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Trump's Latest Tax Proposal Could Earn Him Big Points With Blue-Collar Workers: Eliminating Taxes on Servers' Tips
Townhall ^ | 06/14/2024 | Sarah Arnold

Posted on 06/14/2024 8:44:23 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

Former President Donald Trump is putting American workers first— unlike the incumbent leader in the White House now.

Trump discussed the proposal of eliminating taxes on servers' tips in his pitch for a new policy position that could inch him closer to victory in November.

The former president introduced the idea during a rally in Nevada over the weekend where many Americans work at hotels, restaurants, and in the entertainment business and rely on tips to make ends meet.

“This is the first time I've said this and for those hotel workers and people that get tips, you're going to be very happy, because when I get to office, we are going to not charge taxes on tips, people making tips,” Trump said. “It’s been a point of contention for years and years and years, and you do a great job of service, you take care of people, and I think it's going to be something that really is deserved.”

His proposal was met with praise from Republicans and even a few Democrats who were reluctant to oppose the idea.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said the former president has a “dark good idea,” saying that Trump sold Republicans when he floated his no-tax proposals.

“One of the reasons he's doing this [is] because the Biden administration is taking on onerous reporting regulations. They want to make sure they get every tax, every little penny of tip. And this [is] just a total break from that,” Johnson said.

House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) also praised the idea, saying said that “It’s true, gifts aren’t a taxable item, so there’s considerable merit to that in my view.”

Committee member Brad Wenstrup also touted Trump’s idea after saying that he waited tables for nine years, believing the topic deserves a conservation.

Democrat Ways and Means member Dan Kildee (D-Mich) also said that he was open to the idea of eliminating taxes for service workers. However, he still downplayed Trump’s economic policies as an election ploy.

“If what we’re talking about is giving more tax relief to working people, the method we use to get there, I’m open to conversation on that,” Killed said. “When it comes to tax policy, we do not have a tax code that requires the wealthiest and well-connected to pay their fair share. That’s got to be our first priority.”

Trump said he got the idea after talking to a waitress who said she struggles to make ends meet every month.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Michigan; US: Ohio; US: Oklahoma; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: bluecollars; bradwenstrup; dankildee; incometax; michigan; ohio; oklahoma; reagan1984; ronjohnson; salestax; saraharnold; tariffs; taxes; tips; tomcole; trump; trump2024; wisconsin
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To: DIRTYSECRET

We refer to them as Q-tips.


61 posted on 06/15/2024 6:39:54 AM PDT by LurkingSince1943 (Former War Criminal)
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To: ansel12

Sales tax on food needs to be eliminated it hurts seniors, families with kids, and low-income who don’t get SNAP. TN is a no-state income tax state, it uses sales taxes. And a city/county can add their sales tax. Fees into state/federal parks. A fee is a Tax we already paid to build and maintain that park. I can avoid that, not food. If I buy animal feed I pay the same sales tax.


62 posted on 06/15/2024 6:56:40 AM PDT by GailA (Land Grabs, Poisoned Food, KILL the COWS, Bidenomics=BIDEN DEPRESSION. STAGNATION)
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To: GailA

I was shocked to learn that some states tax food, that is unbelievable.

I can understand complicated arguments over taxes from people of different political persuasions and ideologies, but food???


63 posted on 06/15/2024 7:01:54 AM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: Reno89519

I like even more the idea that the gov’t not take such a huge slice out of the economy. Between US Federal, State, and Local gov’t(s), over 40% of our GDP gets sucked into government...


64 posted on 06/15/2024 8:07:33 AM PDT by Paul R. (Bin Laden wanted Obama killed so the incompetent VP, Biden, would become President!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Cool. I’ll open up a free tutoring service. Parents can just tip me.


65 posted on 06/15/2024 8:17:21 AM PDT by sphinx
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To: Sirius Lee

“I like the idea of Trump cutting taxes everywhere.”

Dittos on that. Singling out certain jobs and groups seems a bit odd to me. I know that’s how politics work but I’ve never really been that comfortable with that approach.

I have been watching workers installing fiber cables in my neighborhood in the summer heat. Just one example but many people in this country work hard and they certainly get my sympathies as much or more so than waiters.


66 posted on 06/15/2024 8:25:31 AM PDT by plain talk
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To: ansel12
Actually not as much as you think.

Twenty years ago maybe. Forty years ago probably.

Now, even in fast food, you are paying anywhere from 12-15 an hour to start.

67 posted on 06/15/2024 8:37:26 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Roses are red, Violets are blue, I love being on the government watch list, along with all of you.)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

Fast food pays wages, not tips.

Look at wait people discussions like this one, or if you have ever dated topless dancers and strippers.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Serverlife/comments/16jh54x/where_do_you_guys_work_that_gets_you_the_most_tips/


68 posted on 06/15/2024 8:53:24 AM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: Dr. Sivana

With price of food these days, my waitress cousin makes more in a week then I do as a mechanic. She’s not even working a high end joint either. We’re talking 1200 to 2000 a week in tips, working 4/5 days.

They dont need help


69 posted on 06/15/2024 8:59:12 AM PDT by SPDSHDW (Only peaceful solution is a national divorce. There is no harmony between the statists and the right)
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To: Prince of Space

They get paid sick days, at least in ca. its law.

Paid vacation is up to the owner of the business. Waitressing is a low skill job, with low end benefits. Want paid vacation, find a job that has it.


70 posted on 06/15/2024 9:02:50 AM PDT by SPDSHDW (Only peaceful solution is a national divorce. There is no harmony between the statists and the right)
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To: ansel12
I am afraid I regard "fakeit" as delusions written by mary sues and have not dated a hooker.

However I will tell you that the little restaurants and bars that I do the books for pay their servers in the 12-15 dollar range or else they would not be able to keep staff.

71 posted on 06/15/2024 9:10:35 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Roses are red, Violets are blue, I love being on the government watch list, along with all of you.)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

I don’t know why you brought up hookers, or why you dismiss the servers themselves but the local establishments that hire your bookkeeping are not national and do not encompass the wide world of tip based work.


72 posted on 06/15/2024 9:21:08 AM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: ansel12; All

“So everyone else is paying taxes and the money the wait staff shows up for and bases their life on is tax free.”


We can’t allow restaurant server staff to be tax free.

If they want to be tax free, they should do a private equity buyout of the restaurant chain, and take their income as “carried interest”.


73 posted on 06/15/2024 9:33:54 AM PDT by Reverend Wright ( Everything touched by progressives, dies !)
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To: SeekAndFind

I understand he also talked to the Congressional Republicans about returning to the intent of the original Constitution and supporting government with tariffs, doing away with Income Tax altogether. That would be great. But I suspect they would also have to reduce the size of government to make it work. And that sounds even greater.


74 posted on 06/15/2024 9:55:29 AM PDT by elpadre (ribbean and Spouth America would)
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To: SPDSHDW
She’s not even working a high end joint either. We’re talking 1200 to 2000 a week in tips, working 4/5 days.

She is probably a very good waitress at a moderately busy or better restaurant.and at $1,600 average per week in tips, puts her at $80,000. A living wage, but nothing extravagant. Most waitresses do not fall in that category.
75 posted on 06/15/2024 10:17:49 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana (Stormy Daniels is a McGuffin)
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To: ansel12
You were the one talking about strippers and topless dancers as your example of food servers.

I just condensed it into hookers for brevity and clarity.

And no my local joints are not nationwide and you are right that they do not not represent the nation as a whole. Because the wages here are below the national average. And yet, still they have to pay decent wages to attract waitstaff.

So taxes on tips or not, they will still be paying FICA taxes so you can rest your worries on that score.

76 posted on 06/15/2024 10:30:05 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Roses are red, Violets are blue, I love being on the government watch list, along with all of you.)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

“”””You were the one talking about strippers and topless dancers as your example of food servers.
I just condensed it into hookers for brevity and clarity.””””

What an idiot, you didn’t bring clarity to label them as hookers and they are examples of tip employees not waiters and waitresses.

You seem pretty hostile all in all.


77 posted on 06/15/2024 10:39:45 AM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: mbrfl
Nevertheless, I’m not sure servers should specifically be singled out, among all other occupations, for income tax exemption.

Servers aren't the only ones that get tips. What we should do is eliminate the lower wage for tipped positions (ignoring arguments on minimum wage here), but treat tips the same way gifts are treated - tax-free up to a big amount. Tips aren't income, they're gifts.
78 posted on 06/15/2024 10:47:42 AM PDT by Svartalfiar
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To: ansel12
You seem pretty hostile all in all.

Hostile?

You must be looking in a mirror.

You are the one that started throwing a tiny fisted tantrum worthy of any nap deprived toddler over the people who bring food not being forced to pay taxes on gifts from patrons. If that even happens. The IRS not only assumes it does every time but at a higher rate then normal.

Oh and began a response to me with "What an idiot".

I am calm and logical.

they are examples of tip employees not waiters and waitresses.

So all waiters and waitresses are hookers in your world.

That is very interesting.

79 posted on 06/15/2024 10:52:46 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Roses are red, Violets are blue, I love being on the government watch list, along with all of you.)
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To: Svartalfiar

People tip workers that they know are receiving the tips as their wages.

Workers they see as being paid wages they don’t tip, no matter how helpful and self sacrificing, plenty of workers do more a heck of a lot more in service than serve food, but the lines of tips as pay are well known.


80 posted on 06/15/2024 10:56:15 AM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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