Slashing prices in my book store and getting out

[fishzlot]

I've slashed prices in my book store to ridiculously low prices.  Because I can't be selling on Ebay much longer.  Because if I do, I will be penalized by the government.  I've had some serious spinal problems in the past and the state pays my Part B and Part C under disability.  Unfortunately, they are holding against me any income I generate on Ebay and a low threshhold is set upon this to suspend my coverage.  Meaning I would not only need to assume monthly charges.  But would also be liable for a list of other medical bills if I required further surgery or in-hospital treatment.  Typically one-third of surgery and other types of treatment.  I'm not even sure what-all they would hit me with.  Some of it is a mystery until it would actually happen.  It is ultra-complicated and if you talk to 10 different people at the Social Security Administration?  You'll get 10 different stories and 10 different sets of "facts."  At the SSA their own employees always have a different explanation.  I can't get a straight story from any of them.  Always different, always inconsistent.  I don't trust the information I've gotten from any of them.  And they keep changing the rules at both the state and federal levels.  They can't leave well enough alone.  Some say it is "gainful employment."  Others say not.  They can't make up their minds.  A different story from every employee I talk to on the phone.

The government further complicated this, as many Ebayers will know, by making sure that it is now impossible to hide this extra income from the prying eyes of the government.  By kicking out a tax form if I make over $600 in a year on Ebay.  Congress quietly lowered the threshhold for reporting last year from the original $20K.  How did they get away with this without anyone noticing?  Where were the advocacy groups?

But at least the Emergency Health Act is protecting me for the time being from having medical benefits suspended for any reason.  This has been renewed every 90 days and is up for renewal again January 15.  Will they renew it again with Republicans in charge of the House of the Representatives and Democrats in charge of the Senate?  Who knows.  Republicans generally want to cut everything for everybody and stick it to people of lower income.  We don't know what will happen.  But I cannot risk being liable for hospital bills.  If I lose my Part B and Part C I could be asked to pick up one-third of cost for surgery and hospitalization.  It is a great danger.  And this danger is going to drive me right off Ebay.  I don't get regular Social Security for another two years and I don't know yet how that will affect this.  But the writing is on the wall.  The government is going to force me to close my Ebay store.  The risks are too great.  And I will now lose the meager extra income that I have received on Ebay for quite a few years.  This is awful but I have no other options.  The government has sealed off any options with their rules.  They don't want me making extra income on Ebay.  They will penalize me for doing it.

So I am trying to clear off as much inventory as possible at cheap prices.    I need to generate as much  money as I can.  And move out as many books as I can.  I have a lot of inventory and I'm selling it as cheaply as possible.  As I deal with this catastrophe the government has laid at my feet.  They took my EBay income away from me.  What a disaster.   I need to sell, sell, sell.  And then hide the money from the government under my mattress.  This spinal disease has already withered one of my hands.  And now the other hand is starting to atrophy as well.  I'm losing my grip on my one remaining good hand.  But the government is going to hammer me for making a little money on Ebay.   There is just no winning with this issue.

[coolections]

I am not allowed to bash the IRS some people hate that, but I can say I would think eventually there will be a question when you deduct milage if it was gas or electric.

[wattadeal]

Gosh, someone posts on a message board on the internet that they plan to hide money from the gov't under their mattress... SMH, that's pretty stupid.

[stephenmorgan]

Do you receive SSI or as its called Medicaid from the state with Medicaid paying the co-payments and annual deductible for your Medicare.  Does Medicaid pay you monthly Medicare premiums?

Medicaid is an income based benefit for low income people and if you exceed the income threshold the State has a right to cancel the benefit. 

SSDI is a little more lenient with allowing some employment income (earned income) to be earned.  It is not much before they may reevaluate you to make sure you are still eligible to receive SSDI.  A person can receive unlimited amounts of income while on SSDI and their benefit will not be affected as long as it is not earned income.  Investment income, capital gains, interest income and other retirement incomes will not affect SSDI.  It is not the same if you receive SSI benefits.  Any income, no matter the source has to be considered before and or during when you become eligible for SSI.

The Medicare co-payments are 20% not 1/3rd. 

I have empathy for anyone receiving SSI (Medicaid).  Their income is very low and has to remain low to continue receiving the benefit.  Receive a few extra dollars and they could loose the Medical benefit that is more valuable then the few dollars they received.  If it is a permeant situation then they are in a continued life of poverty.

[joseh1445]

You need to do what you need to do.  Some times, we (as sellers need to go to another place).  Good luck on your selling journey.  

[mam98031]

Don't you have another thread going on the same subject????  Why have two threads.  Did you not like what was shared with you on the other one.

From October.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Leaving-Ebay-this-year-but-not-with-spite-or-anger/td-p/332920...

From December.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/How-to-increase-traffic-in-my-bookstore/td-p/33393343

[reallynicestamps]

@onefootflipper 

Before you decide on a car, test getting in and out.

Since it seems it was your right leg you lost, same as DH, you are driving with only one foot and being able to quickly hit the right pedal is very important. He tried over 20 different cars before he found one that was comfortable.

He has his knee, which does make everything easier.

Don't hop! Get crutches for when you don't want to use the wheelchair. Your hip will thank you. Hopping means a hip replacement down the line and arthritis even before that.

[dbfolks166mt]

It is not cheating if it is legal. Only  a fool pays more taxes than they are required to by law.

Quite agree. There is a big difference between tax cheating and tax avoidance. That is why multi-billion dollar corporations pay little or no taxes. Take a look at some of the following companies taxes and tax rates for 2021. 

[soh.maryl]

When you say you're "being penalized by the government", are you referring to the fact that you are having to pay Federal income tax? If not, then how are you being penalized?  

[laststopgeneralstore]

So long story short, you've been evading taxes this whole time? I'm glad you have while I've been paying my taxes fairly for the past almost 3 years since I've been full time. Also, they government didn't "quietly" lower the threshold, it's been made very apparent. This also goes for any online site, venmo, cash app etc... not JUST eBay.

[dhbookds]

---

@dbfolks166mt wrote:

It is not cheating if it is legal. Only  a fool pays more taxes than they are required to by law.

Quite agree. There is a big difference between tax cheating and tax avoidance. That is why multi-billion dollar corporations pay little or no taxes. Take a look at some of the following companies taxes and tax rates for 2021. 

---

You do understand that most of those companies pay thru at least some of the profits to shareholders who do pay tax on the dividends..........

[onefootflipper]

---

@reallynicestamps wrote:

@onefootflipper 

Before you decide on a car, test getting in and out.

Since it seems it was your right leg you lost, same as DH, you are driving with only one foot and being able to quickly hit the right pedal is very important. He tried over 20 different cars before he found one that was comfortable.

He has his knee, which does make everything easier.

Don't hop! Get crutches for when you don't want to use the wheelchair. Your hip will thank you. Hopping means a hip replacement down the line and arthritis even before that.

---

I actually had an internet acquaintance who had a new Maverick stop by my house on his way through town so I could test out the seating and pedal reach and it passed that test with flying colors. I know exactly what your husband went through. I won't buy any car that I can't get in and drive left-footed without removing my prosthetic leg, which means the pedals can't be a stretch and it can't have a super intrusive console or dashboard  keeping me from folding up the fake leg out of the way.  I can no longer drive my beloved 1984 Mercedes convertible. My Toyota minivan is just fine, easy in, easy out, easy drive. My old Dodge/Mitsubishi minitruck is also easy to drive and get in and out of, although that is more of a collector vehicle and I only drive it about once a month or so. My wife's Toyota Matrix is so hard to get in and out of that I only drive it or ride in it if the van is in the shop.

I am not actually really hopping around, I do a lot of standing on one leg though to get things off shelves, and have set up bars so I can basically crutch myself from the bed to the bathroom without actual crutches. 

I have a prosthetic leg although I don't wear it in the house, the fake knee sticks out so far past my real knee that I effectively can't get any work down with it on, it just hits everything and keeps me from being able to reach things. 

[dbfolks166mt]

It is not cheating if it is legal. Only  a fool pays more taxes than they are required to by law.

Quite agree. There is a big difference between tax cheating and tax avoidance. That is why multi-billion dollar corporations pay little or no taxes. @dbfolks166mt wrote:

You do understand that most of those companies pay thru at least some of the profits to shareholders who do pay tax on the dividends..........

     But of course it's just like other expenses corporations write off their taxes. Corporate expenses are part of somebody, or someone else's, gross income. It's how companies expand and grow and avoid taxes in the process. Amazon has never paid stock dividends but they have grown considerably from their humble beginnings as an online book store.

     Some sellers here do the same thing. Invest in inventory, equipment to the point where your expenses exceed your gross income and you pay no taxes or in fact offset some of your other tax liability from the business loss.