Toss a Quarter to Someone Who Cares
I was watching the news last night and I couldn't help but be disgusted with the State of Maine. I know they are one of the highest (if not the highest) taxed states in the country. It's not unusual for taxpayers to be getting a refund from the Federal only to pay big to the State. It's usually a sure thing. Many businesses have pulled out for just that reason. It's hard to be a business owner with the State looking over your shoulder squeezing every penny they can out of you.
Here's the latest.
A businessman who owns a chain of Subways (12 I think) had always, as incentive, given his workers one free lunch a day. It helped the morale and was a win-win for everybody. After doing this for some years, the state just got wind of this . They now are demanding he pay taxes on these freebies over the last three years. So with interest and penalites he owes the State of Maine about $3000 in back taxes. This is just for giving his workers a bite to eat. How absurd.
He is furious. Here he's trying to do good and getting taxed by giving away food. He was interviewed and said he couldn't understand the reasoning behind it. Everyday the shops throw away bread and vegetables. It just gets tossed and he doesn't get taxed on that. So what if he gives his employees a free lunch?
So he's now forced into activismt and is headed to the state to get this law off the books. It's one thing to give away a free car but a sandwich? Besides, shouldn't it be the receiver that has to pay the tax? Why should he?
So the new deal the State has made with him is to charge his employees a quarter for the meal and the state will get two cents of every quarter charged. I wonder what happens in other states regarding this issue?
I guess there really is NO such thing as a free lunch anymore!!