Federal tax partnership status depends on joining capital or services for profit
Apply this to your situation
This page covers legal advice the IRS Office of Chief Counsel wrote for IRS staff, issued in 2013, which can't be cited as precedent. Ask about your situation and see what the current Code and IRS guidance say, with citations.
Plain-English summary
Chief Counsel Advice addresses whether state law determines whether a person is a partner for federal tax purposes. The advice states that state law is irrelevant under the Supreme Court decisions cited in the memo, Culbertson and Tower. For federal tax purposes, a person is a partner only if the person joins capital or services with another in a trade or business for profit.
Ruling snapshot
- Question: What determines whether a person is a partner for federal tax purposes?
- Outcome: Advice given.
- Key authorities: IRC § 6231; Culbertson and Tower.
Full text (IRS public release)
ID: CCA_2013040409530201 Number: 201319026
Release Date: 5/10/2013
UILC: 6231.02-00
From:
Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2013 9:53:02 AM
To:
Cc:
Bcc:
Subject: RE: Question regarding Forms 872
State law is irrelevant under the Supreme Court cases Culbertson and Tower. For
federal tax purposes you are only a partner if you join capital or services together in a
trade or business for profit.
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