Steve House wrote:
"Dr. Anthony J. Lomenzo" wrote in message
...

snip

Agree! And not too many places suddenly become that beneficent that
'they' will foot the tax bill which can get considerable considering the
cost of new birds these days and the fact that as soon as one takes
delivery of their prize, the fed and state tax folks immediately have
their hand extended [with requisite grin] for their cut of your good
fortune. Then, once possession of the prize takes place, hey, even if
you're ATP rated, would you take off without having the bird insured?


At least up here in the Northland, prizes, lottery and gambling winnings
aren't considered taxable income, yet. shhhhh Get your new plane in a
prize drawing and the tax man doesn't cometh.



Ahhhh! That's refreshing news! Alas, Steve, we have a governor here that
is so desperate for coin of the realm that he wants to tax garage sale
items and he just may put his revenue spies into peeking into recorded
Ebay deals for a piece of the pie. Right now, however, he is involved in
a sort of Custer-like jihad with the Native Americans demanding a piece
of the normal state tax --and-- state surcharge taxes pie from what the
NA's make 'within' their sovereign nations a la tobacco [internet sales
inclusive] and BINGO sales.

Hey! Win a lottery in my state over $600 and they with-hold 20% at the
get-go splitting that freebie dough pot with Uncle Sam. But then, this
is the same governor and his brain-trust who says that folks with fancy
cars and AIRPLANES 'should' pay a luxury tax because, after all, even if
you own a piece of an [gasp!] airplane, you must be filthy rich, yes?

Doc Tony

PS-- How's this though... an amigo uses his own plane to fly small
portable albeit donated generators to folks way up north when the big
ice storm hit some years ago and these folks were WEEKS without power.
OK, he claims PART of that fuel expense on his state tax form and it
bounces back --why--- well, the state rejected a 'charitable expense
deduction' because the guy 'volunteered' his services, so, tough!

How's that for a 'help thy neighbor' kick in the keester? Shades of our
friend 'Calvera' [Eli Wallach] in the great flick, "The Magnificent
Seven", to wit, "Generosity! That was my first mistake!" :-)