08-23-2010, 10:37 AM
Philly requiring bloggers to pay $300 for a business license
It looks like cash hungry local governments are getting awfully rapacious these days:
[INDENT]Between her blog and infrequent contributions to ehow.com, over the last few years she says sheââ¬â¢s made about $50. To [Marilyn] Bess, her website is a hobby. To the city of Philadelphia, itââ¬â¢s a potential moneymaker, and the city wants its cut.
In May, the city sent Bess a letter demanding that she pay $300, the price of a business privilege license.
ââ¬ÅThe real kick in the pants is that I donââ¬â¢t even have a full-time job, so for the city to tell me to pony up $300 for a business privilege license, pay wage tax, business privilege tax, net profits tax on a handful of money is outrageous,ââ¬Â Bess says.
It would be one thing if Bessââ¬â¢ website were, well, an actual business, or if the amount of money the city wanted didnââ¬â¢t outpace her earnings six-fold. Sure, the city has its rules; and yes, cash-strapped cities canââ¬â¢t very well ignore potential sources of income. But at the same time, there must be some room for discretion and common sense.
When Bess pressed her case to officials with the cityââ¬â¢s now-closed tax amnesty program, she says, ââ¬ÅI was told to hire an accountant.ââ¬Â
Sheââ¬â¢s not alone. After dutifully reporting even the smallest profits on their tax filings this year, a number ââ¬â though no one knows exactly what that number is ââ¬â of Philadelphia bloggers were dispatched letters informing them that they owe $300 for a privilege license, plus taxes on any profits they made.
Even if, as with Sean Barry, that profit is $11 over two years.
[/INDENT]To say that these kinds of draconian measures are detrimental to the public
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinio...z0xRa2d4eR
It looks like cash hungry local governments are getting awfully rapacious these days:
[INDENT]Between her blog and infrequent contributions to ehow.com, over the last few years she says sheââ¬â¢s made about $50. To [Marilyn] Bess, her website is a hobby. To the city of Philadelphia, itââ¬â¢s a potential moneymaker, and the city wants its cut.
In May, the city sent Bess a letter demanding that she pay $300, the price of a business privilege license.
ââ¬ÅThe real kick in the pants is that I donââ¬â¢t even have a full-time job, so for the city to tell me to pony up $300 for a business privilege license, pay wage tax, business privilege tax, net profits tax on a handful of money is outrageous,ââ¬Â Bess says.
It would be one thing if Bessââ¬â¢ website were, well, an actual business, or if the amount of money the city wanted didnââ¬â¢t outpace her earnings six-fold. Sure, the city has its rules; and yes, cash-strapped cities canââ¬â¢t very well ignore potential sources of income. But at the same time, there must be some room for discretion and common sense.
When Bess pressed her case to officials with the cityââ¬â¢s now-closed tax amnesty program, she says, ââ¬ÅI was told to hire an accountant.ââ¬Â
Sheââ¬â¢s not alone. After dutifully reporting even the smallest profits on their tax filings this year, a number ââ¬â though no one knows exactly what that number is ââ¬â of Philadelphia bloggers were dispatched letters informing them that they owe $300 for a privilege license, plus taxes on any profits they made.
Even if, as with Sean Barry, that profit is $11 over two years.
[/INDENT]To say that these kinds of draconian measures are detrimental to the public
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinio...z0xRa2d4eR
