A Four-Figure Tax Break For A Four-Legged Friend?

[Ausm]

http://www.npr.org/templates/s...=113791908&sc=fb&cc=fp

I would love this I have 4 dogs that eat more food then my kids did

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

On the one hand, this sounds like a dumb waste of revenue. On the other hand, pet ownership has been shown to be good for people's health and well-being, so it might pay for itself in reduced need for health care. On balance I don't favor this, but you could certainly make a case for it.

 

[surfsatwerk]

This is dumb.

 

[Mean MrMustard]

Yes, the gov't should be concerned about you owning pets... :roll:

 

[CalvinHobbes]

I hate to think how much money was wasted coming up with this.`

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
On the one hand, this sounds like a dumb waste of revenue. On the other hand, pet ownership has been shown to be good for people's health and well-being, so it might pay for itself in reduced need for health care. On balance I don't favor this, but you could certainly make a case for it.

I can understand it if passed. but i don't agree with it.

 

[tk149]

"Site blocked. www.npr.org is not allowed on this network."

:|

 

[rudder]

Will my dog be eligible for government healthcare even though he came here illegally?

 

[her209]

You should only get it for rescued pets.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: her209
You should only get it for rescued pets.

I like that a lot!
:thumbsup:

 

[rpanic]

WTF

 

[Possessed Freak]

What about my fish?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
On the one hand, this sounds like a dumb waste of revenue. On the other hand, pet ownership has been shown to be good for people's health and well-being, so it might pay for itself in reduced need for health care. On balance I don't favor this, but you could certainly make a case for it.

I can understand it if passed. but i don't agree with it.

Very easy for it to be misused

 

[jonks]

it's never going to get out of comittee, let alone passed. hundreds or thousands of these throw away ideas are introduced every session. But half the country owns pets and it is only a deduction, not a credit so it's impact is not that great. I don't itemize anyway. Still, it'll have a ruff time going anywhere. I wonder how this breaks along the D/R divide.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: rpanic
WTF

It's a dumb ass Republican. I'm not surprised one bit.

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: jonks
it's never going to get out of comittee, let alone passed. hundreds or thousands of these throw away ideas are introduced every session. But half the country owns pets and it is only a deduction, not a credit so it's impact is not that great. I don't itemize anyway. Still, it'll have a ruff time going anywhere. I wonder how this breaks along the D/R divide.

It doesn't break for me. I'm HAPPY if this gets passed. I have a wonderful dog who came from a rescue.

Although I'm kinda on the fence for this one. One one hand it is a dumb tax break and adds to the loopholes in the tax code. On the other hand it will help the less well of with their pets.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: GroundedSailor

Originally posted by: jonks
it's never going to get out of comittee, let alone passed. hundreds or thousands of these throw away ideas are introduced every session. But half the country owns pets and it is only a deduction, not a credit so it's impact is not that great. I don't itemize anyway. Still, it'll have a ruff time going anywhere. I wonder how this breaks along the D/R divide.

It doesn't break for me. I'm HAPPY if this gets passed. I have a wonderful dog who came from a rescue.

Although I'm kinda on the fence for this one. One one hand it is a dumb tax break and adds to the loopholes in the tax code. On the other hand it will help the less well of with their pets.

What happens when all these people get dogs for the tax break... then the dog gets sick. Can anyone afford vet bills? Since the government could be encouraging dog ownership... will they include UHC for my pets? If not I will have to put my doggy down if he hurts himself.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
On the one hand, this sounds like a dumb waste of revenue. On the other hand, pet ownership has been shown to be good for people's health and well-being, so it might pay for itself in reduced need for health care. On balance I don't favor this, but you could certainly make a case for it.

You could say this about a million things. I think I should get a discount on a gym membership. In that, actually, I'm not being facetious; I really do think it would be worth seeing how people's health is impacted if they could get much of a gym membership covered.

 

[jonks]

Originally posted by: rudder

Originally posted by: GroundedSailor

Originally posted by: jonks
it's never going to get out of comittee, let alone passed. hundreds or thousands of these throw away ideas are introduced every session. But half the country owns pets and it is only a deduction, not a credit so it's impact is not that great. I don't itemize anyway. Still, it'll have a ruff time going anywhere. I wonder how this breaks along the D/R divide.

It doesn't break for me. I'm HAPPY if this gets passed. I have a wonderful dog who came from a rescue.

Although I'm kinda on the fence for this one. One one hand it is a dumb tax break and adds to the loopholes in the tax code. On the other hand it will help the less well of with their pets.

What happens when all these people get dogs for the tax break... then the dog gets sick. Can anyone afford vet bills? Since the government could be encouraging dog ownership... will they include UHC for my pets? If not I will have to put my doggy down if he hurts himself.

Haven't read the bill but I believe it said the $3500 is for pet medical expenses, not for merely owning a pet. One can falsely claim the deduction but runs the risk of an audit just like any other falsely claimed exemption. Frankly if someone is going to falsely claim the deduction they wouldn't even bother getting a dog, they'd just say they had one and he died if they ever got audited.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
On the one hand, this sounds like a dumb waste of revenue. On the other hand, pet ownership has been shown to be good for people's health and well-being, so it might pay for itself in reduced need for health care. On balance I don't favor this, but you could certainly make a case for it.

You could say this about a million things. I think I should get a discount on a gym membership. In that, actually, I'm not being facetious; I really do think it would be worth seeing how people's health is impacted if they could get much of a gym membership covered.

The gyms would be really crowded the first two weeks after New Years day... then the crowd numbers would taper off dramatically until the following year.

 

[jonks]

Originally posted by: rudder

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
On the one hand, this sounds like a dumb waste of revenue. On the other hand, pet ownership has been shown to be good for people's health and well-being, so it might pay for itself in reduced need for health care. On balance I don't favor this, but you could certainly make a case for it.

You could say this about a million things. I think I should get a discount on a gym membership. In that, actually, I'm not being facetious; I really do think it would be worth seeing how people's health is impacted if they could get much of a gym membership covered.

The gyms would be really crowded the first two weeks after New Years day... then the crowd numbers would taper off dramatically until the following year.

My current healthcare plan does reimburse me for gym membership, up to $400/year.

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: rpanic
WTF

It's a dumb ass Republican. I'm not surprised one bit.

Still sad that the only way mommy and daddy could get the dog to play with you was by tying a steak around your neck?

 

[JTsyo]

Can i claim all the earthworms in my yard?

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: jonks

Originally posted by: rudder

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
On the one hand, this sounds like a dumb waste of revenue. On the other hand, pet ownership has been shown to be good for people's health and well-being, so it might pay for itself in reduced need for health care. On balance I don't favor this, but you could certainly make a case for it.

You could say this about a million things. I think I should get a discount on a gym membership. In that, actually, I'm not being facetious; I really do think it would be worth seeing how people's health is impacted if they could get much of a gym membership covered.

The gyms would be really crowded the first two weeks after New Years day... then the crowd numbers would taper off dramatically until the following year.

My current healthcare plan does reimburse me for gym membership, up to $400/year.

Most don't offer this, unfortunately.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: JTsyo
Can i claim all the earthworms in my yard?

Only if you bring them in your house