Are you a resident of Philadelphia who also happens to be a blogger?  That’ll be $300 dollars, please.  The city has recently been sending out threatening letters to bloggers great and small, informing them of a little-known tax law the cash-strapped City of Brotherly Love has somehow found time to enforce.  Basically, it requires all bloggers who make any money to file for a Business Privilege Tax Return, even if they make far less than the $50-per-year or $300 lifetime fee the return requires of them.  Philadelphia bloggers are being charged for the privilege of being bloggers.

“Since our business model relies on advertising sales, it makes complete sense that we’d need a business license, as we’re in business every bit as much as a corner store,” said Joey Sweeney of the blog Philebrity.  “However, where people who mostly blog as a hobby and are making little to no money at all via their online pursuits, it doesn’t really seem fair.”

The trigger seems to be the filing of a W2 form, which keys the city into your blog’s AdSense pennies and sics the Philadelphia Department of Revenue dogs on your wallet.  If you choose to host ads and make money, then you’re on the hook (even if you don’t make any actual money).  Here’s hoping someone fights this, otherwise they’ll be going after lemonade stands next.

Tags: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, blogging, Philadelphia to force bloggers to buy business licenses for 0, Business Privilege Tax Return, blogging license, unusual taxes, fees

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