Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
Returning Member
posted Feb 13, 2022 6:16:37 AM

Did I materially participate in the operation of this business during 2021?

How do I answer "did you materially participate in the operation of this business during 2021?"  I was a contract worker for a business in 2021.  I worked over 100 hours, but not quite 500 hours.  I was the main person scanning documents.  I don't believe anyone else scanned as many hours as I did during the year.  The owner of the business managed/oversaw the job I was doing.  This is the first year I worked for this company.

0 4 3463
1 Best answer
Expert Alumni
Feb 13, 2022 6:24:50 AM

Yes, you materially participated.

 

Material participation occurs when a taxpayer is involved in a business on a regular, continuous, and substantial basis. If so, the taxpayer can check off a "material participation" box on his Form 1040. An outside investor in a business is probably not engaged in material participation in the business since he is merely providing funds to the entity.

 

Material Participation

4 Replies
Expert Alumni
Feb 13, 2022 6:24:50 AM

Yes, you materially participated.

 

Material participation occurs when a taxpayer is involved in a business on a regular, continuous, and substantial basis. If so, the taxpayer can check off a "material participation" box on his Form 1040. An outside investor in a business is probably not engaged in material participation in the business since he is merely providing funds to the entity.

 

Material Participation

Returning Member
Feb 13, 2022 8:59:59 AM

Thank you.  Your response was helpful and answered my question.

Level 2
Mar 26, 2022 3:19:58 PM

I don't think it matters.  It sounds like you were an employee.  Employees don't have to worry about material participation rules.  They can simply file their w-2 or (if your employer improperly gave you one) 1099-Nec.  Material participation rules only apply to owners/investors in a business.     

Level 2
Jun 17, 2022 3:11:22 PM

I'm hoping to piggy back on this question.  I am an employee of a company that is an LP but I am also a limited partner (VERY limited! 🙂 )...  They basically do this instead of stock options.

 

I got my first Schedule K-1 that has a distribution and Turbo Tax asks "Did you materially participate in this partnership's business activities during 2021?".

 

I feel like "of course I did, I worked there full time".  I am not an "investor" so... is this as simple as it sounds and yes, I did "participate"?

 

It feels like a silly question yet I can't find an answer anywhere that says "answer yes if you are a full time employee of the LP".  That seems like a simple statement that could be in the help page or easy to find it I googled it!