arft
fulltiming some place
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bluegypsy but are you not working for pay I was talking about volunteer work
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clarasgrama
wisconsin
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Joined: 11/10/2007
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Quote:bluegypsy but are you not working for pay I was talking about volunteer work
Hmmm, what does this mean? If they are working, getting a site, getting a stipend, getting fuel, getting propane, paid dump fee.
Why do you say they are not working for pay? Isn't the pay all of the above? I believe they call this "working for site" ?
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bluegypsy
Everywhere
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Joined: 04/19/2007
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Good Sam RV Club
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I think we're considered "volunteers" since we have no hourly wage or salary, and hence no income tax liabilities. As I said in my original reply, we are paid a modest stipend, and reimbursed for our fuel expenses. In what way is this different than volunteering at a place which provides a FHU site? SOMEBODY is paying the electric and water bill for that FHU site! Looked at from that standpoint, there are NO pure "volunteer" workamping jobs. You're getting something for your labor, in the form of a place to park, electricity, water, and sewer.
Believe me, I'm not "working for pay" - I figure we're barely breaking even as it is, when you take into account wear and tear on my generator, inverter, and batteries.
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clarasgrama
wisconsin
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Quote:No flaming please but with the way things are going does it not seem to be a time for at least enough for gas to and from host location. I see lots of places for hosting and maybe they are not being filled.
I guess I don't understand the question.
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trailertraveler
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arft wrote:No flaming please but with the way things are going does it not seem to be a time for at least enough for gas to and from host location. I see lots of places for hosting and maybe they are not being filled.
Kirk mentioned the continuing operation and maintenance budget cuts that have been experienced by federal and state land management agencies in recent years. One must also consider that in addition to the direct cost of the payment to the "volunteer", there is a significant administrative cost of making the payment which for small payments can often exceed tha cost of the original payment.
Another issue is whether moving or relocation payments made are tax exempt or deductable by the volunteer/employee or would be considered wages/income. IRS rules require that moving expenses be payed to current employees and that the employee must work at least 39 weeks out of the next 12 months at or near the new location. In order for expenses to be payed as travel expenses, the volunteer/employee would have to be put into duty statis before starting their travel to the job and the travel considered official business. This would put the agency at risk of liability for any accidents/job related incidents that occured during the travel.
Another issue applicable to fulltime RVers is that they are considered itinerants and are never away from home. IRS Publication 463 states: "If you do not have a regular or main place of business or post of duty and there is no place where you regularly live, you are considered an itinerant (a transient) and your tax home is wherever you work. As an itinerant, you cannot claim a travel expense deduction because you are never considered to be traveling away from home."
This is what the IRS has to say about stipends: "FAQ #1 Answer-Is the income from a stipend reported and, if so, how is it reported?
A stipend is defined as a fixed sum of money paid periodically for services or to defray expenses. The fact that remuneration is termed a "fee" or "stipend" rather than salary or wages is immaterial. Wages are generally subject to employment taxes and should be reported on Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. Refer to Publication 15, Circular E, Employer's Tax Guide, section 5, Wages and Other Compensation, for rules on accountable and nonaccountable plans for employee business expenses.
The income from stipends is reportable. Is the stipend or fee paid to an employee or an independent contractor reportable? The answer to this question determines the way that the stipend is reported."
clarasgrama wrote:Quote:bluegypsy but are you not working for pay I was talking about volunteer work
Hmmm, what does this mean? If they are working, getting a site, getting a stipend, getting fuel, getting propane, paid dump fee.
Why do you say they are not working for pay? Isn't the pay all of the above? I believe they call this "working for site" ?
The value of the site provided to a Camp Host is excluded from income because it meets the IRS criteria. Publication 525 states:
"Meals and Lodging
You do not include in your income the value of meals and lodging provided to you and your family by your employer at no charge if the following conditions are met....... The lodging is: a. Furnished on the business premises of your employer, b. Furnished for the convenience of your employer, and c. A condition of your employment. (You must accept it in order to be able to properly perform your duties.)"
Condition c is, in my opinion, the one most often misunderstood by both Workampers and Campground operators.
* This post was
edited 07/05/09 03:09pm by trailertraveler *
Safe travels!
Trailertraveler
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