Help Keith Owen!

Maybe you guys already know, but Pedro Sauer BJJ Black Belt Keith Owen is currently in a real life fight with the Idaho state government who are illegally attempting to re-classify his martial arts school under the category of "entertainment & recreation" as opposed to "education!".

If this illegal act goes forward it will require Keith to retroactively pay thousands upon thousands of dollars based on every student he has ever had.
This would be a very dangerous precident to set for all martial arts schools and more importantly is utter garbage to see happening.

I'm pissed off about it and I'm in Australia!

So plaese go show your support by searching Support Keith on Facebook or use this address/ link.

http://www.facebook.com/​SupportKeithOwen

says page not found.

http://www.facebook.com/SupportKeithOwen?ref=ts TADA

Already Liked This... yeah guys its really bad, they aren't just going after Mr. Keith. They are going after all of the other Martial Arts Schools, Dance Studios, etc. Retroactive Taxes are actually why we went to war with the Britts... I'm just saying.

So whats the whole story? Are they not for profits organizations?

Basically from what Mr. Keith has told the class is that The Dance and Martial Arts Schools have been treated like Educational Facilities Tax Wise (legally I might add)... but the tax commission wants to Re-Classify them as HEALTH FACILITIES, that way they have to charge 6% sales tax for every member that joins. Instead of just implementing a new tax for the future, they want the sales tax for every member that has ever joined, since the school was opened up.

So its basically the Idaho Tax Commission trying to butt rape these businesses with a non skid condom

Wow thats really fucked up.

So basically they are saying we are switiching your tax classification and the law is now retroactive? What a punch to the dick.

Yup... what I don't understand is why not, just implement it STARTING THIS YEAR, that way these companies can still stay in business.

If this goes through, its gonna put a lot of companies out of business... never thought something like this could/would happen in ID.

How messed up. "well we know that over twenty years ago you were place in this tax bracket but now we feel we messed up so you owe us going twenty years back for our mistake". Some serious bull shit.

hmm so Idaho is trying to say that all of these schools pruposfully mis-classified their businesses? Thats nuts it could affect almost anything Gymanastics,dance,Martial Arts,SCUBA,Sky diving, driving lessons,personal training,yoga and on and on. Crazy I wonder what is the general understanding of the tax laws of the local tax proffesionals is on the issue? Is it a common tax trick to classify the business under education and Idaho is just trying to close a loophole or is this some way out of left field oppourtunistic sham being pulled by the government to generate tax revenue? It would be very interesting to see what percentage of "intructional" type businesses are classified as educational vs entertainment & recreation.

I hope these people lawyer up and possibly look at a class-action.

I know when I had my business my tax guy actually asked me how honest do I want to be. I told him I want everything 100% above board.

We seriously need tax overhauls there is no reason to punish business owners like this.

Keith needs to get organized and seek out all the other business affected by this instead of just "SupportKeithOwen" - something more like SaveIdahoFitness or something. Then get all the other business's on board. The only way to take on the government is to get everyone involved.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scott Elkin

Keith needs to get organized and seek out all the other business affected by this instead of just "SupportKeithOwen" - something more like SaveIdahoFitness or something. Then get all the other business's on board. The only way to take on the government is to get everyone involved.

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This page was actually created by one of his students... and right now (to the best of my knowledge) he is currently speaking with the other schools in the area.

Wow, this sucks. Basically a state govt shakedown. Best of luck. Just a thought: Would it be worth changing the name of the school and the wording on his website/marketing? Maybe preemptively make it clear that yours is a jiu-jitsu SCHOOL, that the sessions are CLASSES, that the coach is an INSTRUCTOR/PROFESSOR, etc. Highlight that stuff in advance, for when the court case comes up.

Sorry for the link not working guys, and thanks for fixing it Mike.
Support Keith Owen here:
http://www.facebook.com/SupportKeithOwen?ref=ts

Someone should get Keith in touch with a Contract Law expert named Gordon Hall.

Ok guys, don't get me wrong I really do support Keith Owen and think he's a great open minded guy, but how does liking that Facebook page help him in any way at all? Whether it has 200 or 2000 members, it really doesn't matter to the Idaho state tax commision. "Hey guys look he has 2K fans on Facebook, let's drop those bullshit taxes we made up". Won't happen.

They don't care.

And before anyone says "but hey it helps spreading the message and he can communicate through it", nope. Just go ahead and follow him on his official Twitter or his myspace (no not really). There you can probably get relevant updates. And apparently that page was created by a student of his anyways. Next thing you know is that FB page might post things i. e. "Like thisss if you think dat Idaho Commision sucksss". That's what 90% of dem pages do.

Also I do agree with everyone else who thinks that he should team up with all the other business in Idaho and take legal steps against those taxes.

From his FB:
http://www.keithowenonline.com
http://www.myspace.com/keithrowen
http://www.twitter.com/keithowen
http://facebook.com/keithrowen

P. S: You can subscribe to FB profiles, did you know?

Max
Its about using social networking to get the message out and have people start pressuring the government. Keith is a very outspoken guy and not one I'd like to have a battle with. He always will go the extra mile and fight things to the bitter end. He has hired the former state attorney. As he has said "If I am going to lose money, might as well give it to the best lawyer in the state." Keith is just one of MANY schools in Idaho that will suffer. Retroactively having to pay tax on something is criminal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scott Elkin

Keith needs to get organized and seek out all the other business affected by this instead of just "SupportKeithOwen" - something more like SaveIdahoFitness or something. Then get all the other business's on board. The only way to take on the government is to get everyone involved.

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Good shit Elk. This is incredible shit, I can't imagine this will pass tho, seems too ridiculous

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eddie Bravo

I can't imagine this will pass tho, seems too ridiculous

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It is ridiculous, and shouldn't be passed, but look at how far it's gotten. It's gotten to the point where they're going to vote on it. Just the fact it got that far let's us know that there's a chance. It could set precedent in other states to follow suit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Max P.

Ok guys, don't get me wrong I really do support Keith Owen and think he's a great open minded guy, but how does liking that Facebook page help him in any way at all? Whether it has 200 or 2000 members, it really doesn't matter to the Idaho state tax commision. "Hey guys look he has 2K fans on Facebook, let's drop those bullshit taxes we made up". Won't happen.

They don't care.

And before anyone says "but hey it helps spreading the message and he can communicate through it", nope. Just go ahead and follow him on his official Twitter or his myspace (no not really). There you can probably get relevant updates. And apparently that page was created by a student of his anyways. Next thing you know is that FB page might post things i. e. "Like thisss if you think dat Idaho Commision sucksss". That's what 90% of dem pages do.

Also I do agree with everyone else who thinks that he should team up with all the other business in Idaho and take legal steps against those taxes.

From his FB:
http://www.keithowenonline.com
http://www.myspace.com/keithrowen
http://www.twitter.com/keithowen
http://facebook.com/keithrowen

P. S: You can subscribe to FB profiles, did you know?

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Its like signing a petition. The more people that "like" the page, the more people that support the cause. If the Idaho state sees that a ton of people are against this tax then theres a good chance they'll stop it. When awareness is raised they realize what the people want