Income tax question

[spencer2]

I know what Jesus said about rendering to Ceaser and to God what is due, so here is my question. Aside from my normal employment if I do a job for someone like repairs or restoration and the person pays me for it, am I obligated to pay uncle sam a portion since it’s considered income?

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I know what Jesus said about rendering to Ceaser and to God what is due, so here is my question. Aside from my normal employment if I do a job for someone like repairs or restoration and the person pays me for it, am I obligated to pay uncle sam a portion since it’s considered income?

I suggest that you consult a competent tax preparer in your state. Tax laws are quite complicated and vary from state to state.

 

[JerryS]

You are required to be obedient to lawful authority as long as it does not ask you to break God’s Law. Paying taxes, in general, does not infringe on God’s Law. So in general, yes, you need to follow tax rules.

 

[GloriousOrder]

Many theologians say that the Fourth Commandment is a direct call to obedience, even unto the income tax. Since Christ perfectly knew the Scriptures during His ministry, His teaching of “render unto Caesar” is in keeping with the Fourth Commandment. In it, we are told to honour our father and mother; sometimes, this Commandment is said to extend to the government (our parents in justice and order). We are not on this Earth to live a free libertarian lifestyle of “no taxes”, and certain portions are necessary to keep a balanced, ordered society upright. You know it’s wrong to avoid contributing to that which enables you to have a computer in the first place.

 

[GratefulFred]

In a simple view, breaking any law violates the rendering unto Ceasar command. But we now have so many laws, I am sure many of us break some law most very day with no intent to do so. If the intent is there, then I think sin attaches. If the matter is grave it could be a mortal sin.

As to paying taxes: It would be good to do a bit of research at www.irs.gov drilling to “independent contractor.” If you earn more than $600 you may have a tax liability. As an independent contractor you may have legimate expenses the could reduce the taxable income. THE DETAILS MATTER.

If you cannot get a solid answer to your particular circumstance at that website, then as Tantum Ergo responded, get with a competent tax preparer. IRS Penalities and Interest can add up and make one wish they had been more forthcomming in rendering to Ceaser.

 

[Newbie2]

Yeah, I think at least as far as federal taxes are concerned, if it’s more than $600 you need to report it as an independant contractor.

But let’s face it, if you do a couple hundred bucks of work for someone, is that any different than making the same amount of money in a garage sale? Yet not many people fret about

If it’s regular on the side employment or is over $600, look into it.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Yeah, I think at least as far as federal taxes are concerned, if it’s more than $600 you need to report it as an independant contractor.

But let’s face it, if you do a couple hundred bucks of work for someone, is that any different than making the same amount of money in a garage sale? Yet not many people fret about

If it’s regular on the side employment or is over $600, look into it.

In my mind, money made in a garage sale has had taxes already paid on it. You paid taxes when you earned the money to buy the items you are now selling, and you are now selling them at a loss. Plus you paid taxes to the local state and county when you bought the item in the first place. Now how the government views this, I don’t care, but they are not getting any of my garage sale money. All the various efforts to try to tax garage sale money in this area have been soundly ignored by the population, and ignored by those those who could enforce any laws, and for good reason. People just won’t do it.

 

[GratefulFred]

One man’s garage sale is another man’s estate sale. Is it $200, or $20,000 that was earned? “Ceasar” operates on a “deminimus” concept. Ceasar says some transactions are too small to require reporting.

The $600 deminimus threshold has been $600 for several decades. When first established, that was quite high. Now with inflation over the years, it is quite low. I doubt the current Congress is in any mood to consider raising it. But it should be raised, IMO.

Let’s say one makes $1,000 doing whatever and is in the 25% tax bracket. The tax liability would be $250, less if the $1,000 was reduced for legitimate expenses. Now let’s say 1 million people have such income. The IRS would be hard pressed to track it all and detect non-reporting. And then assign staff to chase after it, and collect more than it cost to collect. While the total lost tax would be $250 million, the chase would be one by one by one. But the IRS has the right to chase and it is a hassle for those being chased.

So the problem is Moral Law versus pragmatism with tax law enforcement.