I feel for the Phildelphia bloggers who were subjected to anxiety attacks this week. On Monday, rumors spread that Philly is in dire need of an infusion of cash and that bloggers are going to be taxed. Of course, this kind of news affected not only those located in Philadelphia but bloggers everywhere. The thought in every blogger’s mind: “If this is happening in Philly now, who knows when it will happen in my area as well?”

NY Daily News is one of the sites that published the story about bloggers being taxed in Philly:

How does a financially strapped city with a shrinking manufacturing base and rising unemployment attempt to make a little extra cash?

Tax the bloggers.

Philadelphia is demanding that bloggers pay $300 for a business license, whether or not the blog brings in a fraction of that amount in profit, according to the Philadelphia City Paper.

$300 for a business license??? That is atrocious, to say the least. Even if you didn’t catch the news early this week, you can easily understand why it stirred up the hornet’s nest.

Here’s the good news, though: the rumor is just that – a rumor and nothing else. Interestingly, the news that doused the fires came from The Guardian. Yesterday, they published a story that put the facts straight: there is NO blog tax in Philly. The $300 tax mentioned is actually a lifetime business license fee for anyone who is doing business and making money. This fee can be broken down yearly – $50 annually.

Classic case of people jumping to conclusions. Bloggers, rest easy and please read more carefully next time.

Photo credit : Phillip