What a mess...........this is one of those 'pick your battles" situation, and clearly the IRS must have other fish to fry. So here's how it goes.....no more workers for fundraisers, no more help for student athletes, dated and/or no more equipment/supplies/uniforms, and someone from IRS feels good about "doing their job". Think it's hard now for schools to get people to coach, wait until they realize they have to coach and survive without funding. Someone, PLEASE FIND OUT WHAT POLITICAL CONTACT NEEDS TO BE MADE TO FIX THIS. I concur.............RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First, I didn't say you did. I asked you a question. Can we not ask you a question in posts?

 

I am asking as a coach who has been trying to find a solution to this problem.

 

What are the consequences if a parent REFUSES to do anything. NOTHING.

 

Used to be, your kid benefitted from the work that either they or the parent put in.

 

Now that is not allowed.

 

I could sit back, as a parent, refuses to do any work at all and have my child's stuff completely paid for. THat is wrong yet parents are now doing it.

 

In addition, do you want the time the coach is going to put in to oversee to come from the time he is preparing the team or the already massive amount of unpaid time they take away from their family to do their job?

 

I am not attacking you copper but I am a very frustrated coach concerning this matter.

 

No one said coaching was easy. This just made it harder and probably more time-consuming. But I would think most coaches would have someone they could rely upon to help coordinate projects like this. There are always people who do things for the right reasons. Hopefully . . .

 

First off, if a parent is sitting back and doing absolutely nothing, how is their child's stuff being paid for (since my understanding is that parents who do the work have money applied directly to their own child's account)? Do these "do-nothing" parents just write a check?

 

If a parent truly refuses to volunteer like other parents without having any valid reason whatsoever, I would explore options such as having the player work extra time or ask if other there were other family members/friends that could work in their place. If working such events are very clearly made a condition of being on the team from the very onset, and yet you still have a set of parents who refuse to do their share, then ultimately perhaps you may have to make the painful decision to release the player. Fair? Maybe. Maybe not. At the end of the day, there is far more to athletics these days than simply what occurs on the field/court. Fundraising is critical and if parents/players don't accept their responsibilities in this area, then perhaps their child doesn't need to be playing and parents insisting others to do their work for them. I'm guessing you would only have to do this one time (cut a player for failing to meet fundraising responsibilities) and the statement would have a huge impact on others who also prefer to sit back and watch a few do the work of many.

Just so that I completely understand these "Victims" of the IRS are parents whose children are attending school at no charge, using free books and facilities and in most cases free transportation to and from school. In addition they also want the Tax Payers to also support there childrens sports and other activities. Am I missing something?

Just so that I completely understand these "Victims" of the IRS are parents whose children are attending school at no charge, using free books and facilities and in most cases free transportation to and from school. In addition they also want the Tax Payers to also support there childrens sports and other activities. Am I missing something?

 

Well, these "victims" (your term, not mine) have all paid pay taxes (assuming we're talking about public schools here), so not exactly sure what the "free" comment is all about. And public school or private, this wasn't really the issue anyways.

 

This is an issue about trying to raise some additional funds to supplement the cost of playing the school sport. Volunteers who worked certain events had a portion of the profit of these events applied directly to their child's account (assuming each child had to raise "X" number of dollars). IRS law says that the money raised has to be applied to a general team account and not a specific player's account. And thus the issue of some volunteers doing all the work to raise money that goes to the entire team and not just their child, while others sit back and watch others do the work for their child.

 

Not sure what your "victims" comment has to do with this issue . . . .

First off, if a parent is sitting back and doing absolutely nothing, how is their child's stuff being paid for (since my understanding is that parents who do the work have money applied directly to their own child's account)? Do these "do-nothing" parents just write a check?

 

.

 

Yes, they write a check for it.

 

Some parents would rather just pay than to have to put all the time in working fundraisers.

 

But here is the rub. That is no longer an option. There kid gets as much benefit financially as the ones who do nothing.

 

It is not legal, unless parents are going to claim the income on their taxes for the money to now go into their own child's account.

 

If a parent truly refuses to volunteer like other parents without having any valid reason whatsoever, I would explore options such as having the player work extra time or ask if other there were other family members/friends that could work in their place. If working such events are very clearly made a condition of being on the team from the very onset, and yet you still have a set of parents who refuse to do their share, then ultimately perhaps you may have to make the painful decision to release the player. Fair? Maybe. Maybe not. At the end of the day, there is far more to athletics these days than simply what occurs on the field/court. Fundraising is critical and if parents/players don't accept their responsibilities in this area, then perhaps their child doesn't need to be playing and parents insisting others to do their work for them. I'm guessing you would only have to do this one time (cut a player for failing to meet fundraising responsibilities) and the statement would have a huge impact on others who also prefer to sit back and watch a few do the work of many.

 

I understand and agree with your position. But will the board of ed agree with us.

 

Cause I guarantee that there will be parents calling up the board to complain that their kid is not playing or was cut because of their refusal to participate in the fundraising.

 

For coaches, we are firmly between a rock and a hard place on this one.

 

I have spent hundreds of hours in discussion with coaches and AD's on how to handle this new situation and we aren't finding a good option at all.

 

The other potential "major" problem is what is going to happen in the stands when one set of parents are doing nothing and their kid is getting more playing time than the set of parents in the stands doing all of the work in fundraising and their child is setting the bench.

 

You know as well as I do that fights among parents make their way to the children on your team.

C'mon guys, you need to get with the spirit of the times (Zeitgeist). The country has spoken by electing someone who wants to "spread the wealth". These parents & kids that work hard to earn money for the team should be happy to "spread their wealth" around after they earn it....

 

 

 

 

 

What a great object lesson of why socialism stinks.

 

 

This has nothing to do with Obama. This story is actually a year old, at least. I think this is a ruling on an apeal, or a ruling from an earlier investigation. Not sure, but this isn't a new situation at all.

Well, these "victims" (your term, not mine) have all paid pay taxes (assuming we're talking about public schools here), so not exactly sure what the "free" comment is all about. And public school or private, this wasn't really the issue anyways.

 

This is an issue about trying to raise some additional funds to supplement the cost of playing the school sport. Volunteers who worked certain events had a portion of the profit of these events applied directly to their child's account (assuming each child had to raise "X" number of dollars). IRS law says that the money raised has to be applied to a general team account and not a specific player's account. And thus the issue of some volunteers doing all the work to raise money that goes to the entire team and not just their child, while others sit back and watch others do the work for their child.

 

Not sure what your "victims" comment has to do with this issue . . . .

 

 

My understanding is that it could go to a specific account but then the parents have to claim it on their taxes.

 

This started from the IRS investigating band boosters accounts in Lexington. The band boosters were told to pay a fine of $35,000 or all of the band boosters parents income tax records would be audited to see that they had claimed the income earned through their child's fundraising activities.

 

The parents chose the fine, no longer have individual accounts and moved on.

This has nothing to do with Obama. This story is actually a year old, at least. I think this is a ruling on an apeal, or a ruling from an earlier investigation. Not sure, but this isn't a new situation at all.

 

Now, RM, haven't we learned from the past 8 years that everything is the President's or Tubby's fault.:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Now, RM, haven't we learned from the past 8 years that everything is the President's or Tubby's fault.:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

True. :lol: God love Tubby.

All booster clubs should take note! The IRS will come after you if you do not have your ducks in a row! It practically takes a CPA to keep up with all the filings and paperwork needed to manage these funds. Those of you out there still running your boosters like a social club take warning!

All booster clubs should take note! The IRS will come after you if you do not have your ducks in a row! It practically takes a CPA to keep up with all the filings and paperwork needed to manage these funds. Those of you out there still running your boosters like a social club take warning!

 

Absolutely. Our Band Boosters have been on notice for a while from our CPA/Treasurer that this is dangerous stuff.

 

It's one thing to work IMO for the fees that allow your child to participate (In our band it is $600 per kid for marching band) but some were bankrolling huge sums in bingo work and then buying their child a keyboard, or paying for their (adults) hotel at the National competition. Some even used it after their children graduated.

 

Still another area bingo for another band/booster group was allowing any parent to take out Yearbooks, Senior fees, class trips or whatever from their "personal accounts" and pay for those things. Even shirts and sweatshirts.

 

The IRS sees that as income to purchase items rather than facilitate the non-profit entity. We are also making changes in the way we will operate with our chief fundraiser in the future, Bingo. This story just sealed it for our booster leadership.

Absolutely. Our Band Boosters have been on notice for a while from our CPA/Treasurer that this is dangerous stuff.

 

It's one thing to work IMO for the fees that allow your child to participate (In our band it is $600 per kid for marching band) but some were bankrolling huge sums in bingo work and then buying their child a keyboard, or paying for their (adults) hotel at the National competition. Some even used it after their children graduated.

 

Still another area bingo for another band/booster group was allowing any parent to take out Yearbooks, Senior fees, class trips or whatever from their "personal accounts" and pay for those things. Even shirts and sweatshirts.

 

The IRS sees that as income to purchase items rather than facilitate the non-profit entity. We are also making changes in the way we will operate with our chief fundraiser in the future, Bingo. This story just sealed it for our booster leadership.

 

The bingo is what brought all of this up.

Something about the gaming laws and paying people through this means.

 

To build on this. Schools have been told that you give your coaches a tshirt for practice that says your school name and a polo shirt to wear during games, the coaches are to list this as benefits and they should be taxed for the tshirt and polo shirt.

 

Didn't realize that the coaches with unclaimed income is such a problem in this country consider all the fraud and scams going on at the CEO level.:irked:

The bingo is what brought all of this up.

Something about the gaming laws and paying people through this means.

 

To build on this. Schools have been told that you give your coaches a tshirt for practice that says your school name and a polo shirt to wear during games, the coaches are to list this as benefits and they should be taxed for the tshirt and polo shirt.

 

Didn't realize that the coaches with unclaimed income is such a problem in this country consider all the fraud and scams going on at the CEO level.:irked:

 

No it isn't just the bingo. The KY Secretary of state is cracking down on all non-profit organizations and this booster club just got caught in the crossfire. All organizations must keep up with their annual tax filings/annual reports and must keep IRS quality records. Gone are the days that you can say hey we raised x amount of money with our carwash and then just dump the money into the bank account. You must seperate out the costs by event, with appropriate accounting procedures. X amount was spent for non-resale items, x amount was spent for paper costs. Booster clubs will need to invest in accounting programs to keep up with the new IRS requirements!

 

I am not saying it is right, just that there are many groups out there that have NO CLUE! When the IRS comes knocking and asks to see their records they will be in big trouble!

 

The first thing every booster group should do is check their current status with KY's Secretary of Statewebsite. Just type in your organizations name and you will be able to see your status. http://apps.sos.ky.gov/business/obdb/default.aspx

Perhaps, if it is managed correctly, it will help facilitate volunteers working equally. But, I know what you mean, it tends to be the few who do most of the work for many. However, if your coach (or whomever) is allowing some parents to get away with not doing any volunteer work, your problem goes beyond how the IRS dictates that you handle the proceeds.

 

Volunteer work is just that volunteer. In athletic programs with set costs per participant, allowing parents to work off their debt with volunteer work is an old but illegal practice (cheerleading uses this practice big time!) In programs where the youth is not charged for participation but general costs are paid for by a booster club you have the same problem. Those who volunteer gripe about the ones who don't...if you are not happy about volunteering then don't do it! Don't show up to work and then gripe all season that you were "one of the few that worked." If you want to increase your participation, be positive, not negative!

 

Catch more flies with honey, as the saying goes!