GoTaxMe: Crowdfunding and Gifts

13 Pages Posted: 6 Nov 2018

See all articles by Jeffrey H. Kahn

Jeffrey H. Kahn

Harry M. Walborsky Professor, Florida State University College of Law; Associate Dean, Business Program

Date Written: October 24, 2018

Abstract

In 2018, Peter Strzok was fired from the FBI, based on text messages that he sent degenerating President Trump. A week later, a group set up a GoFundMe page soliciting funds to help with his “legal costs” and to replace his “lost income.” As of early September, that fund had raised over $450,000. GoFundMe states on its website that donations made are usually considered to be “private gifts” and not taxable to the recipient. Using Mr. Strzok’s campaign as an example, this article will discuss the current standards for determining whether a transfer qualifies as a nontaxable gift and the policy rationale for the exclusion of gifts. The article argues that, contrary to the common conception of what qualifies as a gift for tax purposes, there are some circumstances in which the intention of the transferor should not control the characterization. Instead, in those circumstances, the role of the transferee should control. The article concludes that GoFundMe’s position is incorrect and funds collected using GoFundMe (and other crowdfunding websites) should be treated as income to the recipient.

Suggested Citation

Kahn, Jeffrey H., GoTaxMe: Crowdfunding and Gifts (October 24, 2018). Florida Tax Review, 2019, FSU College of Law, Public Law Research Paper No. 899, FSU College of Law, Law, Business & Economics Paper No. 18-15, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3272361

Jeffrey H. Kahn (Contact Author)

Harry M. Walborsky Professor, Florida State University College of Law; Associate Dean, Business Program ( email )

425 W. Jefferson Street
Tallahassee, FL 32306
United States
850.644.7474 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.fsu.edu/faculty/jkahn.html

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