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In principle, all income should be taxable. Because Weinfelder received the vouchers from the city in a self-addressed envelope, the cantonal tax administration will enforce them. Because the TKB vouchers were sent impersonally, they cannot be executed.
Weinfelden town bond.
Government Councilor Urs Martin sheds light on the matter. That was necessary. Because after the head of the cantonal tax administration said in our newspaper on Friday that the vouchers should be taxed, the city of Weinfelden denied it. In a message on the Internet it was said that the 50 franc voucher that the city gave to all the wine fields should not be included in the tax return:
“Divergent reports from the newspaper and other media can be ignored.”
Finance Director Urs Martin.
Of course you can do that. But if you don’t include the Weinfelden city voucher on your tax return as other income, the cantonal tax administration will simply add the 50 francs to your income. Urs Martin emphasizes two principles in this context: First, all income must be taxable. Second, economic performance applies: those with more must pay more taxes.
Martin understands the resentment at Weinfelden, but says:
“I cannot prefer the vineyards.”
He puts it this way: Why should they get more and not have to pay taxes for it, while others get nothing? Since Weinfelder received the voucher from the city in an envelope with his personal address, it has been shown that the cantonal tax administration received the 50 francs.
The receipt of the TKB voucher cannot be proven
The situation is different with the 30 franc voucher that the Thurgauer Kantonalbank (TKB) gave to all households in the canton. In principle, the following also applies: Like all income, it must be taxed.
The two vouchers
TKB launched its coupon campaign in spring in the context of the corona pandemic to support the cantonal industry. Each individual household in Thurgau received a voucher worth CHF 30, which can be redeemed at a company participating in the campaign until the end of September. The City of Weinfelden also wants to support local industry with its campaign. All residents have been sent a 50 franc voucher that can be redeemed until the end of October.
However, the TKB coupons were not sent, but were distributed to all households as advertisement in the form of a brochure by scattered mail. Since it cannot be proved that someone received this bonus, the tax administration cannot add the 30 francs to income. Law enforcement cannot be implemented in this case, as Martin says.
TKB voucher.
The same applies to dinner invitations or vouchers that someone receives for their birthday: according to the Thurgau Tax Law, they would have to pay taxes. Specifically, it says: “Any type of income is also considered as income in kind, in particular free food and lodging, as well as the value of the products and goods of the business itself; the deciding factor is the market value. ”However, the tax administration cannot prove this income.
More than half of TKB coupons have been redeemed so far
The value of TKB’s 130,000 30-franc coupons is almost four million francs. Upon request, media spokeswoman Tina Helfenberger reports:
“So far, more than half of the coupons have been redeemed.”
The bank overloads its marketing budget with the expenses of the TKB coupon campaign, which is a normal business expense.
For the city of Weinfelden it is clearly a small amount
The City of Weinfelden knows that there is no de minimis limit in tax law. City Clerk Reto Marty assumes that, as with birthday gifts, it is customary not to pay taxes on such small amounts.
Challenge Marty, Weinfelden City Clerk.
It also seems absurd to him that the media is reporting on the coupon campaign in this way, saying that the city wanted to do something good with it. Y: He is opposed to the donation being taxed.
