For the Taylors, match made in the Berkshires

Excellent interview Clarence, you really made me feel that James Taylor & his wife Kim are part of our community. I think this interview says a lot about the Taylor's & I personally have a different out look on them. The question & answer part of this interview really touched on what type of people they are. Thank you! It is a breath of fresh air to our community as a whole. We should all take a moment, throw away the negativity & just be grateful that they support us.

Clarence Fanto writes:
"He’s (Taylor) donating his $500,000 performance fee to the BSO."
Can the gushy, fawning Clarence Fanto please indicate where in IRS regulations it says that BSO can just 'withhold' the money from Mr. Taylor's 'fee' and then consider that a tax-deductible 'donation'?
Under IRS regulations, if it's to be a tax-deductible donation to tax-exempt BSO, Mr. Taylor is going to have to be the one to cut BSO a check for the $500G's because under IRS regs donating one's time or one's services to a tax-exempt organization is NOT considered tax-deductible.
For this to be a legitimate tax-deductible donation from Taylor, the money has to be in Mr. Taylor's account first before being 'donated' to BSO.
Perhaps BSO ought to plan on paying Mr. Taylor his full fee first if it intends on getting anything in return.
And it wouldn't hurt for The Berkshire Eagle to request from BSO or from Mr. Taylor to see a copy of Mr. Taylor's cancelled check to make sure this little deal is on the up-and-up?
We wouldn't want to defraud the tax man now would we?

nice wrote:

We should all take a moment, throw away the negativity & just be grateful that they support us.

He's not supporting me - never worked for him, never worked for his organization or family, never worked Tanglewood ... and the last time I checked the "B" in "BSO" stood for "Boston," not "Berkshire."

He should be donating his fee to abused women's shelters.

I wish the BSO would provide some contemporary music programming for people that aren't over 50. Recycling this same artist year after year may be good for the coffers but it does nothing to bring new fans to the venue and expose them to the BSO. Every year its the same artist....boring.

nice wrote:

Excellent interview Clarence, you really made me feel that James Taylor & his wife Kim are part of our community. I think this interview says a lot about the Taylor's & I personally have a different out look on them. The question & answer part of this interview really touched on what type of people they are. Thank you! It is a breath of fresh air to our community as a whole. We should all take a moment, throw away the negativity & just be grateful that they support us.

absolutely could not have said it better myself!!..... nice job!.......great article, format and responses by The Taylors.....my wife and I are sooooo looking forward to the Lawn and a couple beers on Friday!!!!!

SupportingWho wrote:

<quoted text>
He's not supporting me - never worked for him, never worked for his organization or family, never worked Tanglewood ... and the last time I checked the "B" in "BSO" stood for "Boston," not "Berkshire."

yes, and all those people who come to the Berkshires to enjoy performances at Tanglewood eat in restaurants, shop in the stores, stay in the hotels, inns, B&Bs. The dollars are then recycled throughout the local economy in the form of wages paid to the employees of those establishments and taxes paid to the state. This stimulates further spending. So you see, you do benefit indirectly.

HellerCarbonCapNTradeLLC wrote:

Clarence Fanto writes:
"He’s (Taylor) donating his $500,000 performance fee to the BSO."
Can the gushy, fawning Clarence Fanto please indicate where in IRS regulations it says that BSO can just 'withhold' the money from Mr. Taylor's 'fee' and then consider that a tax-deductible 'donation'?
Under IRS regulations, if it's to be a tax-deductible donation to tax-exempt BSO, Mr. Taylor is going to have to be the one to cut BSO a check for the $500G's because under IRS regs donating one's time or one's services to a tax-exempt organization is NOT considered tax-deductible.
For this to be a legitimate tax-deductible donation from Taylor, the money has to be in Mr. Taylor's account first before being 'donated' to BSO.
Perhaps BSO ought to plan on paying Mr. Taylor his full fee first if it intends on getting anything in return.
And it wouldn't hurt for The Berkshire Eagle to request from BSO or from Mr. Taylor to see a copy of Mr. Taylor's cancelled check to make sure this little deal is on the up-and-up?
We wouldn't want to defraud the tax man now would we?

Hey, Heller, you seem to have an inordinate amount of interest in the topic. Why don't you let JT's accountant worry about the mechanism for the donation to be made in the most tax efficient fashion.

It's clear that you don't have much experience with charitable giving yourself. You're a typical selfish conservative - it's all about grabbing as much of the pie for yourself as you can, without any concept of giving.

Won't be missing you at Tanglewood this weekend, Grinch.

Brian in MA - not MN wrote:

<quoted text>
Hey, Heller, you seem to have an inordinate amount of interest in the topic. Why don't you let JT's accountant worry about the mechanism for the donation to be made in the most tax efficient fashion.
It's clear that you don't have much experience with charitable giving yourself. You're a typical selfish conservative - it's all about grabbing as much of the pie for yourself as you can, without any concept of giving.
Won't be missing you at Tanglewood this weekend, Grinch.

Brian, in case you hadn't noticed it's The Berkshire Eagle which has been clanging this bell about James Taylor allegedly selfless donation of $500,000 to BSO.
It's a natural question to ask whether this is going to be an actual donation or just some scheme for Mr. Taylor to avoid taxes and simultaneously get public approbation doing it.
There are plenty of local people who give big bucks anonymously to BSO.
They quietly give the money, take their charitable tax deduction, and don't feel the need to publicize the fact on the front pages of The Berkshire Eagle nor to seek the public stroking of their respective egos.
This whole Taylor 'donation' matter has an aroma about it and since The Eagle has chosen to raise and publicize the subject, The Eagle has the obligation to follow through on the matter and to verify that the donation actually takes place properly and according to IRS regulations.

To the person who called classical music performances boring.........I have a feeling that you would also call the visual artists Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and Vermeer boring. Why do you assume that most people under 50 (including teens and those in their twenties) would not appreciate hearing classical music - especially of the caliber offered by the BSO and the guest conductors. What books have you read lately??

The arts in the Berkshires have always risen this area above so many other places. But the magic of James Taylor's endorsement on our community is such a gift. Sustaining an economic balance around here is hard in any venue, so to have such a worldy and favorable musician and story teller like himself put a stamp of approval on our home.....well I can say as a young person raised here...I am so glad for his love of The Berkshires and the draw our community gets from projects like this. So many wonderful local business owners benefit from a week like this and for a moment... breath a sigh of heartfelt relief for the business and the tourism. While we as just spectators get a taste of so many cultures, and people and experiences....it's why you settle down here...Thanks James!!!

I can't imagine what it would be like to have so little to do in my life that I would bring such a point onto this discussion. Theres almost a profound sense of bitterness in financially questioning this type of generosity...I suppose you do not tell your kids the story of Robinhood either for financial and ethical reasons....

HellerCarbonCapNTradeLLC wrote:

Clarence Fanto writes:
"He’s (Taylor) donating his $500,000 performance fee to the BSO."
Can the gushy, fawning Clarence Fanto please indicate where in IRS regulations it says that BSO can just 'withhold' the money from Mr. Taylor's 'fee' and then consider that a tax-deductible 'donation'?
Under IRS regulations, if it's to be a tax-deductible donation to tax-exempt BSO, Mr. Taylor is going to have to be the one to cut BSO a check for the $500G's because under IRS regs donating one's time or one's services to a tax-exempt organization is NOT considered tax-deductible.
For this to be a legitimate tax-deductible donation from Taylor, the money has to be in Mr. Taylor's account first before being 'donated' to BSO.
Perhaps BSO ought to plan on paying Mr. Taylor his full fee first if it intends on getting anything in return.
And it wouldn't hurt for The Berkshire Eagle to request from BSO or from Mr. Taylor to see a copy of Mr. Taylor's cancelled check to make sure this little deal is on the up-and-up?
We wouldn't want to defraud the tax man now would we?

A true legend

Beth Maturevich wrote:

I can't imagine what it would be like to have so little to do in my life that I would bring such a point onto this discussion. Theres almost a profound sense of bitterness in financially questioning this type of generosity...I suppose you do not tell your kids the story of Robinhood either for financial and ethical reasons....
<quoted text>

Beth Maturevich, get off your high horse.
It is The Berkshire Eagle and James Taylor and the flaks at Boston Symphony Orchestra who have chosen to publicize this story about Taylor's alleged selfless donation (minus expenses) to the orchestra.
If Mr. Taylor were really the selfless person he is being made out to be, don't you think he would've made the alleged 'donation' anonymously like so many other truly selfless individuals have done in the past and continue to do?
Plus, how many selfless sometime heroin addicts have you ever known to exist, being that heroin use is in itself all about the self and selfishness and egocentrism and self-pity.

Mary Ellen Larkin Palmer wrote:

A true legend

I Agree!:-)

HellerCarbonCapNTradeLLC wrote:

Clarence Fanto writes:
"He’s (Taylor) donating his $500,000 performance fee to the BSO."
Can the gushy, fawning Clarence Fanto please indicate where in IRS regulations it says that BSO can just 'withhold' the money from Mr. Taylor's 'fee' and then consider that a tax-deductible 'donation'?
Under IRS regulations, if it's to be a tax-deductible donation to tax-exempt BSO, Mr. Taylor is going to have to be the one to cut BSO a check for the $500G's because under IRS regs donating one's time or one's services to a tax-exempt organization is NOT considered tax-deductible.
For this to be a legitimate tax-deductible donation from Taylor, the money has to be in Mr. Taylor's account first before being 'donated' to BSO.
Perhaps BSO ought to plan on paying Mr. Taylor his full fee first if it intends on getting anything in return.
And it wouldn't hurt for The Berkshire Eagle to request from BSO or from Mr. Taylor to see a copy of Mr. Taylor's cancelled check to make sure this little deal is on the up-and-up?
We wouldn't want to defraud the tax man now would we?

Heller, you're a melon-head. There was nothing about taxes or planned tax deductions in the story. Let's leave JT's tax status to the accountant and the tax man.

JT can work for free, or for a dollar a day.
So could YOU, but YOU would be over-charging.

Personally JT is not my cup of tea. I liked some of his music 25 yrs ago. I went to see him a few times for the experience and I was dissapointed by the performances. Every year the BSO books JT and every year it sells alot of tickets so I understand why they do this. I just wish that BSO would try to bring in a younger audience by bringing in some younger / different artists rather always having it be JT.

Enjoy the show to those of you who still enjoy JT and be sure to pack an umbrella.

Struthio Camelus wrote:

<quoted text>
Heller, you're a melon-head. There was nothing about taxes or planned tax deductions in the story. Let's leave JT's tax status to the accountant and the tax man.
JT can work for free, or for a dollar a day.
So could YOU, but YOU would be over-charging.

So you don't think Sweet Baby James will be seeking a tax-deduction for his alleged 'donation'?

HellerCarbonCapNTradeLLC wrote:

<quoted text>
So you don't think Sweet Baby James will be seeking a tax-deduction for his alleged 'donation'?

I think it's none of my business.
I doubt the BSO twisted his arm to make whatever arrangement they've got. I'm sure the tax considerations were taken into account months ago.
I'll let the IRS/DOR conduct the audits (if any.)

Anyway, what taxes would have been collected if JT had decided to sit on his deck, drinking tea and strumming his guitar?

Struthio Camelus wrote:

<quoted text>
I think it's none of my business.
I doubt the BSO twisted his arm to make whatever arrangement they've got. I'm sure the tax considerations were taken into account months ago.
I'll let the IRS/DOR conduct the audits (if any.)
Anyway, what taxes would have been collected if JT had decided to sit on his deck, drinking tea and strumming his guitar?

SharonMomofBobby/GetReal/Strut hioCamelus you make less and less sense every day.