[Noisebridge-discuss] membership dues via employer matching funds?

[Andreas von Hessling]

Tax deductible or not, I think the primary question is whether people
with employer-match on hand can find a win-win situation with regards
to NB.  They can access free money from their employers, and they like
NB.  Thus, how can NB make it attractive for those individuals to give
them the cash?  NB needs $$ for the move to Mission street, yes?


If a person makes a $10.000 donation, would you consider waiving his
membership dues for a year?  $2000 donation?  $1000?


Suggestion:  if a member makes a donation exceeding one year in
membership dues (> $960), waive his membership dues for a year. That'd
help solve some short-term cash flow problems. Plus, it'd be very
attractive for people who get free money to donate to NB, because they
would pay only as little as 50 cents on the dollar.

I guess the real question is whether we are legally allowed to
implement such a "big-donation-waives-dues" program.  Who is qualified
to answer this question?

Andy



On Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 5:23 PM, Rachel McConnell<rachel at xtreme.com> wrote:
> I guess "as a career expense" is different, then, from "as a charitable
> donation".  Noisebridge dues are not deductible as a charitable
> donation, since, as noted, they are not a donation.  Consult Your
> Friendly Tax Adviser.  Yes.
>
> Christie Dudley wrote:
>> Professional society dues (such as IEEE or ACM) are generally tax
>> deductible as a career expense, even if you aren't working for
>> yourself.  These are up there with uniforms (pity suits aren't included)
>> and conferences.
>>
>> Did you stick a mileage counter on your bike?  I'm trying to figure out
>> how you'd measure that.
>>
>> Christie
>>
>> Then again, IANAL nor am I a tax accountant.  Consult with a
>> professional you're willing to pay if you want advice you can count on.
>> ---
>> Pigs can fly given sufficient thrust.
>>     - RFC 1925
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 4:57 PM, Sai Emrys <noisebridge at saizai.com
>> <mailto:noisebridge at saizai.com>> wrote:
>>
>>     On Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 4:41 PM, dpc<weasel at meer.net
>>     <mailto:weasel at meer.net>> wrote:
>>     >> Another interesting thing... often employers will match, or
>>     completely pay
>>     >> for dues in professional organizations.
>>     >
>>     > w/o the emplyer match (if you're itemizing) these dues are tax
>>     deductable.
>>
>>     They are not tax deductible as a donation, employer match or no,
>>     because they aren't one.
>>
>>     Maybe they qualify as a business expense or somesuch, but I don't know
>>     that side of things. Any tax lawyers / accountants in the audience
>>     able to give a definitive answer?
>>
>>     > i tried to count my bike as a 'commuting vehicle' expense when i
>>     was working for myself. the cost per mile computation was a little
>>     weird though.
>>
>>     That is awesome.
>>
>>     - Sai
>>
>>
>>
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