Paul Please don't misinterpret my intension as being non-caring. I fully realize that giving to John is a personal thing. But so is giving to church, or giving a contribution to the ASPCA, or a children's advocacy group. But there is a big difference between dropping fifty sents in the bucket, or giving a buck to a homeless guy on the corner, or giving $100 to a relative for a birthday, and giving up to $1000 to a man who needs our help. I hope the Foundation will be able to come up with a means for PTG members to contribute to a fund for John. But it will need to be set up as a "general help" type fund. I don't believe the Foundation would be allowed to set up a fund specifically for one individual, nor can it set up a fund to help members when they've been injured or are sick. About 20 or so years ago, when Robert Russell Sr. had a heart attack, a lot of us sent money to help with his expenses. I remember talking with Larry at the HO, and he said that if the PTG sets up a fund that gives members money when they are sick or injured, it could be interpreted by the IRS as some wort of health insurance. And that would be against the law. It might turn out that the only way we can help John is to give money with no deduction on our part, and no income on John's part. And if that's what it will take to help John, then I'm all for it. But we should also explore other avenues. Wim -----Original Message----- From: Paul T Williams <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu> To: pianotech at ptg.org Sent: Sun, 3 May 2009 9:01 am Subject: Re: [pianotech] Tax help for John Yes..in a way! Please read forth! It's like "uncle David" giving a birthday present to nephew John; or my birth-mother in Texas who sends us a check for Christmas...who I barely know!. Unless you all really need the write-off, just do it as a "present" ... forget the write off or other tax implications!!!!!. Do you ask the Salvation Army for a receipt at the Target store enterance at Christmas-time for the .50 you throw in the bucket; or a quarter in a poor man's bucket on the street... the feeble old lady next door, who can't take her garbage to the street, as you help by just doing it?:, figuring your time invested? This man is in need, big time! Stop!... and be just be human beings and care for someone,... not what you might be able to get out of it.( I know that's far from your intentions, to be sure!!!!!....the tax thing is just bugging me)) Just write the check and feel good about what you all are doing, which I whole-heartily applaud!!. Quit being so self-centered" (all of us) and just hand the man some dough. I will, and WILL NOT claim it, not one dollar, on any form. It's just the right thing to do for a fallen comrad. I will not claim it as a tax thing. It's from my heart.....I hope you all do the same. All the Best to John (and all of you) God-speed for a speedy recovery, John! Paul "David Love" <davidlovepianos at comcast.net> Sent by: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org 05/01/2009 02:14 PM Please respond to pianotech at ptg.org To <pianotech at ptg.org> cc Subject Re: [pianotech] Tax help for John I don’t understand why John can’t simply accept it as a gift which is not taxable unless it exceeds $13,000 from any one individual. David Love www.davidlovepianos.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech_ptg.org/attachments/20090503/e3df129d/attachment-0001.html>
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC