Is Denton being boycotted?

longbowman · 07-15-2003, 07:29 AM

It' s getting close and nobody has mentioned Denton Hill yet. Since I don' t keep up with the latest happenings like some I thought maybe I' m missing a boycot or something! Anybody going?

Floxter · 07-15-2003, 12:49 PM

There are several vendors from previous years that won' t be there because of the Pennsylvania tax situation, but hopefully new ones will replace them. It' s still the grandaddy of all trad shoots.

LBR · 07-15-2003, 03:08 PM

Floxter, do you have the low-down on that tax thing? I' ve heard this and that, but don' t know any hard details. I' m wondering how in the world they will be able to enforce it anyway. From what I heard about it (if what I heard was true), anyone that files honestly will get taxed out of bussiness. Also wondering what kind of effect it will have on the shoot in the long run--I was hoping to go to it eventually myself.

Chad

Floxter · 07-15-2003, 09:08 PM

Chad, Pennsylvania has levied a 6% sales tax on all sales by vendors at Denton Hill, even tho they are not residents of Penn. or located in Penn. In addition, if the vendors are incorporated they are charged an additional corporate tax, which I believe is 1.5%. In addition there is the added paperwork burden of filing the req' d tax returns. It must be remembered that many of the vendors are mom and pop operations working out of their basement or back room and are not equipped to deal with the administivia of reporting and filing the required returns. Then too, the taxes apply on sales which technically occur at Denton Hill, but which may be consummated at a later time elsewhere, such as someone who orders a bow at Denton, but it may be shipped later from Mississippi. I' m sure there will be lots of people who will ignore the requirements, but they are flirting with the law and may be subject to penalities and fines. Many have just decided it is easier not to do business there given the minimal profit margins many operate under.

LBR · 07-15-2003, 09:15 PM

Thanks! That is basically what I had heard, but you gave much more detail. A shame that PA is doing that[:@]--hope it doesn' t kill the shoot.

Chad

groundhawg · 07-16-2003, 08:34 AM

black widow and bob morrison are two of the big names that have told pa. to stick it. its sad how pa. tax dept. will probably pay more in wages to their silly little employees walking around with clipboards than they will make in taxes...ghawg

DL2 · 07-18-2003, 05:24 AM

The coordinators of Denton should seek advice of an accountant on tax issues, there are avenues around the tax collection.

More will follow suit.

mhogan · 07-18-2003, 08:05 PM

I got some information from Bob Morrison and wrote this to the chairman of our F & G committee asking for his help. He wrote a nice letter on our behalf to the Dept. of Revenue. He copied me on their reply. It basically said that they have to enforce the laws. It looks like we need a waive bill submitted exempting out of state venders from some of the requirements.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I"™m writing to ask your help on a problem we are having at our archery shoots here in Pennsylvania. It was brought to my attention last year at the Denton Hill traditional archery shoot last July. This shoot is said to be the largest in the country and people from across the USA attend it. I"™m sure the income generated in restraurants and hotel rooms alone cause quite a blip on that screen in Potter County.

Several out of state bowyers had cancelled their plans to attend the show and sell their bows because of our tax regulations making it too much of a hassle. This concerns me because many of these guys do excellent work and these shoots are an opportunity for us to try their bows out.

While they are only there for a few days and only sell a few bows, our laws require that they dedicate a lot of time and money in the compliance of our unique tax laws. Most agreed to collect and pay the sales taxes on the stuff they sold at that show, but did note that this was the case in Pennsylvania only. They then had to obtain a tax number to be a vender at this show. Okay, again, but a pain. Then they had to report all sales that Pa. residents called in to their businesses in other states. Then Pa. told them they had to pay corporate income tax also. A quarterly tax return was required. So an accountant is required. All of this for 4 days they spent at an archery festival and the hope of selling a custom stick bow to someone.

I"™m sure you"™ll agree that we don"™t need to discourage out of state businesses from doing business in Pa. If they all decide it just isn"™t worth the hassle, it would be a sad day for Pa. and Potter County.

Isn"™t their something we can do for this situation?

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Mark S. Hogan

DL2 · 07-19-2003, 07:13 AM

Great letter and hope all works out.