Reducing My Tax Liability?

[JamesD8]

I'm in Florida. The property in question is in Georgia.
I assisted a developer in marketing his property and ultimately found a buyer.
I am not a licensed Realtor, so we are calling the payment I will receive a Marketing Fee. I'll be earning close to $200K for my efforts.
My question is how do I reduce my tax liability on this? Is this money simply income and taxed at my applicable rate?
What if I were to place myself in the deal with an option to purchase? Would the money then be treated as a capital gains and taxed at 15%?
Thank you.

 

[FlyingRon]

It's income. Your best bet is to make sure that all the expenses that you could take against this are done so.

Even if it was structured as a sale with you in the middle and a resale, it wouldn't get the 15% long term capital gain treatment.

 

[JamesD8]

Flying Ron, thank you for the reply. You're right, of course. I completely overlooked the time frame required for a capital gains approach. Wishful thinking got the better of me.