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Philly Requiring Bloggers To Pay $300

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the blood-from-blogger dept.

Kurofuneparry writes "Pennsylvania generally and Philadelphia specifically have had a number of budget issues and some bloggers are seeing the results. From the article: '... yes, cash-strapped cities can't very well ignore potential sources of income. But at the same time, there must be some room for discretion and common sense.'"

7 of 456 comments (clear)

  1. Room for discretion and common sense? by Freddybear · · Score: 1, Funny

    That room doesn't exist in any government building.

    1. Re:Room for discretion and common sense? by Lloyd_Bryant · · Score: 2, Funny

      That room doesn't exist in any government building.

      Sure it does. It's the door with the "Beware of Leopard" sign on it.

      --
      Don't tell me to get a life. I had one once. It sucked.
  2. Re:So if you post on any forum you need to pay $30 by ironjaw33 · · Score: 3, Funny

    TFA is a bit confusing on this point -- it mentions something about income on a tax return, but that's about it. I'm deducing that if you bring in any ad revenue from a blog and you report it in your tax return, you're obligated to purchase the $300 business licence. Since US income taxes are limited to state and federal, I'm not sure how a municipality would enforce this. Also, I keep an informal blog that isn't ad supported -- it costs me money to run. If I were a Philly resident, would I be expected to get a business licence for that?

  3. Re:Not all bloggers, just those that make money by DarkKnightRadick · · Score: 2, Funny

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business

    No, because Wikipedia says so :p

    The owners and operators of a business have as one of their main objectives the receipt or generation of a financial return in exchange for work and acceptance of risk.

    If her main objective was to generate income (which by virtue of making only $50 over two years it is clear it wasn't) then yes, she should get a business "privilege" license. If that was her main objective, she needs a course in business management as she was getting a crappy return on the investment of her time and other resources. If, on the other hand, it's only a money-making hobby (which she was hoping it could be, I imagine), than no. This is just more government thuggery.

    --
    "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25 (NKJV)
  4. Re:Not all bloggers, just those that make money by Issarlk · · Score: 2, Funny

    Of course not, she wouldn't pay tax: Since her shop employ child labor it would be shut down rapidly ; and she would be imprisoned for employing herself.

  5. Re:Not all bloggers, just those that make money by Jarik+C-Bol · · Score: 2, Funny

    you know, 2 people who work together are bound to see this, and take it as a challenge, and start swapping lunches and bartering with each-other incessantly, and keeping detailed records, just so they get the opportunity to aggravate the hell out of the IRS.

    --
    I've decided to Diversify my Holdings. I've divided my cash between my left and right pockets, instead of all in one.
  6. Re:Not all bloggers, just those that make money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Did I really just see New Jersey held up as an example of 'common sense' in government?

    REALLY?