Emmy Swag and a Tax Reminder to Celebs
With the Emmy Awards approaching in just a few weeks, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS) took the time to remind celebrities that their swag bags are considered taxable income and need to be reported as such when tax season rolls around. This is no small thing, either. The value of this year's Emmy gifts is estimated to be between $27,000 and $33,000. The ATAS even sent out letters to the presenters asking for compliance with the various tax codes with a waiver to sign, proving that they read it.
One of the reasons that the ATAS is being rather strict is that the IRS reportedly stands to collect over $1million from Oscar bags alone, which were worth over $100,000 each last year, and the ATAS doesn't want to be held responsible for any tax problems stemming from the Emmy Awards.
For a full list of the goodies that the Emmy presenters will be getting, click past the jump.
- Five-day stay at Old Bahama Bay on Grand Bahama Island, plus access to all water sports
- One-year bicoastal membership to the Sports Club/LA (which, contrary to its name, has locations in San Francisco, Miami, New York and various other hotspots)
- Sprint Fusic mobile phone, retails for $329
- Two nights at the US Grant in San Diego, including spa treatments
- One-year bicoastal membership to YogaWorks
- Five-day golf or ski getaway at the Adara Hotel in Whistler
- Six days at the Wharekauhau Country Estate in Featherston, New Zealand
- Four days at the Dolphin Bay Hotel & Residences in Pismo Beach, California
- Six days at The Lodge at Molokai Ranch on Molokai, Hawaii
- Babystyle gift card, Lulu the Lamb original stuffed kids' chair and personal shopping consult
- Gift certificate for two-day "Emmy Crush Camp" wine appreciation at the Napa Valley Hotel
- Food & wine pairing for six people from the Crustacean Restaurant in Beverly Hills
- Spa gift certificate and products from Fresh
- Gingi skincare products
- Ike Behar silk tie, button-down shirt and lapis cufflinks
- Morton's Steakhouse gift certificate (last year's was for $1,500)
- String of pearls from Pearl Paradise
- Prive and Ona Spa gift certificate
- Dooney & Bourke leather roller luggage
- "365 Days of Dove" chocolate assortment
- Gift certificate for linens from DreamSleep Studio
Also included are instructions on how to donate gowns, tuxes and other Emmy goodies to the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation to benefit relief efforts in Darfur, Sudan, the Children's Defense Fund and Cure Autism Now. The gift bags, if donated, are tax deductible, too.
