I was reading an interesting article about how states have come up with new ways to raise revenue. States and local governments are trying new methods to plug budget shortfalls. One of these methods is requiring bloggers to apply for a license from their local state in order to host a blog. Philadelphia is the first city to require bloggers to pay for a “business privilege license.”
Some states are requiring bloggers to pay fees as high as $300 for the right to write. According to the Washington Post, some states are charging bloggers $50 annual fee. Any blogger that is running ads on their site may be required to pay this fee.
This fee seems ludicrous considering that most bloggers are not able to monetize their blogs. Why should states force bloggers to pay money for something that may not generate any income? It is very difficult to try and gain a consistent revenue stream from blogging. A blogger can run ads for an entire year and not earn $50 in income. It takes hard work, dedication, and the payoff may not come for years in the future.
Hopefully the taxing of bloggers will not catch on nationwide. But states looking for additional revenue sources may try a similar approach.
What do you think about states requiring bloggers to pay a fee for the right to blog?
