Topic: Massachusetts Tax Law Amendments Won't Affect Hamfests/Flea Markets!

[W1RC]

Hi Gang:

Last November the Massholechusetts Department of Revenue began enforcing an amendment to the tax law (Chapter 308 of the Acts of 2010, G.L. c. 62C,

[K1BOS]

Wow Mike!

[w1gff]

This has always been the law in Massachusetts...they are just now getting a little more aggressive about enforcing it.  When I was the fair announcer at The Topsfield Fair the DOR would have 2 rooms in the Administration Building for the whole length of the fair. You couldn't open on the first day unless you were registered and had to settle up with them before leaving on the last day.

[Zappa]

Good old Taxachusetts, gotta' fleece everyone for every last dime.
Anybody wonder why businesses are leaving Mass in droves.?

 

[GuinnessJohn]

I thought the higher entry fees and the "permit" Steve gives you at MIT were set up to cover the "Taxes" for us lowly serfs who were selling our used junque?  Or perhaps is this just for the Peoples Republic of Cambridge???

John Flood
KB1FQG

[N1FU]

I guess NEAR-FEST will have to be monthly to take up the slack.

[n1wbd]

I second that!! All in favor??     

I guess NEAR-FEST will have to be monthly to take up the slack.

[W1RC]

I thought the higher entry fees and the "permit" Steve gives you at MIT were set up to cover the "Taxes" for us lowly serfs who were selling our used junque?  Or perhaps is this just for the Peoples Republic of Cambridge???

The MIT Flea sellers fees include a $10.00 "permit" that goes to the City of Cambridge.  On a $100.00 annual sellers pass that leaves $30.00 for the MIT clubs.  The MA DoR thing is a completely separate matter.

This is not something new; it has been on the books for over 20 years.  However the law was amended last November to redefine the term "show promoter" and "show".  Formerly if you hosted a show less than three times a year you were exempt.  However now if you host even one show a year and have "more than one vendor displays for sale or sells tangible personal property subject to tax

[W1RC]

Found a GREAT MA Tax Rant/Story over on the GE-MOTO page:
From: "Eugene Balinski" <euge...@nni.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 30 2011 8:11 pm
Subject: off topic continued Mass tax rant (true stories) Re: [GEMOTO:12986] Mr. Mike's not good news for Massachusetts Flea Markets

Caution, anti Ma tax rant below (flame on)

In the 80's,  the Mass State Police, under orders from some stuffed shirt(s) on Beacon Hill, were sent to sit in the parking lots of the NH State Liquor Stores to copy the license plate numbers of Ma drivers.  The idea was that the cars would then be stopped in Ma and the taxes extracted.  The  MA SP troopers were in undercover cars.  The NH state police were made aware of same and the MA SP were summarily escorted to the borders with a warning not to return.

Additionally, in the '80s when the Pheasant Lane Mall was being built in Nashua, the MA state legislature was crazy out of their mind that they (not the state, not the people of the state) were being cheated out of "millions" of dollars in tax revenue. The state house went through several "tax recovery" plans including tax booths at the exits from the parking lot (part of the lot IS in Mass) and tax toll booth on RT-3 in to Tyngsboro.   

The were convinced that they had finally done it when it was discovered that 6' of the JC Penny store actually crossed the border in to MA.  Success !  Now JC Penny MUST collect sales tax for **all** items sold in that store, and in reality, since SOME of the mall WAS in MA,  **ALL** the stores should collect MA tax.  The state house declared victory and proceeded to pat themselves on their collective backs.   

Bottom line - J. C. Penny cut out the 6' section. Now, NO part of the store was in MA.    (Sound of horrific wailing along with much gnashing of teeth from the MA state house).  They had lost out on their "entitlement".   

I am not sure that they have still gotten over it....

[n1iwv]

Well after all the State of Massholechusetts has to raise additional money to fund several important things such as:

1.   Paying for defense lawyers for former speaker of the House Sal DiMasi. After all he can

[W1RC]

Well after all the State of Massholechusetts has to raise additional money to fund several important things such as:
1.   Paying for defense lawyers for former speaker of the House Sal DiMasi.
2.   Then they have to feed and water Dianne Wilkersen
3.   Let

[mkoechel]

Mr. Mike,

Will you be at MIT Flea on 4/17 with tickets, or should we plan on snail-mail? Can't tell from this thread if the specter of MA tax police will keep you from distributing them.

Thanks!
Martin, K9AMG

[n1iwv]

Sales for out-of-state delivery:
Sales where the purchaser accepts title to and possession of an item outside Massachusetts generally are exempt. Similarly, if a vendor is obligated to deliver to an out-of-state purchaser

[W1RC]

Will you be at MIT Flea on 4/17 with tickets, or should we plan on snail-mail?

I will be at the MIT flea on the 17th.  I don't plan on registering with the Massholechusetts DoR because event tickets are non taxable items.  Even if they were the event does not take place in the Commonwealth.

73,

MrMike