Philly Requiring Bloggers To Pay $300

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.'"

Room for discretion and common sense?

[Freddybear]

That room doesn't exist in any government building.

Re:So if you post on any forum you need to pay $30

[ironjaw33]

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?

Re:Room for discretion and common sense?

[Lloyd_Bryant]

That room doesn't exist in any government building.

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

Re:Not all bloggers, just those that make money

[DarkKnightRadick]

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

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.

Re:Not all bloggers, just those that make money

[Issarlk]

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.

Re:Not all bloggers, just those that make money

[Jarik C-Bol]

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.

Re:Not all bloggers, just those that make money

[Anonymous Coward]

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

REALLY?