It’s Fix the Tax Code Friday! This week, there has been a lot of discussion across the internet about “going Dutch” a la the pay-per-kilometer system recently passed in Amsterdam.
So today’s Fix the Tax Code Friday question is:
Should the US consider a pay-per-mile tax system to pay for roads and other infrastructures?
If your answer is no, would that change if the US adopted the Dutch policy of abolishing the current road taxes and sales taxes for cars in exchange for the pay-per-mile system?
Taxpayer asks:
Several elderly friends have asked me to help them with administratrive work in there home. I would probably do this on an ongoing basis and I am sure each would end up paying me more that $600 a year. I would report all of this money (Schedule C I think) but am concerned for the people I would be doing the work for. Do they have to issue a 1099 for the work I would do for them? Could I just report the money quarterly without ever getting a form from them and have it be legal, I don’t want to get them into trouble?
Taxgirl says:
If I understand it, you’re going to be kind of like a Girl Friday? Opening mail, paying bills, that sort of thing, at times that are convenient for you – and for a number of different people?
Assuming that you can’t be classed as a household employee (which I think you’re not if my understanding of your situation is correct), then there is no obligation for your customers to report payments made to you.
Forms 1099-MISC are generally issued when payments are made in the course of trade or business. Personal payments are not reportable. If your customers are making payments to you for services in much the same way that they would pay their hairdresser or a kid that occasionally mows the law, there’s no reason to submit a 1099 to you.
Again, this assumes that you’re self-employed and that you control how the work is done. A self-employed worker also usually provides his or her own tools and offers services to the general public in an independent business – which sounds like what you’re doing.
If, however, you could be classified as a household or other employee (which would result in a form W-2 issued to you), or if you’re performing services for your customer’s trade or business (which would result in a form 1099-MISC issued to you), that’s a different story. You can read more about household employees here.
I hope that helps. And good luck with your business!
Like any good lawyer, I need to add a disclaimer: Unfortunately, it is impossible to give comprehensive tax advice over the internet, no matter how well researched or written. Before relying on any information given on this site, contact a tax professional to discuss your particular situation.
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And here I thought my days of reporting on Joe Francis were over…
It turns out that the Girls Gone Wild founder hasn’t quite put his tax woes behind him. After taking a deal to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of filing false tax returns – and escaping additional jail time in the process – Francis has found himself in the hot seat again.
If you believe TMZ, the IRS has liened Francis for nearly $34 million. To clarify, the IRS claims that Francis owes tens of millions of dollars in unpaid taxes. The breakdown is as follows: $17.7 million in 2001, $11.2 million in 2002 and $4.9 million in 2003. I’m not sure how much the penalties are since I haven’t seen the actual liens but those numbers put his net income somewhere close to $100 million for those three years.
I know, I know. Here I’ve blogging tax all this time when clearly, I should be producing porn.
On the plus side, though, I haven’t had to advise TMZ that my accounts have been frozen by the IRS to the tune of $100 million (no, those numbers don’t quite make sense – just reporting as I hear it). Francis has also allegedly reported that he will file for personal bankruptcy on tomorrow.
I’m not sure how this will affect Francis’ plea deal which requires him to resolve his outstanding tax issues. I mean, it is a resolution – but I’m guessing not so much what IRS had in mind. We’ll see.
(Editor’s note: I have since seen a copy of the liens as filed with LA County. As of 11/06/2009, the liens totaled $33,819,088.14)
