Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was one of the most popular reality television shows during the years of 2004-2005, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Reality TV Program. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (EMHE), “tells a fascinating story about modern day America where the return of a strong right-wing ideology privileges the traditional family and the interests of business, yet also affords a glimpse of the crises affecting ordinary Americans” (Palmer, 2007,p.). Each episode, team leader Ty Pennington shows his team a family in need of help, whether it is a sick child, loss of a family member, or a disabled family member. The team then has 7 days to transform the familys home, while the family is taken on a vacation, “The programme is, in short, …show more content…
According to “The Unexpected Tax Consequences of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" by Jennifer M. Nasner, Nasner states,
“ Brian Woffard's home in Encinitas, Califomia had 1,212 square feet and an assessed value of $246,410 before it was renovated into 4,337 square feet with seven bedrooms and a gym.24 Because his home was reassessed at $572,879, the widowed father of eight will receive a property tax bill of more than double the previous amount, up from $2,700 to $6,000.25” (Nasner, 2004, p.484).
Although, these families are deserving of receiving these new homes, appliances, and furnishings estimated at hundreds of thousands of dollars, it brings up questions about tax consequences including income and property taxes. In the U.S, we are aware that a prize or award is not exempt from income tax as a gift under I.R.C. § 102.3 (Nasner, 2004, p.486). These families are given these elaborate homes but unable to keep up with the cost of living in such an updated, spacious
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Larry and Melissa Beach who fostered 85 special needs children were forced to sell their mansion in Kemah, Taxes due to the aftermath of upkeep costs and property taxes after the show (Farberov.2014). However, According to the article, “Butch Woolfolk, a former running back for the Houston Oilers, purchased the eight-bedroom home last year for $500,000 and turned it into Kemah Palms Recovery - a high-end drug rehab center” (Farberov.2014). Neighbors were worried that turning the mansion into a halfway home would hurt their property value. Also, many neighbors within the community were afraid of their kids being so close to a drug treatment