§ 1.465-8. General rules; interest other than that of a creditor.

A, the owner of a herd of cattle sells the herd to partnership BCD. BCD pays A $10,000 in cash and executes a note for $30,000 payable to A. Each of the three partners, B, C, and D, assumes personal liability for repayment of the amount owed A. In addition, BCD enters into an agreement with A under which A is to take care of the cattle for BCD in return for compensation equal to 6 percent of BCD's net profits from the activity. Because A has an interest in the net profits of BCD's farming activity, A is considered to have an interest in the activity other than that of a creditor. Accordingly, amounts payable to A for use in that activity do not increase the partners' amount at risk even though the partners assume personal liability for repayment.

Assume the same facts as in Example 1 except that instead of receiving compensation equal to 6 percent of BCD's net profits from the activity, A instead receives compensation equal to 1 percent of the gross receipts from the activity. A does not have a capital interest in BCD. A's interest in the gross receipts is not considered an interest in the net profits. Because B, C, and D assumed personal liability for the amounts payable to A, and A has neither a capital interest nor an interest in the net profits of the activity, A is not considered to have an interest in the activity other than that of a creditor with respect to the $30,000 loan. Accordingly, B, C, and D are at risk for their share of the loan if the other provisions of section 465 are met.

Assume the same facts as in Example 1 except that instead of receiving compensation equal to 6 percent of BCD's net profits from the activity, A instead receives compensation equal to 6 percent of the net profits from the activity or $15,000, whichever is greater. A is considered to have an interest in the net profits from the activity and accordingly will be treated as a person with an interest in the activity other than that of a creditor.

X is an investor in an activity described in section 465(c)(1). In order to raise money for the investment, X borrows money from A, the promoter (the person who brought X together with other taxpayers for the purpose of investing in the activity). The loan is secured by stock unrelated to the activity which is listed on a national securities exchange. X's stock has a readily ascertainable fair market value. A does not have a capital interest in the activity or an interest in its net profits. Accordingly, with respect to the loan secured by X's stock, A does not have an interest in the activity other than that of a creditor.

A is the promoter of an activity described in section 465(c)(1). As the promoter, A organizes the activity and solicits potential investors. For these services A is paid a flat fee of $130x. This fee is paid out of the amounts contributed by the investors to the activity. X, one of the investors in the activity, borrows money from A for use in the activity. X is not personally liable for repayment to A of the amount borrowed. As security for the loan, X pledges an asset which does not have a readily ascertainable fair market value. A is considered a person with an interest in the activity other than that of a creditor with respect to this loan because the asset pledged as security does not have a readily ascertainable fair market value, X is not personally liable for repayment of the loan, and A received financial gain from the activity. Accordingly, X's amount at risk in the activity is not increased despite the fact that property was pledged as security.