Joe Louis Heavyweight champ and American IRS

[Mike375]

As a very keen fight fan I think I have seen every film from Jack Johnson on.

But I was asked today if the Joe Louis and IRS stories are true. There a million links on it and here is one

http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=22

It has always seemed that Joe gave up a lot of career for the US and of course the 2nd fight with the German.

He supposedly came out of retirement because of the IRS.

After his death he got just about every American award. May have even got Congressional Medal of Honor...not sure

I am sure there is more to the story on Joe Louis and the IRS and the IRS in general.

Any comments or elaboration etc.

 

[ColinEssex]

After his death he got just about every American award. May have even got Congressional Medal of Honor...not sure

Doesn't every American that dies get an award? I know if a US soldier breaks a nail or scratches themself on a thorn they get a purple heart trinket.

I get the impression if you're American and don't get an award then you must be pretty poor.

I see even Obama is going down the befriend-rock-musicians road by using Stevie Wonder to gain popularity. (and to give Stevie an award of course)


(what's IRS?)
Col

 

[Rich]

(what's IRS?)
Col

Inmate revival scheme
Irish rescue service
?

 

[Mike375]

The tax department

 

[statsman]

The Internal Revenue Service. US equivilent of the Inland Revenue.

Joe Louis is not an uncommon story. Abbot and Costello toured the US 6 times during the war to raise money for war bonds. They raised about $1 billion total. When they retired from making movies in 1959, the IRS said they owed about $1 million each in back taxes. They couldn't pay and lost their homes, cars and even their clothes when the IRS auctioned them off to pay the taxes. Calls for rescue to politicians for their war work went unanswered.
The team was forced to go back to work on an insipid TV series to make enough money to live.

 

[TessB]

I've never heard that before.
I'm going to have to google it.

 

[dkinley]

(what's IRS?)
Col

It's a place, like Washington, where, if you successfully avoid paying taxes - no matter how patriotic your friends say it is to do - you instantly qualify not only for a job, but a top-tier level job where you can enforce the rules you never bothered paying attention to.


-dK

 

[Rabbie]

The version I heard was that Louis made one critical mistake in that fight. Instead of arranging for the purse to be paid directly to the war fund he accepted the payment and then transferred it to the war fund thus making himself liable to US tax which of course the IRS demanded in full.

 

[ColinEssex]

The version I heard was that Louis made one critical mistake in that fight. Instead of arranging for the purse to be paid directly to the war fund he accepted the payment and then transferred it to the war fund thus making himself liable to US tax which of course the IRS demanded in full.

Quite right too. If he earned it then he should pay his tax on it.

I fail to see what the problem is.

What's a war fund? The US has paid out $700billion on the Iraq war so far - is there a special fund for that?

Col

 

[Rabbie]

Quite right too. If he earned it then he should pay his tax on it.

I fail to see what the problem is.

What's a war fund? The US has paid out $700billion on the Iraq war so far - is there a special fund for that?

Col

I believe the fund in question was a charitable fund set up to help dependents of those killed in the war. As I said previously Joe Louis got no personal gain from this and made the cheque over to the charity. The Tax liability arose solely because the promoter had made the cheque out to Louis and not directly to the charity.

I don't know if you raise money for MS charities but if you do I am sure you would feel aggrieved if you had to pay tax on any money you raised even if it was all passed to the charity.

 

[statsman]

The fund in question was the Army Relief.
It's primary purpose was to provide money to soldiers so they could travel home in a hurry following a family emergency (death in the family for example). There was an Army Relief rep in each division.

Wars were different in those days. Everyone supported them.

 

[ColinEssex]

Wars were different in those days. Everyone supported them.

Like they do now in the USA? It seems as long as their army is out there killing people then they feel superior.

Col

 

[Rich]

Wars were different in those days. Everyone supported them.

Eventually, anyway are you sure

 

[statsman]

Like they do now in the USA? It seems as long as their army is out there killing people then they feel superior.

Col

Most Americans are now going through Vietnam syndrome.
They've realized they've bitten off a lot more than they can chew.

 

[ColinEssex]

Most Americans are now going through Vietnam syndrome.
They've realized they've bitten off a lot more than they can chew.

Maybe, but it doesn't last very long before they're lusting to kill or invade somewhere again. That's one problem with the Yanks, they never seem to learn.

Col

 

[statsman]

Maybe, but it doesn't last very long before they're lusting to kill or invade somewhere again. That's one problem with the Yanks, they never seem to learn.

Col

Nor will they when people like you just keep re-cycling the same old responses. The one above is Number 216 isn't it?

 

[ColinEssex]

Nor will they when people like you just keep re-cycling the same old responses. The one above is Number 216 isn't it?

I wouldn't know - can you show some proof please? I'm pleased you actually take note of and presumably log my responses in order to keep such a record.

I wouldn't do it though if it wern't true.

Col

 

[statsman]

I would love to show you the proof but going by past performance you would just deny it.

It's about time for denial 14 again.

 

[speakers_86]

I would love to show you the proof but going by past performance you would just deny it.

It's about time for denial 14 again.

Thats funny.

 

[gemma-the-husky]

wrt Joe Louis

can't us citizens offset charitable donations against income anyway?

obviously not - seems very unfair