2017 Oscars swag bags worth $100,000, come with hefty tax
The bags include vacations, spa getaways and cellulite massagers
The bags include vacations, spa getaways and cellulite massagers
The 89th annual Academy Awards will take place Sunday, and the top 25 nominees and host Jimmy Kimmel will be given swag bags worth around $100,000 each.
The 2017 Oscars gift bag has been provided by Los Angeles-based entertainment marketing firm Distinctive Assets.
was worth a staggering $232,000.
include a five-night vacation to Hawaiian resort Kōloa Landing ($1,150 a night), a week-long getaway at California spa Golden Door ($8,850), a three-night stay at Italy's Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como ($1,400 a night) and a three-night stay at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento ($700 a night).
Some of the smaller items include:
- cellulite massage mat - $99
- CPR Anytime kit - $38.50
- Oomi smart home starter kit - $599
- Crayola crayons customized set - $24.99
- Elvie pelvic floor exercise tracker - $199
But the swag bags aren't completely free - celebs must pay taxes on their contents, according to an agreement made between the IRS and the Academy
“For any gift [from a business] that’s valued at $600 or more, you’re supposed to get a 1099-MISC,” Len Hayduchok, president of Dedicated Financial Services, told . “If you have a gift that’s valued at $100,000 and you’re in a 33 percent tax bracket, that’s costing you $33,000. If it’s worth $33,000 to you, then you’d keep it.”
How can attendees avoid the hefty tax? They can donate the bags to charity, keep a few products or trips and donate the rest, or refuse to take the bags. In 2006, actor raised more than $45,000 by auctioning off his swag bag for United Way.