IT'S GETTING CLOSE

TAX TIMES A COMING: You know the day. April 15. Tax day dead line. And with the economy for us and them like it is, them, namely governments, local state and federal, are looking for ways to increase their coffers. I just saw a report on the news that property taxes can go up if you change a sink in your house. Or build a shed in the back yard. Or even more if the shed has a cement floor. Cause that makes it more livable. But I was more interested in some of the innovative ways, read outrageous ways, that governments are coming up with to get our money. Try these. I think we are all aware of the so called Sin taxes. Here are some new ones that are on the books, or are being discussed to be put on the books. Taxes, that is, not all necessarily sin taxes, although most of them should be a sin for even being thought of. I will list the taxes, but not if they are on the books, or just being considered.
1. In Alabama, any one who purchases a deck of cards of 54 cards or less must pay a tax of 10 cents. If you get a deck with 55 cards, guess you don't have to pay.

2. In Utah, any business where Nude or partially Nude individuals perform any service have to pay a 10% sales and use tax. This tax is applied to all revenue from admission fees as well as merchandise, food, drink and services sales.

3. don't know if this one is State specific or all has all states involved, but it is part of the controversial Patient Protections and Affordable Care Act of 2010. There is now a 10% excise tax on using a tanning salon. This tax is expected to raise $2.7 billion dollars over ten years.

4. In Kentucky there is now a sales tax on any food classified as candy. But the definition of candy is controversial. A Reese's Peanut Butter Cup is candy, but a Milky Way is not. The tax is also snaring some seemingly healthy foods. If a Breakfast bar contains natural or artificial sweeteners along with fruits, nuts or other healthy ingredients, but has no flour, and doesn't need refrigeration, it's considered candy, but breakfast cereals with the exact same ingredients are not.

5. In January, the New York City Fire department proposed a new Crash Tax. The proposal calls for a $500 dollar fine for anyone in an accident requiring emergency response vehicles at the scene. This stirred up some controversy.

6. A new haunted house tax would charge a sales tax on admission to a haunted house if the fee is over 10 Cents and includes music. But New York doesn't tax musical comedies, operas or chamber music shows.

7. In New York, if you buy a Bagel and take it home it is tax free, but if you buy one in a Bagel shop, and eat it there, you have to pay sales tax.

8. As of January, 2011, King County Washington, which includes Seattle, has instituted a $50 fee for reporting a death to the Medical Examiners office. If you don't pay, you don't get the permission and paperwork needed in order to be buried.

9.There is now an annual tax on brand name pharmaceutical companies. This is a corporation tax that is expected to raise $2.5 Billion in 2011. If you think you are not going to pay this tax also, think again.

10. There is also some tax rules going into effect on the FSA medical accounts. Since I have a definite opinion on FSA's, I won't go into these taxes. But if you use one, be prepared for some changes.

Just be prepared as governments take us into the red, while trying to get themselves out of the red, if they succeed, we will be left feeling blue. Just means we will be left spending less, while the tics spend more. And That's The View From The Ditch Bank.