No Equity Partnership Deal Tax Question

[A.R. Coningsby]

Don't have a lot of knowledge regarding filing taxes but last year I partnered with a family member on a deal I found in Northeast Ohio, close to where my new Job was. It is a duplex, 2 buildings one lot, long time section 8 tenant paying above market rent in back unit, with vacant front unit. The deal with my partner was that I live free utilities and rent for 5 months while I simultaneously do the rehab on the Unit I'm living in. My partner paid for all the materials/tools. I received no equity position but i wanted to get my feet wet in rehabbing.

My question is, are there any tax benefits I have as a no equity partner in which I did all the rehab work on a property, while my partner has let me live for free last year?

[Christopher Smith]

A partnership agreement doesn't have to be in writing, but it's helpful to demonstrate that the relationship was as claimed. Now whether your emails point to a partnership or other relationship is something else. A partnership generally requires the parties (at east two) to carryon a trade or business and implicates the sharing of bottom line profits and losses.

Based solely on the above it sounds a little more like you are being compensated on a one time basis for services rendered rather than as a partner sharing in the profits and losses of a partnership.