Scout Accounts

[lambeausam]

Last week, our council advised the units that scout accounts are not valid for anything that personally benefits the scout.

The new BSA National Policy states:
Individual Youth Accounts http://www.scouting.org/filestore/finan ... _Guide.pdf
The use of individual youth accounts to credit amounts from fundraising to an individual toward their expenses is not permitted. The IRS has stated that crediting fundraising amounts constitutes private benefit. However, the unit could use the funds (all or a percentage) raised to reduce or eliminate dues and various registration fees, purchase uniforms and Scouting books, and purchase camping equipment. The unit could also use its funds to provide assistance to individual Scouts in cases of financial hardship.
“There may be older official BSA documents that exist on the internet that reference
the use of Individual Scout Accounts, this statement supersedes all other references.
We are making every effort to replace older documents as they are discovered.”

Sam

[RMM]

I have been hearing about new information being distributed. Our Council has yet to provide any guidance. Does this mean all Scouts get the same amount allocated for "summercamp" and it does not matter how much they participated in the fund raising? If so, will we see the Scouts shift their efforts to the lowest common denominator?

[Quailman]

I've been wondering about a different type of 'fundraiser' - a Boy Scout labor pool. Offer our services for odd jobs. Distribute flyers at our CO between services. Offer to rake, pull weeds, spread mulch, wash windows, etc. for a half-day or full day fixed rate. Send the boys out in pairs (buddy system, YPT) or threes to earn money for summer camp. No money goes to the unit. They're just acting as a facilitator. The boys eat what they kill keep what they earn, including any extra tips.

My church youth group did something similar when I was in high school, only it all went into the general fund for our trip. We called it a slave sale. I think Boy Scout Labor Pool has a better ring to it.

Who goes out on a job is based on lottery/availability/who went recently. I think that if the troop doesn't handle the money there'd be no Scout accounts. Each boy would have to worry about his own taxes, if he made enough.

[RMM]

I like this!!!!

[ronin718]

Gents/Ladies, the word we're getting from upchannel is this applies to actual separate bank accounts, not sub-accounts within the troop finance system. Think of it as your different allocations to gear, advancements, camp, etc. Most troops only have one bank account, but within their financial mgmt ledger, they have things broken out. This is OK.

[FrankJ]

Gents/Ladies, the word we're getting from upchannel is this applies to actual separate bank accounts, not sub-accounts within the troop finance system. Think of it as your different allocations to gear, advancements, camp, etc. Most troops only have one bank account, but within their financial mgmt ledger, they have things broken out. This is OK.

Is this from a source with real tax credentials or an opinion?

[RMM]

For my birthday I am hoping to blow out all of the candles (there will be a large number of them) in one breath (not looking good there) and will wish that we receive from National and the Local Council BSA a concise, well written policy statement that address the issue of "Scout Accounts," including a well written definition of how they are determining what a "Scout Account" is.
I will also wish that there be available an online question and answer tool, where we can post questions and the question is answered by the originators of the above document.
This will allow us to have a statement that we can all understand and then operationalize and clear up the confusion on this topic.

While I am wishing, maybe I should wish for world peace or to end world hunger. Those wishes might be simpler to grant……