Workers for the City of Knox are being forewarned that their uniforms that they wear at work might be taxed as a fringe benefit in the near future.
Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston told Mayor Rick Chambers and City Council members of the possibility at the most recent City Council meeting.
“That looks like the way that the Department of Revenue says that we may be going,” said Houston. “There may be a way around that. We might have to pass an ordinance saying that that’s required for the city employees and they may have to take those uniforms off at work.”
Uniforms may only be worn during work or the employee will be taxed.
“If you can wear it on the street, it’s considered a taxable fringe benefit. We have a formula that we can figure out what that taxable fringe benefit is but that would eat into their pay. If we do change something, I think January 1st would be the time the change.”
Even cleaning the uniforms could be a taxable fringe benefit.
Mayor Chambers commented that there is no place to change clothes at this time which is something to consider.
