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Willy
Garde Manger
Joined: 31 Jan 2007
Posts: 37
Location: Redmond
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 Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:22 am Post subject: Register your bees and save money |
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My company is registered in the State of Washington, and the fine folks running the state sent me out a newsletter about taxes. They like collecting taxes, and I read through the laundry list of changes in the rules to see what new way I might be taxed. (I help people buy and sell real estate).
What I found was that the state does require beekeepers to pay B&O tax (about 2%) on the sales of honey, honeycomb, etc. UNLESS they are registered with the state department of agriculture. WHY would the tax people be willing to give up that money? Large beekeeping corporations are going to register, hobbyists fall below the radar, the guys in the middle are in the squeeze.
After they get them registered, then they can require hive ID (animal ID). Gee Neal, is this worth a good rant?
Willy |
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Podchef
Executive Chef
Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 254
Location: San Juan Islands
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:33 pm Post subject: Re: Register your bees and save money |
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| Willy wrote: | My company is registered in the State of Washington, and the fine folks running the state sent me out a newsletter about taxes. They like collecting taxes, and I read through the laundry list of changes in the rules to see what new way I might be taxed. (I help people buy and sell real estate).
What I found was that the state does require beekeepers to pay B&O tax (about 2%) on the sales of honey, honeycomb, etc. UNLESS they are registered with the state department of agriculture. WHY would the tax people be willing to give up that money? Large beekeeping corporations are going to register, hobbyists fall below the radar, the guys in the middle are in the squeeze.
After they get them registered, then they can require hive ID (animal ID). |
You actually read those things??? 
I usually pitch those things in the trash. But I plucked mine out and sure enough there it is--register your bees for a tax break!
This is actually a developing trend across the states. It remains voluntary for now, but coercive forces are gaining. This is all part of the plan to categorize, quantify and enumerate all profitable things a person might be raising or selling for food.
I have heard beekeeping clubs and apiarists in certain sectors push this program. They generally pass it off as a good thing because it helps other beekeepers keep connected with local hives, and helps universities and extension programs study bees. But I think it goes far beyond this. If the government can't tax you on the honey you produce, how about taxing the hives, or every bee you have? If we know where the hives are, then we can locate the honey for confiscation if there is some sort of "problem". . . .This may sound a bit paranoid, but things like this are beginning to happen around the world.
The funny thing about this particular tax rule is, that in any given Quarter if you make under a certain amount of money, you don't generally have to pay a B&O (business and operating) Tax--there is an general exemption. I am pretty sure all but the largest of bee operators in most Quarters wouldn't have to pay anything--especially because sales tax isn't even collected on food.
So, I can imagine this rule is targeting large scale pollination operations with millions of bees. I think that the average honey seller at a Farmer's Market doesn't claim any tax and probably doesn't have a business license or anything to do with the Department of Agriculture--and these days, the less to do with them, the better. . . .
I guess we should head out to the Farmer's Markets and beekeepers we might know and begin asking them if they are registered, and what they think about the idea.
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Podchef
Executive Chef
Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 254
Location: San Juan Islands
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:55 pm Post subject: Bee Have |
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Okay, I did a bit of studying and just came up with this:
| Quote: | | Registering your hives is not only a good idea, its the law. Many people ask what is the benefit to me? For one thing, it establishes that your hives have been in a certain location for a documented period. If zoning laws are passed, you may be able to claim that your apiary is grand fathered. Also, if disease or a new infestation breaks out, you can be notified to treat your hives to prevent infection and to help further prevent further spreading of of the pathogens. |
Also from CT are some handy recommendations, among which is the truly useful suggestion (if your a swarm collecting beekeeper):
| Quote: | | List your name with the local police and fire departments as a person willing to collect bee swarms. Every one benefits from a quickly collected swarm. Registering your name with the deputy state entomologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven as some one willing to collect swarms, both benefits you and the community. |
I can see the points of both these sorts of registering. Traditionally they have been low-key, informal processes meant to protect the beekeeper and the public. Unfortunately in today's climate of data collecting madness, registering your hives places you, your bees, and your property into a globally accessible database with all your details very insecurely kept. Luddite that I am, I much prefer an X next to my general location on a map kept in a drawer in the town hall with a business card taped to the back of the map, than 150 pieces of detailed information about me and my land, GPS coordinates for each hive, and the necessity of Bee Passports before taking queen, swarm or hive on the road to where the pollen is. When will the data Mining end?
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