[Upper5Percent]

http://www.georgetownclimate.org/fi...iderationsforWorkplaceCharging_June2016_0.pdf

 

[obermd]

I wonder how it applies if you have to pay for the parking. In this case it's really a reduction in the parking costs.

 

[Qinsp]

I suppose they should also tax you for having a free parking stall at work. And it would apply to government paid employees too.

They will drop it like a hot potato.

 

[BAZINGA]

The Beatles Taxman

Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman
If you drive a car, I'll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.
Don't ask me what I want it for
If you don't want to pay some more
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
And you're working for no one but me.

And have pity on me I live in Illinois.......

 

[rmay635703]

Is the string of diesel trucks running block heaters year round off the companies dime a fringe benefit?

 

[Barry]

For those who do not want to read the whole article, I read it quickly and it looks to me like charging would most likely fall under one of the exemptions discussed.

Disclaimer: This is based on my sense of what would be a reasonable interpretation. The article does not state that explicitly, and I am not a tax attorney.

 

[bjrosen]

It should qualify as a De Minimis benefit, 50 miles of charge is about $3 in the highest electricity cost regions which is less than a cup of Starbucks coffee. However the IRS can choose to act maliciously, as it did with Tea Party groups under the Obama administration, and treat it as a taxable benefit. If they were to do that then the solution is to install ChargePoints and provide the electricity at cost, I think that's a better solution anyway because it scales up better as more people buy EVs.

 

[obermd]

For those who do not want to read the whole article, I read it quickly and it looks to me like charging would most likely fall under one of the exemptions discussed.

Disclaimer: This is based on my sense of what would be a reasonable interpretation. The article does not state that explicitly, and I am not a tax attorney.

While I agree with you the IRS has made some strange and nonsensical rulings in the past.

 

[rhodomel]

This would be a BIG FAIL just like they tried taxing your frequent flyer miles when you used them for getting free stuff or tickets!

 

[Coppersnowboarder]

When the government tries to tax the free coffee that the government provides to government workers in the morning, then there will be a call to arms.

 

[llninja]

My previous employer spent more money for more expensive charging stations with RFID readers so they could charge you 8.5 cents per KWH (breaking even on the electricity). The thinking was that your employer doesn't pay for your dino juice to get into work. Employees should pay for their own electricity. But to trench, install, and pay for those charging stations costs the company millions of dollars which they will never recoup, other than serve as an attractant to potential new hires who might possibly choose this company over another Silicon Valley employer who might not have ev charging. Will the taxman go after google and the free food they provide to their employees. Or all the companies that provide a fitness center membership to their employees and families? What about my corporate discounts (I get a hefty chunk off my wireless bill because of my employer). Next they'll tax the AC and heating benefit in my building and the toilet that I get to flush.

I think this is silly, let's just get down to a single flat percentage tax of income with no writeoffs so everybody pays their fair share, not this crazy some people pay nothing and some people pay a huge percentage.

 

[Barry]

I get about a half-charge daily from my employer. It costs them about $0.36 per day at the rate they pay the electric company.

They also provide a gourmet coffee machine for free. Most of my co-workers get one or more cups of coffee from that daily. I don't use it. That probably costs far more per user. Not to mention the on-site exercise facility with free classes. Those are not taxed.

It wouldn't make sense to tax the electricity, nor would it be practical to track it. But like it or not, EVs are a political issue, so there is no telling what will happen here.

 

[Mister Dave]

It should qualify as a De Minimis benefit.....

Yep, nothing to see here.

 

[obermd]

This would be a BIG FAIL just like they tried taxing your frequent flyer miles when you used them for getting free stuff or tickets!

The guy who won the Virgin Galactic "free" flight aboard SpaceShip 2 had to fight the IRS. They wanted to tax him the year he won. He was able to get them to realize that until he flies no one will really know what the dollar value of the prize will be.

 

[obermd]

My previous employer spent more money for more expensive charging stations with RFID readers so they could charge you 8.5 cents per KWH (breaking even on the electricity). The thinking was that your employer doesn't pay for your dino juice to get into work. Employees should pay for their own electricity. But to trench, install, and pay for those charging stations costs the company millions of dollars which they will never recoup, other than serve as an attractant to potential new hires who might possibly choose this company over another Silicon Valley employer who might not have ev charging. Will the taxman go after google and the free food they provide to their employees. Or all the companies that provide a fitness center membership to their employees and families? What about my corporate discounts (I get a hefty chunk off my wireless bill because of my employer). Next they'll tax the AC and heating benefit in my building and the toilet that I get to flush.

I think this is silly, let's just get down to a single flat percentage tax of income with no writeoffs so everybody pays their fair share, not this crazy some people pay nothing and some people pay a huge percentage.

I actually did the calculation a few years ago and a 15% flat tax that used the Federal Minimum Wage as the only deduction would result in a net difference of no more than +/- $200 for taxpayers making 30K to 100K per year when using the standard deduction. The problem is our tax code has become rife with welfare benefits (yes, the PHEV deduction falls under this) and is no longer simply about funding government operations.

 

[llninja]

I actually did the calculation a few years ago and a 15% flat tax that used the Federal Minimum Wage as the only deduction would result in a net difference of no more than +/- $200 for taxpayers making 30K to 100K per year when using the standard deduction. The problem is our tax code has become rife with welfare benefits (yes, the PHEV deduction falls under this) and is no longer simply about funding government operations.

My point exactly. If we get rid of the mortgage interest deduction, the energy efficiency deductions, and even our beloved EV tax credit, and the volumes of tax codes, and just fund the government with a flat tax, I think we'd all be better off. Instead of the IRS coming after people for tax evasion, they should be monitoring and auditing company's withholdings. No tax forms. No tax refunds. No CPA needed.

 

[hellsop]

I suppose they should also tax you for having a free parking stall at work. And it would apply to government paid employees too.

They will drop it like a hot potato.

if they charge some employees and not others, then yes. If they provide parking to all or limited by first-come-first-served only, then there's nothing taxable. If they reimburse for paid parking or transit, only the first $250 or so a month is tax free. Company-provided cars and that level of thing are all taxable, even if every employee gets one. It's complicated, but there's good documentation on the IRS site.

 

[Stockholm Volt]

The Beatles Taxman

Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman
If you drive a car, I'll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.
Don't ask me what I want it for
If you don't want to pay some more
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
And you're working for no one but me.

And have pity on me I live in Illinois.......

Great song from 1966 by George Harrison with a super guitar solo by Paul McCartney.

 

[Barry]

The song has two references to a 95% marginal tax rate. That was not an exaggeration. That was actually the rate that the Beatles were subject to at that time in the UK.

 

[Sean-a-Tron]

The IRS knows that you've been filling your water bottles at work and is going to tax you for that.