If You Win the Big Jackpot Expect the IRS to Coming Knocking
Many people from all over the country enjoy gambling. Whether it’s big time poker, playing the slots or betting on sporting events, there are a lot of people who enjoy games of chance and the idea of winning something for nothing. Of course, most of the time, the house wins and the player walks away empty handed. When a player does win, it’s usually cause for a celebration. However, the big victory can be short-lived when the winner discovers that the taxman wants his piece of the pie as well.
In fact, the IRS is looking to really crack down on gambling earnings. As it stands rights now, when a person plays the slots he or she has to report any earnings of $1,200 or more to the IRS. The machine even stops working as soon as someone wins. It won’t start again until after a casino worker has presented the lucky winner with the necessary tax papers. However, recently the IRS threw out the idea of lowering that threshold down to just $600.
To no one’s surprise, many gamblers hate the idea. Realistically, they have a good point, too, because most people who play the slots never win enough to make up for their losses, so why should they have to pay taxes if they get lucky once or twice? Time will tell if the IRS end up getting the threshold lowered or not, but gamblers and casinos alike oppose the idea. For small time gamblers the idea seems unfair, and casinos say it would only take the fun out of the game for players.
Do You Owe Money To The IRS?
The vast majority of Americans get a tax refund from the IRS each spring, but what do you do if you are one of those who have received a tax bill? What do you do if you owe money to the IRS and can’t pay? The IRS encourages you to pay the full amount of…
How Some Big Companies Are Maximizing Their Tax Benefit
How Some Big Companies Are Maximizing Their Tax Benefit There’s no question that the IRS is always looking for ways to get every penny they can from the nation’s taxpayers, whether they be individuals or businesses. On the other hand, many are also doing whatever they can to pay as little as possible, some, even…
Federal Government Still Facing Huge Deficit
Federal Government Still Facing Huge Deficit Does it seem like no matter how much money the federal government collects in tax revenue, they will still never have enough? For a lot of people the, answer is a resounding “yes.” The country’s Monthly Treasury Statement lends even more credence to that belief. What does the Treasury…
The IRS is Not a Bully – You can poke a bully in the nose.
The IRS is Not a Bully You can poke a bully in the nose. This is the third installment of “The IRS is Not a Bully” series, identifying taxpayer concerns and the difficult position in which Congress puts the IRS. Namely, applying ever increasing pressure to operate in ways its founders never intended, until it’s…