1st Week Results . . .

[suranceman]

And thus it favors you, which was my point.

Tax deductions are most favorable to those who were going to engage in the behavior anyway.

It did not prove your point. A rule that applies to everyone, favors no one.

Do streetlights favor the poor since they are more likely to not have a car thus they are not subjected to street lights at a rate that as high as richer people who do have cars? No that would be insane, yet it's the same logic you employ to state that charitable donations being tax deductible favor the rich.

That aside, nobody engaged in activity that results in a net loss in money would claim this is favorable to them. People who donate money to charity are reducing their bank account, and the taxes offset do not make up for it. It's still a net loss.

 

[Tahoe Ray]

It did not prove your point. A rule that applies to everyone, favors no one.

Do streetlights favor the poor since they are more likely to not have a car thus they are not subjected to street lights at a rate that as high as richer people who do have cars? No that would be insane, yet it's the same logic you employ to state that charitable donations being tax deductible favor the rich.

That aside, nobody engaged in activity that results in a net loss in money would claim this is favorable to them. People who donate money to charity are reducing their bank account, and the taxes offset do not make up for it. It's still a net loss.

I'm not an accountant but I'm pretty sure that you can only deduct charitable contributions if you itemize deductions...

 

[VolAgent]

I'm not an accountant but I'm pretty sure that you can only deduct charitable contributions if you itemize deductions...

Yep. As Josh alluded to, next year is going to be interesting for personal taxes. The higher standard deduction is going to keep a lot of people from itemizing. Which also means a lot of people may re-evalute their spending. Even though they shouldn't, many people change their behavior based on tax deductions.

It will be very interesting for states with high property taxes as well as those areas with high home values which lead to large mortgages.

 

[rousemark]

Our church has never given taxes and we are not incorporated. Nothing to hold over our heads. That's what the 1st Amendment entitles us to. Government has no control over churches.

Now with that said, many churches have turned into "clubs." Hocking their wares (making merchandise of the people, which Peter said would happen). Building expensive gyms and coffee shops and charging money to the public. That's no more a church than the local country club.

With all that said, I will take every tax break I can get. Now my giving does not depend on the tax break. If they took that away, I would still give. To be fair, with the new standard deduction being so high, I doubt many people that give will pass that standard deduction threshold.

The tax break the church gets is the members do not pay taxes on their offerings.. Not everyone woud continue to give the same amount if it were not for the tax break. Does your church pay property taxes on any property it owns? Most churches do not.

 

[myinsurebiz]

Lordy - forget the churches and charity - let's talk Insurance . . .

 

[myinsurebiz]

SunTrust has payroll processing for $50/month..they calculate everything for you. All you do is enter gross wage. They print W2 at the end of the year etc...then you need to just get an WC and UE policy from an agent..a lot cheaper than 2% of gross

But they don't handle the hiring, firing, benefits, compliance, Direct Deposits, pay the taxes, pay the FICA, pay the WC. pay the UE, track personal time credits, allow access to group benefits, go to court on your behalf ($100 an hour attorney fees + std court costs) - they do everything for 2% . . .

If we do $50 million a year - we may reconsider - right now - easy to write that check for 2% . . .

 

[myinsurebiz]

yep
that one will hurt when you fire an agent and he says you didn't pay him correct on his commisssions

the DOL feels like this "if it smells like an employee its always an employee"

if you make them come and go at certain times your going to get in trouble

Chase Jordan actually opened my eyes to the liability we were facing . . . I can sleep at night now doing the Employee route. Plus - helps them pay into Social Security which they will need one day . . .

 

[myinsurebiz]

I know that is the general rule of thought. But what if you contract with a private contractor to man your phones (or some other function) from 8:00AM until 5:00PM. You have set the times they must work,to meet the terms of the contract, do they automatically become an employee?

We aren't taking any chances.

 

[myinsurebiz]

if you tell them when to come and leave then yes its an employee

i think the only true way to do it is they have to pay for all the expenses associated with that seat and then can come and go whenever they wish... you literally can't ever discipline anyone for coming and going or just not coming at all

i know all the big call centers in this space and they all pay them as employees with benefits...

We are happy with the decision to go the W2 route - just makes sense.

Plus - we have them assign commissions and when they haul ass - any passthrus and renewals may help offset any potential charge backs . . .

 

[rousemark]

We are happy with the decision to go the W2 route - just makes sense.

Plus - we have them assign commissions and when they haul ass - any passthrus and renewals may help offset any potential charge backs . . .

Would you personally be willing to contract and assign your commissions to someone else?