I am a member of the Maryland Horse Council and we have another member with a very peculiar situation. The Comptroller's office has decided to apply the entertainment tax to pony rides - determining that a pony is a piece of equipment. It's gone to court and is now being appealed by the operator. They have assessed this tax (and fees) retroactively and the costs would basically put this man out of business (at least here in Maryland). He took the issue to court. It's now under appeal.
MHC's position is that pony rides (and carriage rides) are activities that are a part of agricultural activities (such as a horse farm operation) and as such are exempt from the entertainment tax.
This is basically a "test case" on behalf of the Comptroller's office and I've been asked by MHC to get a feel from my colleagues as to their opinion on this issue. There are many pony and horse farms out there giving pony rides who have never been required to pay this tax - it could have a negative effect on these activities if the tax is imposed across the industry.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
4 comments:
Hey,
IT'S THE TRUTH. . .IT'S FACTUAL:
Bush - "no child left behind"
O'Malley - "no tax left behind"
AND EVERYTHING GONNA BE REALLY "SATISFACTUAL"
Well look out taxpayers of Salisbury, now we're going to be taxed for the bimonthly vaudevillian dog and pony show at the GOB provided by none other than Barrie Parsons Tilghman, Ringmaster and her trained swine, Louise, Gary and Shanie.
HELL NO. A tax on pony rides, or hay rides, or wagon rides that sort of thing has to do with "tradition", and the joys of the most important profession in our country, farming. Traditions that have endured and are sweet memories and joys for so many people.
I guess next is the hay we use to decorate with in the fall,or the corn stalks, or maybe the view of the bringing in of the crops.
I am old, and I am worried that so many taxes are eating up my retirement, and soon I will have no money, O'Malley will have it all. I will be forced to move out of State, extreme but true.
Joe:
Please remove this post immediately.
If Barrie Tilghman or Bubba Comegys gets wind of this, they would soon be asking the Comptroller to do the "food tax" that they were pushing a few years ago!
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