The Conservative Cave
Current Events => Politics => Topic started by: The Village Idiot on March 07, 2010, 08:55:56 PM
-
The budget-strapped state hopes to get an estimated $10 million for its coffers from the sweet rolls, coffee and such that hotel patrons enjoy at no charge from the Smoky Mountains to Graceland.
The proposal, pending in committees in the General Assembly, is to collect tax on the food at the prevailing sales tax rate in the county involved - up to 9.75 percent.
State officials stress that the businesses would be taxed and not the hungry patrons. Reagan Farr, commissioner of the Department of Revenue, doesn't believe hotels would pass the tax onto consumers.
The proposal is in a much broader tax provisions bill sponsored by state Sen. Jim Kyle of Memphis and state Rep. Mike Turner of Nashville.
http://www.wsmv.com/news/22768853/detail.html
MY QUESTION... if hotels separated the meal price from the room rate... wouldn't the govt lose taxes??
-
MY QUESTION... if hotels separated the meal price from the room rate... wouldn't the govt lose taxes??
I would think so. Maybe the state is saying that the hotels should pay the tax based on the value of the free meal. Hotels should, just lower their room rate, and tack on the same amount for the formerly free breakfast. That or they could say they charge X amount of dollars for breakfast, but the room is free. The state would lose even more that way.
-
Democrats. Go figure. :bs:
-
California is now taxing Shipping & Handling.
hah
-
Nothing beats the tax on tax: Sales Tax on Liquor and Cigarettes!
-
Reagan Farr, commissioner of the Department of Revenue, doesn't believe hotels would pass the tax onto consumers.
Sheesh, 'rats really are effin' stupid.
-
TN doesn't have state income tax, so they are looking for money any where they can.
-
If we could just tax politicians stupidity. There is plenty of revenues there.
-
TN doesn't have state income tax, so they are looking for money any where they can.
God forbid they actually cut spending.
-
God forbid they actually cut spending.
Isn't TN one of those states which have "universal" healthcare, and now it's driving them into insolvency?
-
God forbid they actually cut spending.
I was just getting ready to say something along those lines.
-
At what point does someone finally say enough! Pretty soon the Average American will be lucky to bring home 1/4 of their salary.
-
TN doesn't have state income tax, so they are looking for money any where they can.
Historically, as I understand it, personal property taxes in TN have been fairly reasonable. There is no state-levied property tax. That, coupled with no income tax, a right-to-work state, and a business-friendly corporate tax structure (6% excise tax only, with many aspects of business not being taxed at all), puts Tennessee in a precarious situation.
What they're discovering in TN is, they can't really spend money like drunken sailors, unlike their blue state counterparts in Commiefornia, New Yawk, and similar places. They offset some of that with some pretty high sales taxes -- up to 9.75%, depending on the county. Where I intend to wind up -- Madison County -- they charge the max of 2.75%, in addition to the 5.5% tax on groceries and the 7% tax on everything else. When I go to the grocery store to buy a loaf of bread for $3, almost 30 cents of that goes to the state and local gummint. :o
It would appear that the TN lawmakers are doing their level best to keep from enacting an income tax. That's a good sign, but can they keep it that way?
From Wiki:
Tennessee
Tennessee charges 5.5% sales tax on groceries as of January 1, 2008, and 7% on other items. Counties also tax up to 2.75% in increments of 0.25% — most do so around 2.25%. If a county does not charge the maximum, its cities can charge and keep all or part of the remainder. Several cities are in more than one county, but none charge a city tax, thus paying only the county taxes.[100][101]
Personally, I have a problem paying sales tax on GROCERIES. This is an area that should be exempt, IMHO. Ditto for medications and other fundamental necessities. Paying almost 10% of every dollar spent to the state and local government is the price of the highly-touted "no state income tax".
Either way you go, you're gonna pay the piper. :censored:
-
At what point does someone finally say enough! Pretty soon the Average American will be lucky to bring home 1/4 of their salary.
The vast majority of us are lucky to see between 40% - 50% of what we actually earn at the moment, courtesy of our friendly neighborhood nanny state.
Thanks Republicrats! :banghead: :bigbird:
-
At what point does someone finally say enough! Pretty soon the Average American will be lucky to bring home 1/4 of their salary.
This underscores the need to elect honest fiscal conservatives.
We all have to live within a budget in our personal lives, why shouldn't we expect our elected officials to do the same?
-
This whole idea is about as messed-up as charging extra sales taxes for someone over-eating at a buffet. You're already paying sales tax on a room-and-breakfast deal (also on top of that, normally some kind of damned room tax, or pay-the-bonds-for-the-arena-or-convention-center tax, or some other frickin' thing if it's in a metro area at all), where the hell do they get off doing this?
As others have pointed out, if the hotel drops the price of the room by three or four bucks and sells the breakfast for that amount, the local government at least takes a net loss on the deal. What a stupid idea.
-
At least a sales tax is paid by everyone, even illegal aliens.
An income tax would be "progressive". blech.
-
At least a sales tax is paid by everyone, even illegal aliens.
That is probably the main reason why I support a national sales tax in lieu of the current federal income tax.
But I'm sure there are parts of the national sales tax that I haven't thought all the way through.
-
That is probably the main reason why I support a national sales tax in lieu of the current federal income tax.
But I'm sure there are parts of the national sales tax that I haven't thought all the way through.
Like applying it to homes and cars... lol.. those would be sizable taxes
-
Like applying it to homes and cars... lol.. those would be sizable taxes
Yup... Just like those things.
LOL.
-
Yup... Just like those things.
LOL.
and the guy who said it wouldn't be passed on to consumers is 100% Grade A Moron.
-
and the guy who said it wouldn't be passed on to consumers is 100% Grade A Moron.
Companies/Corporations in this country DO NOT pay taxes.
They always pass them along to consumers. Anyone that thinks differently is a fool.
-
Historically, as I understand it, personal property taxes in TN have been fairly reasonable. There is no state-levied property tax. That, coupled with no income tax, a right-to-work state, and a business-friendly corporate tax structure (6% excise tax only, with many aspects of business not being taxed at all), puts Tennessee in a precarious situation.
What they're discovering in TN is, they can't really spend money like drunken sailors, unlike their blue state counterparts in Commiefornia, New Yawk, and similar places. They offset some of that with some pretty high sales taxes -- up to 9.75%, depending on the county. Where I intend to wind up -- Madison County -- they charge the max of 2.75%, in addition to the 5.5% tax on groceries and the 7% tax on everything else. When I go to the grocery store to buy a loaf of bread for $3, almost 30 cents of that goes to the state and local gummint. :o
It would appear that the TN lawmakers are doing their level best to keep from enacting an income tax. That's a good sign, but can they keep it that way?
From Wiki:
Personally, I have a problem paying sales tax on GROCERIES. This is an area that should be exempt, IMHO. Ditto for medications and other fundamental necessities. Paying almost 10% of every dollar spent to the state and local government is the price of the highly-touted "no state income tax".
Either way you go, you're gonna pay the piper. :censored:
Car tags are quite reasonable....unless you have a vanity plate. We only have rear plates and price varies per county and they are $36 for renewal in my county which is about average. Some are less, some are more,depends on what the county determines.
Property taxes are very low compared with other places in the country. Residential is taxed 25% of the "assessed value" (which is done by the tax assessor or the most recent sales price). If within the city limits...it is then $5.50 per $100 of the assessed value. I live in the county, so it's about half of the $5.50. My brother lives in Northbrook IL (Chicago suburb) in a house half the size of mine on less than half an acre lot - our's is just over 3 acres in a gated subdivision - and his taxes are almost quadruple what ours are.
Sales tax, however, is, as Eupher said....on EVERYTHING! and they find ways to tax on top of taxes too. Sin tax is on movie/concert/etc tickets (17%), it's also on alcohol and cigarettes, but I'm not sure what the percentage is now as they keep raising it. It's on phone bills, utility bills, cable/satelite bills, groceries, clothes, Rx's....it's on everything! So far, about the only thing it's not on is doctor bills or personal care like haircuts, manicures, pedicures, etc. .....but for all I know - it's automatically plugged into the price.
I'm charged a yearly "business" tax for being allowed to work in my company.
Sales tax on cars is high, as are deed stamps on property.
The state finds a way to collect it....but it may be more equitable than state income tax. You don't buy the stuff, you don't get taxed for it.
-
One of the arguments against ridiculously high sales taxes vice income taxes is that the poor are assessed a disproportionately large amount of their available income on taxes because they have to buy the same things (groceries, Rx's, household items) that the more affluent have to.
Property taxes are lower, as Deb said, so buying a big-assed house/mansion doesn't even the playing field that much either. The poor pay rent or pay property taxes on a small house on a small lot while the more affluent have lots of acreage and a multi-car garage.
I like the idea of no income tax, but I'm not keen on the alternative -- ridiculously high sales taxes. When it's time to buy a car, you gotta dig deep just to pay the freakin' state. :censored:
-
One of the arguments against ridiculously high sales taxes vice income taxes is that the poor are assessed a disproportionately large amount of their available income on taxes because they have to buy the same things (groceries, Rx's, household items) that the more affluent have to.
Property taxes are lower, as Deb said, so buying a big-assed house/mansion doesn't even the playing field that much either. The poor pay rent or pay property taxes on a small house on a small lot while the more affluent have lots of acreage and a multi-car garage.
I like the idea of no income tax, but I'm not keen on the alternative -- ridiculously high sales taxes. When it's time to buy a car, you gotta dig deep just to pay the freakin' state. :censored:
You do dig real deep for the sales tax on the car when you purchase it....on the other hand your license plate tags are quite cheap. They are a nominal flat fee, and not based on the value of your car. Chris may know for sure, but I don't think there is any county in the state that charges over $50 for a regular plate.
You also are going to dig real deep for state tax stamps on the purchase of a home. There's also a tax on the mortgage if one has one.
-
State officials stress that the businesses would be taxed and not the hungry patrons. Reagan Farr, commissioner of the Department of Revenue, doesn't believe hotels would pass the tax onto consumers.
Yes, convince the idiots of your state that the evil business owners will be paying the tax and not the ones using the rooms.
What a buncha dumb ass that is. Of COURSE it is going to be passed on to the consumers you frikkin' idiot!
Business just eat taxes all the time because it actually helps their bottom line. :whatever:
KC
-
Like applying it to homes and cars... lol.. those would be sizable taxes
If rich is talking about the fair tax he is right. I am behind it 100% and wish it would start tomorrow. I sell real estate and I love the fair tax. Existing homes wouldn't be taxed and new homes would BUT you lose the imbedded taxes that went into making the new home so it is a wash. There are no sizable taxes just 'shifted' taxes.
KC
-
Companies/Corporations in this country DO NOT pay taxes.
They always pass them along to consumers. Anyone that thinks differently is a fool.
You're wrong and you're right. They DO pay their taxes,at least on paper. However, that cost IS passed along to the consumer.
-
If rich is talking about the fair tax he is right. I am behind it 100% and wish it would start tomorrow. I sell real estate and I love the fair tax. Existing homes wouldn't be taxed and new homes would BUT you lose the imbedded taxes that went into making the new home so it is a wash. There are no sizable taxes just 'shifted' taxes.
KC
The FAIRtax plan I read is nothing but a stupid gimmick that does not cut taxes, its still progressive, your still giving money to people who paid nothing in and your still giving money to the government that you don't need to for a "pre-bate".
It's a ridiculous sham if thats the FAIRtax your talking about. Its like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic and renaming the ship, in an attempt to save it from sinking.
I can already see the Democrats promising to double or triple the "prebate" in a campaign and saying "we're more generous than the Republicans".
-
The FAIRtax plan I read is nothing but a stupid gimmick that does not cut taxes, its still progressive, your still giving money to people who paid nothing in and your still giving money to the government that you don't need to for a "pre-bate".
It's a ridiculous sham if thats the FAIRtax your talking about. Its like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic and renaming the ship, in an attempt to save it from sinking.
I can already see the Democrats promising to double or triple the "prebate" in a campaign and saying "we're more generous than the Republicans".
The FairTax was never intended to cut taxes. It was developed to be a better way to COLLECT taxes and make them more transparent. If politicians want to increase your tax then they have to ask you. There is no other way it could be done. You don't want to pay taxes then don't buy stuff. The FairTax is the way to go. I've read both books and I would vote it in in a nanosecond.
KC
-
The FAIRtax plan I read is nothing but a stupid gimmick that does not cut taxes, its still progressive, your still giving money to people who paid nothing in and your still giving money to the government that you don't need to for a "pre-bate".
It's a ridiculous sham if thats the FAIRtax your talking about. Its like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic and renaming the ship, in an attempt to save it from sinking.
I can already see the Democrats promising to double or triple the "prebate" in a campaign and saying "we're more generous than the Republicans".
I don't like the idea of a fair tax either because anytime the government states that we are going to eliminate or decrease taxes in one area and increase or start up a new plan in another you better hold onto to your wallet cause you are fixing to get rear ended. Prebate is also a dumb idea.
-
I don't like the idea of a fair tax either because anytime the government states that we are going to eliminate or decrease taxes in one area and increase or start up a new plan in another you better hold onto to your wallet cause you are fixing to get rear ended. Prebate is also a dumb idea.
The FairTax is predicated upon repeal of the income tax. If the income tax is not repealed then the FairTax can't take effect.
Prebate is there for everyone. It has to be there to emulate the tax system we have right now. The FairTax is not to reduce/cut taxes but to be an easier more effective way to collect said tax. Not only for those of us who actually PAY taxes but for those who skirt taxes and get a free ride.
Think about it. How many hookers, drug dealers, welfare queens, etc ... would now become tax paying citizens? Tired of seeing these folks get a free ride? Got a better idea of how to collect taxes from them? Under the FairTax if you spend money you are taxed. Save money and you have no penalty. You can't say that now. Why not try something different?
KC
-
The FairTax is predicated upon repeal of the income tax. If the income tax is not repealed then the FairTax can't take effect.
Prebate is there for everyone. It has to be there to emulate the tax system we have right now. The FairTax is not to reduce/cut taxes but to be an easier more effective way to collect said tax. Not only for those of us who actually PAY taxes but for those who skirt taxes and get a free ride.
Think about it. How many hookers, drug dealers, welfare queens, etc ... would now become tax paying citizens? Tired of seeing these folks get a free ride? Got a better idea of how to collect taxes from them? Under the FairTax if you spend money you are taxed. Save money and you have no penalty. You can't say that now. Why not try something different?
KC
That is my understanding of the "fair tax" system as well. As a bonus, it also ensures that the illegal aliens living here will also be paying taxes into the system that they currently take so much from.
-
The FairTax was never intended to cut taxes. It was developed to be a better way to COLLECT taxes and make them more transparent. If politicians want to increase your tax then they have to ask you. There is no other way it could be done. You don't want to pay taxes then don't buy stuff. The FairTax is the way to go. I've read both books and I would vote it in in a nanosecond.
KC
and who keeps track of everything we buy? Thats going to require a huge bureaucracy!!
-
The FairTax is predicated upon repeal of the income tax. If the income tax is not repealed then the FairTax can't take effect.
Prebate is there for everyone. It has to be there to emulate the tax system we have right now. The FairTax is not to reduce/cut taxes but to be an easier more effective way to collect said tax. Not only for those of us who actually PAY taxes but for those who skirt taxes and get a free ride.
Think about it. How many hookers, drug dealers, welfare queens, etc ... would now become tax paying citizens? Tired of seeing these folks get a free ride? Got a better idea of how to collect taxes from them? Under the FairTax if you spend money you are taxed. Save money and you have no penalty. You can't say that now. Why not try something different?
KC
The Federal income tax will never be repealed so the Fair Tax is a pipe dream. What is not a pipe dream is the idea the Democraps have come up with for a VAT tax. That and a huge tax increase on gasoline. The government needs more of your money and lots of it to pay for all that money that has been pissed away.
-
The Federal income tax will never be repealed so the Fair Tax is a pipe dream. What is not a pipe dream is the idea the Democraps have come up with for a VAT tax. That and a huge tax increase on gasoline. The government needs more of your money and lots of it to pay for all that money that has been pissed away.
England is preparing to apply the VAT tax to food.
-
England is preparing to apply the VAT tax to food.
Like shit wasn't expensive enough there already.
-
and who keeps track of everything we buy? Thats going to require a huge bureaucracy!!
Actually you just turn the IRS around to sending money instead of collecting it and you turn business bookkeepers around to instead of telling employees what they need to send in what they get back from the 'IRS'.
You have employees getting to keep their entire paycheck. The stores where you spend the money collect the 23% and simply mail it to the government their books will tell the story. The only reason to audit anyone would be if they are a business to make sure they are a legitimate business.
No, no new bureaucracy needed. You would actually need less people to make this work and you would have less penalties from saving and investing. Not to mention, as rich said, you are collecting taxes from people you wouldn't normally collect from. There are still opportunities to cheat but we have that now.
I'm behind it 100% and wish it would start tomorrow.
KC
-
The Federal income tax will never be repealed so the Fair Tax is a pipe dream. What is not a pipe dream is the idea the Democraps have come up with for a VAT tax. That and a huge tax increase on gasoline. The government needs more of your money and lots of it to pay for all that money that has been pissed away.
If you get enough people behind this you could very well do away with the federal income tax. The word just needs to get out. Most politicians are not behind this because the taxes you pay become too transparent. Not a bad thing in my mind. You would know instantly if someone tried to raise you taxes. All you would have to do is look at any sales receipt and if the tax charged was more than 23% you would know you either missed a vote to increase taxes or you were getting screwed.
We need more information going out to people about the FairTax and less misinformation.
KC
-
If you get enough people behind this you could very well do away with the federal income tax. The word just needs to get out. Most politicians are not behind this because the taxes you pay become too transparent. Not a bad thing in my mind. You would know instantly if someone tried to raise you taxes. All you would have to do is look at any sales receipt and if the tax charged was more than 23% you would know you either missed a vote to increase taxes or you were getting screwed.
We need more information going out to people about the FairTax and less misinformation.
KC
Repealing the 16th Amendment is not going to happen. So the fair tax is a dead duck in my opinion.
-
As I understand it, the proposal in the Tennessee legislature would require hotels to pay a sales tax when they buy the breakfast food. The logic is that since they are not charging directly for the food, they, and not the hotel guest, are the end user. Therefore, the hotel shouldn't be able to buy the food as an untaxed wholesale purchase. They also claim that this same logic is applied in all but a few other states already. It has gotten so much publicity so quickly, the chance this will become law is probably slim. There can't be too much money involved in those horrid two-day-old danish rolls.
A Tennessee politician proposing an income tax right now would be like a democrat going to the national convention and proposing planks in the platform to criminalize abortion and sodomy. The chance it will happen is zero. Tennessee may not be the lowest tax state, but it has to be close. I don't see people in the high-tax peoples' republics, like Illinois, California, or the East Coast hellhole, getting services that justify the huge difference. Seems like all that money just disappears into thin air.
-
As I understand it, the proposal in the Tennessee legislature would require hotels to pay a sales tax when they buy the breakfast food. The logic is that since they are not charging directly for the food, they, and not the hotel guest, are the end user. Therefore, the hotel shouldn't be able to buy the food as an untaxed wholesale purchase. They also claim that this same logic is applied in all but a few other states already. It has gotten so much publicity so quickly, the chance this will become law is probably slim. There can't be too much money involved in those horrid two-day-old danish rolls.
This sounds like much to do about nothing. The hotel pays sales tax or use tax on bedding, bibles, pens, paper, soap, and on all tangible personal property and charges it off as an expense. If the free coffee and rolls impact their bottom line negatively, go up on room price by a dollar or two. Problem solved.
-
This sounds like much to do about nothing. The hotel pays sales tax or use tax on bedding, bibles, pens, paper, soap, and on all tangible personal property and charges it off as an expense. If the free coffee and rolls impact their bottom line negatively, go up on room price by a dollar or two. Problem solved.
Which is exactly what they would do all the while the politicians would be saying "See, the consumer is not paying for it the hotel/motel is"
KC
-
Which is exactly what they would do all the while the politicians would be saying "See, the consumer is not paying for it the hotel/motel is"
KC
Voters are beginning to wise up to these lying politicians. Several years ago a CA prop was soundly defeated; it stated that a tax would be placed on the oil companies but that they could not raise their prices. Liberals and RINO's might think we are stupid but the laugh is going to be on them in Nov.