President Obama's Weirdest New Taxes [Tax on Flavored Vodka, Golf Courses Are No Longer Tax Havens]

ABC News ^

[Sub-Driver]

President Obama's Weirdest New Taxes

By CHRIS GOOD (@c_good) April 12, 2013

President Obama has plenty of big taxes in his budget proposal.

To achieve $1.8 trillion in new revenue, the president suggested a few of the policies he's raised while battling Republicans over the past four years: taxing higher incomes by capping itemized tax deductions, rolling back domestic-production credits for oil companies, instituting the "Buffett Rule" of a 30 percent minimum tax rate for people making over $1 million in a year, and taxing investment managers' "carried interest" profits as regular income top the list.

But the tax code is a jungle of odd rules, and the penny-pinching side of Obama's budget raises some new taxes (or closes some "loopholes") that might not readily occur to most taxpayers filling out run-of-the-mill 1040s this weekend.

As laid out this week by the Treasury Department in its "green book," a massive spiral-bound document that explains tax changes in the White House budget proposal - it is pale green, and 246 pages - here are some quirky maneuvers the president suggests to offset spending and keep the deficit just a bit lower:

1. A Tax on Flavored Vodka

President Obama wants to tax your Stoli Razberi.

Distilled spirits currently get a tax break if they include flavors, but the president's budget proposal does away with that. Spirits are taxed at $13.50 per proof-gallon (a gallon of 100-proof liquor), but if distillers add flavorings, they can roll back some of that tax: Up to 2.5 percent of the alcohol in those flavoring mixtures is exempt from the spirits tax.

[Sub-Driver]

Just go away and leave us a lone..........

Henry the VIII..........

[glorgau]

Golf Courses Are No Longer Tax Havens

Unless they have gay friendly steam baths...

[rarestia]

It’s pretty simple to create an infusion with vodka and most any fruit. We used to macerate strawberries and vodka with crushed ice and strain it through a sieve to get ice cold strawberry vodka. It was quite tasty.

[KarlInOhio]

At the risk of being zotted, I agree with the tax change on flavored vodka. I can think of no reason why the tax should be lowered if you have a flavoring in your booze. But I bet if you follow the legislative history some distiller was generous with a Congressman and "Presto!" flavored booze gets a lower tax rate.

[surroundedbyblue]

A flat tax would get rid of all these goofy loop holes & deductions anyway.

Here’a hint Obama: if you’re really concerned about the deficit, why are you funding ridiculousness like a study to examine why lesbians are at a higher risk for binge drinking?

The gov waste is the problem, not revenue deficits. I’m just a “dumb” working-class girl and even i can figure that one out.

[Chad N. Freud]

Absolut taxocracy

Hasn’t he Stoli nuff?

[csmusaret]

instituting the “Buffett Rule” of a 30 percent minimum tax rate for people making over $1 million in a year,

I am confused. Don’t we already have an alternative minimum tax?

[Resolute Conservative]

It is not how much you make it is how you make it. The ultra rich DO NOT pay income taxes because they have no income in the sense you and I do.

[Hoffer Rand]

You can make fruit flavored liqueurs in a similar way. 2-3 pints of fruit, 1 gallon vodka, 1-2 cups powdered sugar. Mix together in a large glass jar, seal, set in cool, dark place for 3-4 months. We've done raspberries and blackberries. Yum! Oh, don't forget to keep your empty vodka bottle. Once the liqueur is done, you strain out the fruit and put the liqueur back in the vodka bottle. Keep the fruit, it's excellent over ice cream.

We pick up fresh berries at the farmers’ market in the late summer, start the process, and by Thanksgiving and Christmas, we have a tasty sipping liqueur.

[IamConservative]

You can make fruit flavored liqueurs in a similar way.

..and for Cinnamon Whiskey, pour one toddy out of a fifth of cheap Canadian Whiskey and replace with Red Hots, some call then cinnamon imperials. Excellent winter chill chaser.

It would be a sacrilege to do this to Kentucky Bourbon.

[R_Kangel]

.... Taxes on the flavored Vodka is just the beginning of the new so called "sin" taxes that will align us with similar social tax structures in other countries.

.... Heck .... There is a reason that Canada enjoys paying double and sometimes triple the price of booze! .... And then after you pay your exorbitant prices you slap down a few more bucks to the government for the multi-level GST (Goods and Services Tax). Of course down here the GST will be called the VAT (Value Added Tax or some other creatively constructed name) but it will be essentially the same thing ... an additional 5-10% to help pay for the new social system of government that we are about to enjoy.

.... But I'm not going to complain about it!!! Cuz .... as the smart ones used to say .... "Elections have consequences" .... so in essence ... the country voted for this..... Twice. And apparently after the post mortem was performed on the Federal Election ... There weren't enough concerned citizens to stop the quick march toward Socialism.

... So .... apparently what the brain-trust of the GOP is recommending for all of us to do at this time is to just cast aside that raggedy old Constitution of ours, stand up in unison and welcome our new overlords then sit right back down and enjoy the ride.

[TurboZamboni]

maybe lesbians are at a higher risk for binge drinking because of Stoli Razberi so the higher tax is to help them?

[AppyPappy]

I believe the reason is that the flavorings have already been taxed.