30,065,354
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets		25,000			21,000			20,500
Purchase of fixed assets		(221,456	)		(53,788	)		(54,610	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(196,456	)		(32,788	)		(34,110	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Purchase of Sub-share Certificates in Certificates of Proprietary Interest		(28,771,073	)		(22,963,786	)		(25,216,940	)
Dividends paid		(2,402,460	)		(2,280,301	)		—
Net cash used in financing activities		(31,173,533	)		(25,244,087	)		(25,216,940	)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		18,197,210			13,575,548			4,814,304
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		26,814,759			13,239,211			8,424,907
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	45,011,969		$	26,814,759		$	13,239,211

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

F-6

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

(1)

Nature of Operations

Texas Pacific Land Trust (Trust) was organized under a Declaration of Trust, dated February 1, 1888, to receive and hold title to extensive tracts of land in the State of Texas, previously the property of the Texas and Pacific Railway Company, and to issue transferable Certificates of Proprietary Interest pro rata to the original holders of certain debt securities of the Texas and Pacific Railway Company.

The Trust is organized to manage land, including royalty interests, for the benefit of its owners. The Trust’s income is derived primarily from land sales, oil and gas royalties, easements, grazing and sundry leases, interest on notes receivable, and interest on investments.

(2)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a)

Basis of Presentation

These financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The most significant accounting policies include the valuation of real estate and royalty interests assigned through the 1888 Declaration of Trust and revenue recognition policies.

(b)

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(c)

Revenue Recognition

Oil and gas royalties

Oil and gas royalties (royalties) are received in connection with royalty interests owned by the Trust. Royalties are recognized as revenue when crude oil and gas products are removed from the respective mineral reserve locations. Royalty payments are generally received one to three months after the crude oil and gas products are removed. An accrual is included in accrued receivables for amounts not received during the month removed based on historical trends.

F-7

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

The Trust has analyzed public reports of drilling activities by the oil companies with which it has entered into royalty interest leases in an effort to identify unpaid royalties associated with royalty interests owned by the Trust. Rights to certain royalties believed by the Trust to be due and payable may be subject to dispute with the oil company involved as a result of disagreements with respect to drilling and related engineering information. Disputed royalties are recorded when these contingencies are resolved.

Grazing lease rentals

The Trust leases land to the ranching industry for grazing purposes. Lease income is recognized when earned. These leases generally require fixed annual payments and terms range from three to five years. Lease cancellations are allowed. Advance lease payments are deferred (unearned revenue) and amortized over the appropriate accounting period. Lease payments not received are recorded as accrued receivables.

Land sales

Income is recognized on land sales during the periods in which such sales are closed and sufficient amounts of cash down payments are received using the full accrual method of gain recognition. For income tax purposes, land sales are recognized on the installment method. The sales price of land sales are reflected as income and the cost (basis) of the respective parcels of land are reflected as expenses as these parcels of land are not primarily held as income-producing “operating” properties.

Interest income from notes receivable

Interest income is recognized when earned, using the simple interest method. Accrued interest not received is reflected in accrued receivables.

Easements and sundry income

Easement contracts represent contracts which permit companies to install pipe lines, pole lines and other equipment on land owned by the Trust. Easement income is recognized when the Trust receives a signed contract and when the Trust makes available the respective parcel of land to the grantee.

Sundry income represents leasing arrangements to companies in a wide array of industries, including: agricultural, oil and gas, construction, wind power and other industries. Lease income is recognized when earned. These leases generally require fixed annual payments or royalties. Lease terms generally range from month-to-month arrangements to ten years. Lease cancellations are allowed.

Advance lease payments are deferred and amortized over the appropriate accounting period. Lease payments not received are included in accrued receivables.

F-8

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

(d)

Statements of Cash Flows

Cash and cash equivalents consist of bank deposit and savings accounts. The Trust considers all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. At times the cash may exceed federally insured limits. The Trust maintains its cash and cash equivalents in two large financial institutions. The Trust monitors the credit quality of these institutions and does not anticipate any losses.

Cash disbursed for income taxes in 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $24,386,479, $18,405,210, and $13,178,312, respectively. No new loans were made by the Trust in connection with land sales for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

(e)

Accrued Receivables

Accrued receivables consist primarily of amounts due under oil and gas royalty leases and sundry leases. Accrued receivables are reflected at their net realizable value based on historical royalty and lease receipt information and other factors anticipated to affect valuation. A valuation allowance is recorded if amounts expected to be received are considered impaired. No allowance was considered necessary at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

(f)

Notes Receivable for Land Sales

Notes receivable for land sales (notes receivable) consists of installment notes received as partial payment on land sales and are reflected at the principal amounts due net of an allowance for loan losses, if any. The Trust generally receives cash payments on land sales of 25% or more. Thereafter, annual principal and interest payments are required by the Trust. Notes receivable bear interest rates ranging from 7.0% to 7.5% as of December 31, 2015 and are secured by first lien deeds of trust on the properties sold. The weighted average interest rate is 7.1% as of December 31, 2015. The annual installments on notes are generally payable over terms of 10 to 15 years. There is no penalty for prepayment of principal, and prepayments in 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $713,062, $1,764,928, and $2,736,616, respectively. The interest rates on notes receivable are considered comparable with current rates on similar land sales and, accordingly, the carrying value of such notes receivable approximates fair value.

Management of the Trust monitors delinquencies to assess the propriety of the carrying value of its notes receivable. Accounts are considered delinquent thirty days after the contractual due dates. At the point in time that notes receivable become delinquent, management reviews the operations information of the debtor and the estimated fair value of the collateral held as security to determine whether an allowance for losses is required. There was no allowance for uncollectible notes receivable at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

F-9

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

Three customers represented 100% of notes receivable at December 31, 2015 and approximately 90% at December 31, 2014.

The maturities of notes receivable for each of the five years subsequent to December 31, 2015 are:

Year ending December 31,	Amount
2016	$	32,906
2017		30,688
2018		32,860
2019		35,165
2020		7,495
Thereafter		—
	$	139,114

(g)

Depreciation

Provision for depreciation of depreciable assets is made by charges to income at straight-line and accelerated rates considered to be adequate to amortize the cost of such assets over their useful lives, which generally range from three to five years. Accumulated depreciation as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 is $132,677 and $117,247, respectively.

(h)

Real Estate Acquired

While the Trust is generally not a purchaser of land, parcels are purchased from time to time at the discretion of the Trustees. Newly acquired real estate is recorded at cost.

Real estate acquired through foreclosure is recorded at the aggregate of the outstanding principal balance, accrued interest, past due ad valorem taxes, and other fees incurred relating to the foreclosure.

Real estate acquired is carried at the lower of cost or market. Valuations are periodically performed or obtained by management whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Impairments, if any, are recorded by a charge to net income and a valuation allowance if the carrying value of the property exceeds its estimated fair value. Minimal, if any, real estate improvements are made to land.

F-10

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

(i)

Real Estate and Royalty Interests Assigned Through the 1888 Declaration of Trust

The fair market value of the Trust’s land and royalty interests was not determined in 1888 when the Trust was formed; therefore, no value is assigned to the land, royalty interests, Certificates of Proprietary Interest, and Sub-share Certificates in Certificates of Proprietary Interest in the accompanying balance sheets. Consequently, in the statements of income and total comprehensive income, no allowance is made for depletion and no cost is deducted from the proceeds of original land sales. Even though the 1888 value of real properties cannot be precisely determined, it has been concluded that the effect of this matter can no longer be significant to the Trust’s financial position or results of operations. For Federal income tax purposes, however, deductions are made for depletion, computed on the statutory percentage basis of income received from royalties. Minimal, if any, real estate improvements are made to land.

(j)

Net Income per Sub-share Certificate

The cost of Sub-share Certificates purchased and retired is charged to net proceeds from all sources. Net income per Sub-share Certificate is based on the weighted average number of Sub-share Certificates in Certificates of Proprietary Interest and equivalent Sub-share Certificates of Proprietary Interest outstanding during each period (8,197,632 in 2015, 8,397,314 in 2014 and 8,601,171 in 2013).

(k)

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

When tax returns are filed, it is highly certain that some positions taken would be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities, while others are subject to uncertainty about the merits of the position taken or the amount of the position that would be ultimately sustained. The benefit of a tax position is recognized in the financial statements in the period during which, based on all available evidence, management believes it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including the resolution of appeals or litigation processes, if any. Tax positions taken are not offset or aggregated with other positions. Tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold are measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement with the applicable taxing authority. The portion of the benefits associated with tax positions taken that exceeds the amount measured as described above is reflected as a liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying balance sheet along with any associated interest and penalties that would be payable to the taxing authorities upon examination. The liability for unrecognized tax benefits is zero at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

F-11

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

(l)

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, “Revenue Recognition (Topic 606): Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”). This ASU introduces a new five-step revenue recognition model in which an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU also requires disclosures sufficient to enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers, including qualitative and quantitative disclosures about contracts with customers, significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Trust is currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it will have on our financial statements.

No other effective or pending accounting pronouncements are expected to affect the Trust.

(m)

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income and other gains and losses affecting capital that, under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, are excluded from net income.

(n)

Significant Customers

Two customers represented 18.8%, 29.1% and 20.5% of the Trust’s total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

F-12

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

(3)	Segment Information

Segment information has been considered in accordance with applicable accounting standards. GAAP suggests using a management approach based on the way that management organizes the segments within the enterprise for making operating decisions and assessing performance. The Trust’s management views its operations as one segment and believes the only significant activity is managing the land, which was conveyed to the Trust in 1888. Managing the land includes sales and leases of such land, and the retention of oil and gas royalties. The cost structure of the Trust is centralized and not segmented.

(4)

Real Estate Acquired

Real estate acquired included the following activity for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014:

	2015						2014
	Acres			Book Value			Acres		Book Value
Balance at January 1:		10,124.78		$	1,125,059			10,124.78	$	1,125,059

Additions		—			—			—		—
Sales		(60.00	)	$	(10,458	)		—		—
Balance at December 31:		10,064.78		$	1,114,601			10,124.78	$	1,125,059

No valuation allowance was necessary at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

(5)	Employee Benefit Plans

The Trust has a defined contribution plan available to all regular employees having one or more years of continuous service. Contributions are at the discretion of the Trustees of the Trust. The Trust contributed $46,519, $41,172 and $49,327, in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The Trust has a noncontributory pension plan (Plan) available to all regular employees having one or more years of continuous service. The Plan provides for normal retirement at age 65. Contributions to the Plan reflect benefits attributed to employees’ services to date, as well as services expected in the future.

F-13

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

The following table sets forth the Plan’s changes in benefit obligation, changes in fair value of plan assets, and funded status as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 using a measurement date of December 31:

	2015			2014
Change in projected benefits obligation:
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	5,093,080		$	3,887,518
Service cost		160,133			100,480
Interest cost		199,538			189,163
Actuarial (gain) loss		(355,346	)		1,134,525
Benefits paid		(213,105	)		(218,606	)
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	$	4,884,300		$	5,093,080

Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	4,338,820		$	4,082,642
Actual return on plan assets		(46,609	)		224,784
Contributions by employer		471,955			250,000
Benefits paid		(213,105	)		(218,606	)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	4,551,061		$	4,338,820
Funded (unfunded) status at end of year	$	(333,239	)	$	(754,260	)

Amounts recognized in the balance sheets as of December 31 consist of:

	2015			2014

Assets	$	—		$	—
Liabilities		(333,239	)		(754,260	)
	$	(333,239	)	$	(754,260	)

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consist of the following at December 31:

	2015			2014

Net actuarial loss	$	(1,930,079	)	$	(2,086,396	)
Prior service cost		—			(3,511	)

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), before taxes		(1,930,079	)		(2,089,907	)
Income tax benefit		681,173			737,113
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), after taxes	$	(1,248,906	)	$	(1,352,794	)

F-14

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

Net periodic benefit cost for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 include the following components:

	2015			2014			2013
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	160,133		$	100,480		$	104,920
Interest cost		199,538			189,163			166,865
Expected return on plan assets		(296,446	)		(278,521	)		(234,523	)
Amortization of net loss		144,026			46,171			104,854
Amortization of prior service cost		3,511			5,570			6,840
Net periodic benefit cost	$	210,762		$	62,863		$	148,956

Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income:

	2015			2014			2013
Net actuarial (gain) loss	$	(12,291	)	$	1,188,262		$	(404,563	)
Recognized actuarial loss		(144,026	)		(46,171	)		(104,854	)
Recognized prior service cost		(3,511	)		(5,570	)		(6,840	)
Total recognized in other comprehensive income, before taxes	$	(159,828	)	$	1,136,521		$	(516,257	)
Total recognized in net benefit cost and other comprehensive income, before taxes	$	50,934		$	1,199,384		$	(367,301	)

The Trust reclassified $95,899, $33,632 and $72,601, net of income tax of $51,638, $18,109 and $39,093, out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for net periodic benefit cost in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. This amount is reflected in our Statements of Income and Total Comprehensive Income within salaries and related employee benefits. The estimated net actuarial loss and prior service cost for the Plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into salaries and related employee benefits over the next fiscal year are $140,649 and $0, respectively.

The following table summarizes the projected benefit obligation in excess of Plan assets and the Plan assets in excess of accumulated benefit obligation at December 31, 2015 and 2014:

	2015		2014
Projected benefit obligation in excess of Plan assets:
Projected benefit obligation	$	4,884,300	$	5,093,080
Fair value of plan assets	$	4,551,061	$	4,338,820
Plan assets in excess of accumulated benefit obligation:
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	4,059,334	$	4,157,653
Fair value of plan assets	$	4,551,061	$	4,338,820

F-15

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

The following are weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations and costs at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

	2015		2014		2013
Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations as of December 31:
Discount rate		4.50%		4.00%		5.00%
Rate of compensation increase		7.29		7.29		7.29

Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit costs for the years ended December 31:
Discount rate		4.00%		5.00%		4.25%
Expected return on plan assets		7.00		7.00		7.00
Rate of compensation increase		7.29		7.29		7.29

The expected return on Plan assets assumption of 7.0% was selected by the Trust based on historical real rates of return for the current asset mix and an assumption with respect to future inflation. The rate was determined based on a long-term allocation of about two-thirds fixed income and one-third equity securities; historical real rates of return of about 2.5% and 8.5% for fixed income and equity securities, respectively; and assuming a long-term inflation rate of 2.5%.

The Plan has a formal investment policy statement. The Plan’s investment objective is balanced income, with a moderate risk tolerance. This objective emphasizes current income through a 30% to 80% allocation to fixed income securities, complemented by a secondary consideration for capital appreciation through an equity allocation in the range of 20% to 60%. Diversification is achieved through investment in mutual funds and bonds. The asset allocation is reviewed annually with respect to the target allocations and rebalancing adjustments and/or target allocation changes are made as appropriate. The Trust’s current funding policy is to maintain the Plan’s fully funded status on an ERISA minimum funding basis.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

The fair value accounting standards establish a fair value hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are those that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs reflect our assumptions about the inputs market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy is categorized into three levels based on the inputs used in measuring fair value, as follows:

F-16

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

Level 1

– Inputs are based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access. Since inputs are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, Level 1 inputs require the least judgment.

Level 2

– Inputs are based on quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, or are observable either directly or indirectly. Inputs are obtained from various sources including financial institutions and brokers.

Level 3

– Inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. The degree of judgment exercised by us in determining fair value is greatest for fair value measurements categorized in Level 3.

The fair values of plan assets by major asset category at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, are as follows:

	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Cash and Cash Equivalents
Money Markets	$	827,692	$	827,692	$	—	$	—
Equities		196,380		196,380		—		—
Mutual Funds
Equity Funds		1,730,404		1,730,404		—		—
Fixed Income Funds		1,796,585		1,796,585		—		—
Total	$	4,551,061	$	4,551,061	$	—	$	—

	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Cash and Cash Equivalents
Money Markets	$	430,755	$	430,755	$	—	$	—
Equities		177,000		177,000		—		—
Mutual Funds
Equity Funds		1,817,935		1,817,935		—		—
Fixed Income Funds		1,913,130		1,913,130		—		—
Total	$	4,338,820	$	4,338,820	$	—	$	—

Management intends to fund the minimum ERISA amount for 2016. The Trust may make some discretionary contributions to the Plan, the amounts of which have not yet been determined.

F-17

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid for the following ten year period:

Year ending December 31,				Amount
	2016			$	215,184
	2017				212,812
	2018				243,354
	2019				267,752
	2020				282,652
	2021	to	2025		1,342,944

(6)	Income Taxes

The income tax provision charged to operations for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:

	2015			2014			2013
Current:
U.S. Federal	$	25,029,693		$	17,243,130		$	13,381,265
State and local		400,689			398,401			327,730
		25,430,382			17,641,531			13,708,995
Deferred expense		(185,867	)		(974,997	)		(784,925	)
	$	25,244,515		$	16,666,534		$	12,924,070

The Trust is taxed as if it were a corporation. Total income tax expense differed from the amounts computed by applying the U.S. Federal income tax rate of 35% to income before Federal income taxes as a result of the following:

	2015			2014			2013
Computed tax expense at the statutory rate	$	26,349,057		$	18,001,044		$	14,049,902
Reduction in income taxes resulting from:
Statutory depletion		(1,320,605	)		(1,569,762	)		(1,317,177	)
State taxes		256,876			246,534			203,021
Other, net		(40,813	)		(11,282	)		(11,676	)
	$	25,244,515		$	16,666,534		$	12,924,070

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:

	2015		2014
Basis difference in pension plan liability	$	118,967	$	269,271
Total deferred tax asset		118,967		269,271

Basis differences in real estate acquired through foreclosure		235,130		237,697
Deferred installment revenue on land sales for tax purposes		47,050		324,714
Total deferred tax liability		282,180		562,411
Net deferred tax liability	$	163,213	$	293,140

F-18

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

The Trust files a U. S. Federal income tax return. With few exceptions, the Trust is no longer subject to U. S. Federal income tax examination by tax authorities for years before 2012.

(7)

Lease Commitments

The Trust is a lessee under an operating lease in connection with its administrative offices located in Dallas, Texas. This lease agreement requires monthly rent payments and expires in March 2025. Future minimum lease payments were as follows at December 31, 2015:

Year ending December 31,	Amount
2016	$	72,608
2017		75,224
2018		77,841
2019		80,457
2020		83,074
Thereafter		382,009
	$	771,213

Rent expense amounted to $79,415, $70,400 and $70,400 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

(8)	Capital

Certificates of Proprietary Interest (Certificates) and Sub-share Certificates in Certificates of Proprietary Interest (Sub-shares) are exchangeable in the ratio of one Certificate to 3,000 Sub-shares. No Certificates were exchanged for Sub-shares in 2015 and 2014.

The number of Certificates authorized for issuance at a given date is the number then outstanding plus one/three-thousandth of the number of Sub-shares then outstanding. The number of Sub-shares authorized for issuance at a given date is the number then outstanding plus three thousand times the number of Certificates then outstanding.

The Declaration of Trust was executed and delivered in New York. In the opinion of counsel for the Trust, under the laws of the State of New York, the Certificate and Sub-share Certificate holders are not subject to any personal liability for the acts or obligations of the Trust.

The assets of the Trust are located in Texas. In the opinion of Texas counsel, under the laws of the State of Texas, the Certificate and Sub-share Certificate holders may be held personally liable with respect to claims against the Trust, but only after the assets of the Trust first have been exhausted.

F-19

TEXAS PACIFIC LAND TRUST

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

(9)

Subsequent Events

The Trust evaluated events that occurred after the balance sheet date through the date these financial statements were issued, and the following event that met recognition or disclosure criteria was identified:

At their February 2016 meeting, the Trustees declared a cash dividend of $.31 per Sub-share, payable March 16, 2016 to Sub-share holders of record at the close of business on March 9, 2016.

(10)

Oil and Gas Producing Activities (Unaudited)

The Trust’s share of oil and gas produced, all of which is from royalty interests, was as follows for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively: oil (in barrels) – 383,961, 260,829 and 217,682, and gas (in thousands of cubic feet) – 1,910,389, 1,370,377 and 1,065,458. Reserves related to the Trust’s royalty interests are not presented because the information is unavailable.

(11)	Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

The following tables present unaudited financial data of the Trust for each quarter of 2015 and 2014:

	Quarter ended
	December 31,		September 30,		June 30,		March 31,
	2015		2015		2015		2015
Income	$	14,721,058	$	18,186,748	$	11,795,134	$	34,739,353
Income before income taxes	$	13,345,170	$	17,233,208	$	10,949,033	$	33,755,611
Net income	$	8,995,057	$	11,461,349	$	7,416,012	$	22,166,089
Net income per Sub-share Certificate	$	1.10	$	1.40	$	0.90	$	2.67

	Quarter ended
	December 31,		September 30,		June 30,		March 31,
	2014		2014		2014		2014
Income	$	13,295,068	$	14,756,468	$	15,583,264	$	11,581,953
Income before income taxes	$	12,200,547	$	13,878,547	$	14,712,912	$	10,639,548
Net income	$	8,234,892	$	9,366,043	$	9,914,167	$	7,249,918
Net income per Sub-share Certificate	$	0.99	$	1.11	$	1.17	$	0.86

F-20

INDEX OF EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number		Description

3.1		Texas Pacific Land Trust, Declaration of Trust, dated February 1, 1888, by Charles J. Canda, Simeon J. Drake, and William Strauss, Trustees (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002).

31.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act.

31.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act.

32.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS		XBRL Instance

101.SCH		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

101.CAL		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation

101.DEF		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition

101.LAB		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels

101.PRE		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation