3
« on: Jul 24, 2013, 11:48 am »
Not sure if this is the best place for this post, but I didn't see anywhere else it would be fitting. So, here's the situation I (and many others at this company) am currently finding myself in:
I'm (non-AEA)currently working at a large regional theatre, where we are provided with housing. No where in the housing rider or contract does it say we will be charged in any way for housing. It notes we will pay state, federal and FICA, but nothing about any monies being taken out for housing.
Rumors have begun circling about our housing getting taxed as a benefit, and it being retro-active (ie. if you have been on contract since May, all of that housing tax you hadn't been paying might be coming out of this paycheck). No one in Admin will give a straight answer, other than an email that is addressed to the entire company but not the entire company received, saying it is a Federal regulation.
I've been doing a lot of reading/researching, but frankly am just getting more confused by trying to translate IRS website.
Does anyone happen to know anything about the legality of this? And if it is legal, how do they decide the amount? (another rumor we heard is that the level of tax depends on where you live. We don't get to decide where we live! We are placed in housing of many different types-- across the town!)
Any information/insight would be wonderful, as I'm currently working with many (and am one of) upset and stressed co-workers in every department. With many of us a returning employees, this is something new that is catching everyone off guard more than half way through the summer season.
Thanks--