To effect change, phrase your inquiries to your legislators in terms that
reflect the best interests of the state.
For instance, in a state like yours where tax regs don't track with feds,
compliance on gambling reporting is probably very low. Try these steps:
1. See if there've been any studies showing what % of MI population gambles
vs how many people report gambling winnings.
2. If a study has been done, the next step would be to try to estimate how
much revenue loss there is.
3. Then estimate how much revenue would be gained if tax laws were to track
feds.
Most likely no studies have been done. If so, I suggest contacting Schools of
Finance/Government at U of M and/or Mich St to see if you can get a student
interested in doing some grad work in this area. Estimate that you would have a
good chance of success. With the study from one of your prestigious schools,
you'd have a much better chance of effecting change than pleading to a
legislator that "It ain't fair!"
If you go this route, would be very interested if you would keep me
personally informed.
Good luck!!
In a message dated 3/15/2004 6:09:54 AM Pacific Standard Time,
vpFREE@yahoogroups.com writes:
<<< Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 14:42:31 -0000
Yesterday I wrote to my district legislator, Paula Zelenko regarding
our archaic tax laws concerning gambling winnings. Our state does
not let us deduct losses against wins. I have to report winnings of
$50,000 (including W2-Gs) but I had $52,000 in losses (not a good
year). For the first time I actuallly kept a diary. Federal is
great letting me deduct up to my wins.This being tax time I thought
it might be a good time to post this. I've decided to make it my
mission to try and get the law changed. I wasn't sure where to start
so I started with an inquiry to Ms. Zelenko. Does anyone out there
know the process? Maybe a petition from Michiganders. I'm sure I'm
not the only one in this situation. Perhaps the existing tax laws
were in effect before we had casinos here. There are hardly any full
pay, let alone positive play video poker games, so most people who
gamble here lose. If anyone can help with information or is
interested in my "cause" please reply. Thanks so much.>>>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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From: "frugaldancer" <revons1@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Michigan Tax