Taco Bell & Taxes

[Black Bart]

We'll be working late tonight on extensions and I've suddenly been struck with an overwhelming craving for a supper of nicely browned, hard-shell tacos which (I hope) will be crispy, crunchy, and loaded with beef/lettuce/shredded cheese (we occasionally get some with pret' near nothing but a shell). Can't deduct them for myself of course, but if I send the secretary to the drive-through to pick up a couple of dozen for the office crew, can I claim that it's deductible "employee benefits" expense? I'm prepared to swear I didn't personally eat any and I promise to later feel guilty and remorseful about it.

If yes, should it be added to their W-2 forms? If no, don't bother to answer.

[Jiggers]

Have one too!

We'll be working late tonight on extensions and I've suddenly been struck with an overwhelming craving for a supper of nicely browned, hard-shell tacos which (I hope) will be crispy, crunchy, and loaded with beef/lettuce/shredded cheese (we occasionally get some with pret' near nothing but a shell). Can't deduct them for myself of course, but if I send the secretary to the drive-through to pick up a couple of dozen for the office crew, can I claim that it's deductible "employee benefits" expense? I'm prepared to swear I didn't personally eat any and I promise to later feel guilty and remorseful about it.

If yes, should it be added to their W-2 forms? If no, don't bother to answer.

This is no different than bringing a box of donuts for the office staff in the morning. Fully deductible as "employee relations". You can even have one yourself.

This is also a working condition fringe benefit, trying to get the late extensions out.

See TTB page 13-28. De Minimis Fringe Benefits.

[Bees Knees]

Taco Bell sounds nice, but I think I'm going to White Castle. There's one just down the road from here on Hwy 7.

Any care for some sliders?

[DTS]

Wc

Me!!! I'll take two.

[joanmcq]

OOOHHH White Castles! I so miss them. send me some to CA please!

[Bees Knees]

Here yah go. Hope its still hot. I'm not sure how long it takes using my DSL line to send out to CA. (sorry, as you can see I had to eat one...)

[WhiteOleander]

You're all nuts.!!! Everyone knows times like these call for Pizza. They deliver!!! That way there is no time lost working on the returns.

[DTS]

Thank you soooo much!

Mine downloaded just fine and it was DELICIOUS! I am so full. Fries were a little cold, however. Maybe next time we can plan this better!

Joan, how was your's?

WhiteOleander, get the pizza to me and I'll eat it...while I work, of course.

Bart, now that I'm thinking about it, your tacos sound great! Yes, 6-7 tacos and half of a pizza. I really will be able to work until about 12 tonight!

Dennis

[Golden Rocket]

Food Anonymous

You guys need "Food Anonymous." Some of the fast-food places are piggybacking - in particular White Castles have tag-teamed with Church's Fried Chicken. We eat more Fried Chicken than a Methodist! White Castles are growing in popularity over here and cutting into the dominance of [where's the beef] Krystals.

Sooo, who wants to hire the guy with a fat index finger to point at you when that midnight pizza keeps you alive at midnight doing these extensions? Don't laugh, most of us need off-season work, and the "Food Anonymous" job might pay as well as walking around with the "Eat at Joe's" placard.

Bart, at this point, I would pay to bring back the "Old Gold" dancing girls...they didn't even have to look good in the face...

[Jiggers]

White Castle

I had the pleasure of having a couple of them many years ago. However, I will be going through some eastern states in about a week on vacation and am looking forward to having the pleasure again.

My wife didn't care for them. But, what does she know. She picked me, didn't she!!!

Any idea of what to expect weather wise in a couple weeks in West Virginia, North and South Carolina, Illinois, and Michigan.

[oceanlovin'ea]

A trip

You're going on a trip.....That sounds wonderful. I would love to get in my car and just drive and drive.

I guess I'll be up till midnight this weekend with my extensions. I called one person yesterday and her mother died on Monday...just dropped dead at grocery store. Another one called this morning and her stepson is in hospital in a coma.

They promised to get me information on Friday.

Linda F

[Black Bart]

Gosh, what a bunch of off-topic food fanatics y'all are.

And here I was (the only completely innocent person in the whole affair) strictly interested in the tax aspects of this thing. Thanks to Jiggers for his superb clarification of the matter. Hereinafter, I will refer all the deeper questions to him.

Still...(speaking off-topically), now that a pizza's been mentioned and I'm seriously salivating about it, I might just succumb to that notion tonight. A pepperoni maybe? Hopefully on a coupon buying one medium and getting another free.

P.S. Bees -- What's a slider? Never heard of such here in the boonies.

[Black Bart]

My wife didn't care for them. But, what does she know. She picked me, didn't she!!!

A very good point -- I'm going to start using that line.

Any idea of what to expect weather wise in a couple weeks in West Virginia, North and South Carolina, Illinois, and Michigan.

Try this. It's a pretty handy icon to have on your desktop.

http://ww2.weatherbug.com/downloadclient.asp?dlid

[Bees Knees]

P.S. Bees -- What's a slider? Never heard of such here in the boonies.

From Wikipedia:

White Castle is the oldest American hamburger fast food restaurant chain. It is known for square burgers, sometimes referred to as "sliders" (officially spelled and trademarked as "Slyders"),[1] or in New York, "Belly Bombers." They were priced at five cents until the 1940s, and remained at ten cents for years thereafter while growing smaller. For several years, when the original burgers sold for five cents, White Castle periodically ran promotional ads in local newspapers which contained coupons offering five burgers for ten cents, takeout only. The typical White Castle restaurant architecture features a white exterior with a crenelated tower at one corner to resemble a medieval castle. The Chicago Water Tower, which stands on Michigan Avenue's Magnificent Mile, is said to be the model for the classic building.

To read more...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Castle_(restaurant))

[Golden Rocket]

West Virginia

Any idea of what to expect weather wise in a couple weeks in West Virginia, North and South Carolina, Illinois, and Michigan.

Jiggers, take it from me, West [by gosh] Virginia will be the best of these, depending on elevation. You've got to stay out of the pines or you won't get color. The Carolinas are the world's most abundant source of pines, but you get the deciduous stuff in the high country that's gawgeous. Michigan, lower peninsula, has deciduous trees but no elevation. Illinois has good trees for color, but so much of it is under till, and the ultimate flat of 50 states. Upper peninsula of MI is the great Northwoods - lots of pines.

West Virginia will be your big winner, but lots of good color in the other states, too.

Jiggers, as you can tell from the above, next time you want a tax discussion, just let me know....