http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot. … y-and.html

Do you sell on eBay, or accept payments via PayPal? You're going to be getting the shaft soon...

Ehh, sure they've got limits now, but expect that change, if I were you...

Question is, how's this supposed to stimulate the economy, when they're penalizing the people who can least afford to pay?

Growth in our economy depends on small businesses, but the government's doing everything it can to penalize them!

Why'd we all vote for Obama again, when all this ass clown wants to do is just take our money?

We pay more in taxes, and the government just becomes more and more in debt...all that money we give them in taxes, where does it all GO? Down the toilet? Into a black hole? Do they fill their bath tubs with it, and just BATHE in it?

Well, you americans do have odd knack to start invading other countries time to time. :P

And pretty sure it's just not Obama's fault this is happening, like one man can really change the core structure of America.

But this probably doesn't much matter to me, me not being american at all (and not getting money to Paypal or selling stuff at eBay). But still, those limits do hurt some people, but remember, the bootleggers on eBay will suffer also. So there's the silver lining.

Can't say I'm surprised, the goverment will try and wet it's beak any way it can...

..er, wait, I mean I LOVE the GOVERMENT! IT'S GOOD, IT'S GRAND! I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH OBAMA!

(but seriously, I don't and I do)

Consumption tax is on the horizon.

Why is this a problem? Many people make a living or make lots of extra $$$  by selling tons of stuff on eBay. Why should they get tax breaks when the rest of us pay our due to Uncle Sam? I can not see how this will affect the "average" American. If you're just a regular person, there is no way you're going to get over $20K by selling stuff on eBay! The one exception might be if you sell a rare collectible, in which case you're supposed to pay tax on it anyway. It really annoys me when people bitch about how "the government is taxing me to death" but they also want to have all the public services they can get (emergency health care -yes that is paid largely from taxes, fire department, police department -although people love to bitch about the cops until they need them, libraries, public swimming pools, parks and recreational areas, roads... the list goes on and on)...

edit: really Adam? we're now censoring the word B-I-T-C-H? OK, somehow I feel like I've just stepped back into kindergarten! Do we also have to say "gosh darn it!"

Not to defend Obama or anything, but the '08 stimulus was passed in 2008, and he wasn't installed as president until January 2009, so I hardly think he can be said to be the main instigator of this thing affecting eBay/PayPal.

Also, don't give us that BS, Bern. You didn't even vote for Obama in the first place, so don't go writing stuff like "Why'd we all vote for Obama...".

What Razakin said. If you guys had the self-control to limit the invasions of foreign countries to one or less every decade, maybe you'd get your economic shit straight eventually.

LOL, now we're really talking truth to power! Watch it avatar!, Big Brother is lurking around here somewhere...

I wouldn't say I'm against taxes or helpful programs you refer to, it's just when so much of our tax money is wasted in trying to accomplish such things, it's hard to get behind or support any kind of new tax. Now if government were efficient and actually proactive… eh, never mind.

Personally, I'd love nothing more than to see people quit drinking and smoking one day in the future on a dime and see that tax revenue dry up. The panic that would ensue in the legislator would be hilarious. Sad truth is, the world needs smokers and drinkers.

I don't know man, yeah, we might invade more than we can chew under the guise of "freedom" but let's not pretend the European nations don't have their own economic problems as well. The problems with the Euro and it's trading block have been well publicized...

there I go trying to sound smart again....

Edit: and besides, the recession is over, at least that's what I heard on the radio. Not that the unemployment rate makes me think any different....

Sure. But that doesn't change the fact the two wars the US is currently involved in are major black holes sucking down billions if not trillions of dollars, and that you'd be much better off without them. Do you think parties like that come cheap?

Oh, that's splendid. Well, all's well then? Tell me, what's the latest on the foreign debt issue...

I thought we quit one of those. Did we win? I don't follow sports much.

I believe we're in, oh, now what do they call it... "a non-combat role" over there in Afganny.

If you make more than 20k selling stuff on ebay you really should be paying taxes on it.  It might as well be a side job at that point.  I don't sympathize whatsoever.

Yeah, I kind of agree with that. Then again...20K is probably a lot of money to someone doing it, so they'd be better off just shaking down the rich for more money than going this route.

So I've heard...many European countries also tax their citizens up the ass, and their economies and governments are still doing really poorly, as well, despite that...

HEY, I never supported the war in Afghanistan or Iraq - well, they took my tax dollars to fund it, but from a moral stand point, absolutely not; I'd concluded the day it happened that 9/11 occurred because we were doing shit in other countries that we shouldn't have been... (-_-);

Either that, or spread the tax burden across people who're more apt to afford it; people in brackets of larger income are also less likely to spend that money, much less even re-invest it, and just horde it, keeping it out of the economy...but saying that, sounds like communism.

...or the government could always get a handle on their spend-happy attitudes.

When I see money spent, but things not improving, e.g., infrastructure, that's when I get miffed.

A lot of the stimulus money that went into corporations was just spent on maintaining the status quo, rather than giving them a green light to actually hire more people and reduce unemployment.

...

I'm amazed at everyone's attitude here, especially when so many people here sell stuff here. Eventually, you'll be paying taxes on anything you sell.

Now, tell me why I ought to pay more into the government, when all they do is use it to give themselves a fatter pay check, and for nothing in return?

Yep, that's pretty much why the Obama administration went from our savior to vilified as quick as it did. Then again, the Republicans are the ones that put us in this mess to begin with and they don't seem to do anything but blast Obama and co. for excess spending.

Just today, they came to the revelation that the recession officially ended back in mid-2009 and any additional down-cycles are its' own recession, not a continuation of the previous one. In other words...Throw another scoop of Rock Road ice cream on the cone, cuz we're headed for a double dip!

Amazing what a bit of SEC regulation a few years ago could have almost totally avoided...

Because every state wants to have the most fashionable senator/representative. Looks that, um... great don't come cheap.

eBay sellers have always been required to report income to the government. What the new regulation does is essentially stop people from cheating on their taxes by making eBay do it instead of trusting sellers to do it. Think about it this way: Real small business have to pay taxes. Why should people who make a substantial amount of money on eBay be allowed to get away w/o paying taxes? If anything, the new regulation is leveling the playing field for businesses who've complied with the law to begin with.

The blog you linked to is incorrect. It's $20,000 AND 200 transactions: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/reg-139255-08.pdf

Keep in mind that eBay/Paypal will report the $20,000, but that doesn't necessarily mean you'd be taxed on that amount, as you'd be taxed on net income.

But hey, never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Heh, just goes to show you that there's a Simpsons quote for every situation:

Crowd: Down with taxes! Down with taxes!
Mayor Quimby: Are these morons getting dumber or just louder?
Aide: Dumber, sir. They won't give up the bear patrol, but they won't pay the tax for it either.

If you ask me, it started when Clinton let people buy houses that they couldn't ultimately afford...

...not paying back money owed screwed the banks, and it's not like the banks could've refused the loans because of legislation passed during Clinton.

But never mind that, we have to deal with things as they are now.

I just can't believe how much everyone around here likes paying needless taxes...

Are you advocating lower taxes?  I figure that since government officials help themselves first, if tax revenue were to fall, legitimate government services would bear the full brunt of the shortfall, and the amount of government waste would be unaffected.  If there is truth to this (admittedly simplistic) model, then lowering taxes is a poor means of combating waste.

Either way, that money's not going into infrastructure whether we pay more or less, so why pay at all?

Oh, so liberalism is bred out of spite for other people, eh?

You can always count on a lobster to pull another lobster down...why should one lobster get to escape from the bucket, when the rest are going to get cooked?

We all should just have to suffer together! Now that's EQUALITY!

Oh, really?  No money is going into infrastructure?  None at all, not even for maintenance?  Better inform people living downriver of the Hoover Dam to evacuate immediately, then!

And that would mean that the interstate highway system has disintegrated.  I wonder how trucks are able to transport goods cross-country.

Bern, it's hard to have a worthwhile discussion when your thinking on the topic is hyperbolic.

i consider anything under $20,000 a slow week...  THAT'S why ive been bitching that i have no time to play games anymore...

Don't even talk about infrastructure! I am sooooooo sick of all the construction I've had to endure this freaking year on the roads in my area! Two bridge replacements, a new left turning lane, etc, etc.... God, I never thought I'd miss the f--- ing winter - at least the snow plows provide a service – when (and if) they run.

Also, my father brought up a good point. They want to yet another left turning lane in a certain area, one that will cost four times as much as it would cost to dredge the creek that runs through the area. So let me get this straight, adding more to the roads - that the state already has a hell of a time maintaining due to budget constraints - is a priority, but helping protect voter’s houses from future flooding hazards for the next few decades is not. Hmmmm....

Sorry Berny, there is a ton of money going to infrastructure. You hear about it all the time in the news, many cities having structurally insufficient bridges up the wazoo; things they'ed fit immediately if they had the money. Also, everytime there is a stimulus (those things that haven't worked so well lately) the first thing brought up is construction jobs.

It's true, there's a lot of construction going on in Michigan, too, no matter where you go; they finally got the money from somewhere.

Right, sorry. Got carried away. But, my point is, what makes the new tax necessary?

Maybe if they reasoned why they need to instate another tax, I'd understand.

Usually, though, we tax things that're hazardous to people, or things that people otherwise abuse, like alcohol, drugs, smokes, stuff like that.

There should be a tax on trucks and SUVs, before taxes on online purchases/sales, seeing as how big-ass vehicles are responsible for greater wear-and-tear on the road, greater gas consumption, and contributing to air pollution.

I can think of other taxes from which people would benefit from, by discouraging destructive behavior, but this new tax would penalize small businesses and economic growth in general, people who're just trying to get started.

Isn't true Obama instated a tax on artificial tanning (e.g., tanning salons?) That's a start.

What is this i don't even.

Are you suggesting that no one pay taxes, then? No one will have to suffer that way.

To be honest, I kind of get sick of tax increases on cigarettes and alcohol being the only solution politicians have to correct budget shortfalls. Ok, I guess there's legalizing gambling/slot games to, but I'd like to see something new, not that I'm sympathetic to smokers and drinkers. I don't think taxing these things discourages as many people as they like to think; raise the price and they'll just cut a corner in there list elsewhere - even if it's a an actual need and not a want. It’s amazing what addicts will go without when they need their fix.

I'm sorry, but destroying yourself is part of the American Dream. It is American as apple pie. You could say other people pay for other people's bad habits already, so why would you want to magnify that responsibility? Seriously, I know it may sound morbid but I don't want to die too old or too young - somewhere in the middle and after I've had my fill.

Who wouldn't want melanoma? Isn't that fancy talk for sexified?

No. That was something in response to what Avatar! had to say, about taxing eBay businesses:

As in, "f--- those guys! They don't deserve the money they earn!"

A few points:
1)On this planet, for as long as civilization has existed, people pay taxes. That was the case in the Middle East when it was the height of civilization thousands of years ago, that was the case in Japan when it was the height of civilization hundreds of years ago, that was the case in Europe before WWII when it was the height of civilization, and that's the case in the US and the rest of the world today. I suppose if you really don't want to pay taxes you could go to Somalia or some such place where there's no real government, but then some gang lord will undoubtedly make you his bitch and you'll pay, so see there's no escaping it. At least here in the US we get lots of benefits from our tax dollars. Do you drive? Do you think roads pop out of nowhere just for your sake a-la Super Mario Galaxy? That's not the case, people have to pay for them, and we should all pay our fair share.

2)People deserve the money they make... so long as they do it legally. And legally, as people have been trying to tell you, if you have a business on eBay and make over $20k, you need to pay taxes. If you live in this country you obey it's laws. If you don't like the laws, you change them or move.

3)I don't like all this censoring of words, rather asinine in my opinion... can we say "asinine", or is that also on the no-no list?

Well, pretty much european economy is linked with american economy, so when other suffers, the other one follows.

Also, I don't mind paying taxes in here Finland when I know that I'll get 'free' healthcare (basically not free for me anymore, but still, paying like 20-30 euro per year to cover all my doctor visits isn't bad). And let's not forget the education in here.

And there isn't much any other possibilites in America to start coughing up some tax money, especially how it's somewhat a mess with all those states you guys have. And as other has said, if you do really make $20k in eBay, why you would not get taxed.

I'd rather not go off-topic with that here (there's apparently enough complaining about the government to fill a single thread) but if you feel strongly enough on the matter to post a separate thread we can tackle the topic there.

Whoa! Watch the filthy language there!

if anyone wants a copy of my simple accounting spreadsheet i use which calculates your monthly profits,, let me know.
it basically looks like this http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy34 … unting.jpg

Oh, I don't know; they were plenty fun with not taxing our online internet revenue before, so why start now?

My complaints really have to do with the government's inefficient and wasteful use of other people's money, more than it has to do with just paying taxes.

I've always wondered, rather than pouring all our tax dollars into one big pot, why not have separate agencies or funds for different utilities? E.G., you pay into one fund for roads, another for water lines, another for power grids, another for schools, another for hospitals, for police, for fire-fighters, etc.? Then we'd at least be able to keep track of all the money we're spending on one particular thing, and I think it'd be harder for government to splurge indiscriminately or skim off the top, when everything's more micro-managed.

That way, taxes in one area could be increased or decreased, depending upon what was needed at the time. Need money to fix roads? Increase taxes in that area. Got all the money you need for roads for now? Decrease it in that area now.

It's one thing to tell people what you spent their tax dollars on after the fact, but it's an entirely different thing when people know what they're actually paying for.

And if people know what they're paying for, I think they won't be so unwilling to pay taxes; perhaps things run poorly because people dodge taxes more than they pay for them, but I don't fault them when the government's proven itself untrustworthy, anyway.

People would probably also pay less in taxes, if we actually budgeted out better what we needed money for, rather than taxing people more than you need to, because you're unsure of how much money you actually need to accomplish a certain goal.

People deserve to know what they're paying into, and people deserve to have a choice what they pay into...hmm...that last line sounds familiar...something Obama said at one point?