RE: Workcamping

[SheBantam]

 

Workamper Program - HIRING
 Frontier Town Campground is one of more than 5,000 employers nationwide who hire seasonal employees known as Workampers. Workampers are adventuresome couples and singles who enjoy a wonderful lifestyle that combines working and camping. Our Workamper program for this year begins April 13, 2001. The program continues through the summer ending between September 15th and the end of October. We provide you with a campsite - water, electric (30 amp) and sewer - plus an hourly wage. Workamper hours normally range from 20 to 40 hours per week depending upon the specific job.  

 Saw this on the frontier town web site. Sorta figured it existed but never really saw it in writing.  Maybe someday...when I retire in about 15 years.

[Zooey]

 SheBantam
That would be great!!!  I wonder what the pay is...  
 
 Zooey[&:]

[SheBantam]

 SheBantam

 P.O. Box 691 ú Ocean City, Maryland 21843-0691 ú 410-641-0880 ú 1-800-228-5590
 
 
 Call and find out if interested, it s a free call.
 
 Just thought that this is a neat idea for some folks. Like me in a few years.

[tlhdoc]

 SheBantam
I always thought it would be nice to work for the NPS when I retire.  Get a seasonal job at a different NP each summer and really get to know the park.[]

[cartooncaracter]

 SheBantam
Know this is PUT, but Trailer Life had a nice article on Volunteers In Parks. On how you can volunteer in a national park and get a campsite and in some parks a small stipend. Thought it was a neat article

[Gone-Camping]

 SheBantam
There s a lot more of that than you think, go to workamper.com for a listing!

[garym053]

 SheBantam
I recently subscribed to Workamper News in anticipation of retirement or semi-retirement! Of course I ve still got 10 years to go at least, but it s neat to see what s out there!

[mike4947]

 SheBantam
We have a couple that s slightly older than us (I met him in my first cardiac rehab, 6 years ago) They idd the workcamper one winter while snowbirding down south. They enjoyed it until they got the 1099 & W2 from the campsite. They expected the W2 for the wages, but the didn t expect the 1099 for the price they would have been charged for the site for the season and the owners listed the amount as the " daily rental"  amount so it was much larger than by the week or month. $45 x 160 days or $7200. which even at the 15% tax bracket means they owned $1080 extra on their income tax. Not a great surprise come the following year.
 Their fighting because the owner lumped rent from 2 years into one 1099 (from October till mid April. But they had to pay the tax bill and now fight to get the 1099 s split so at least the owner will be fined for incorrect reporting.
 
 SO make sure you know ALL the rules and what s going to happen with your situation.

[garym053]

 SheBantam
Thanks for the info Mike4947!!! I wouldn t have thought of the 1099 for a space, but it does make sense. In this case, it sounds as if the campground is trying to maximize their deductible expense AT the expense of their workampers!

[Gone-Camping]

 SheBantam
One must be careful with the tax man, however, the following is straight from the workamper.com website....
 
 A recent report in an RV magazine, citing IRS bartering rules, stated that campground hosts who receive a free site at commercial RV parks, should pay taxes on the value of the site. However, the report failed to acknowledge a very popular exception. The IRS allows for the exclusion of employer furnished lodging from gross income under conditions that are easily met in most Workamper situtations. Current IRS regulations allow for the exclusion of the value of employer furnished lodging from the employee s gross income, provided the following three tests are met: 1) The lodging is furnished on the business premises of the employer, 2) The lodging is furnished for the convenience of the employer, and 3) The employee is required to accept such lodging as a condition of employment. (see irc 1.119 (b)). (Also see IRS Publication 525 - " Meals & Lodging" ).
 

[mike4947]

 SheBantam
FYI on the 1099, it was issued after the IRS audited the campground owners as they felt it was compensation, not a condition of employment. Actually the agreement between my friends spelled out that they were to be payed x number of dollars per week and " free"  site rental for so many hours work. That was the mistake; it was spelled out as a barter.
 That s why I said " ALL the rules"  a few words can make a ton of difference and even if your right you can still spend money and time proving it.
 As there was a tax court ruling on this exact form, the best my friends can hope for is split 1099 s for the two years to reduce the tavable income per year. The IRS has already agreed to waive penalties and interest if the CG owners are forced to reissue the 1099 s and they have to file 2 ammended returns.