How much is this plasma worth?

A) A comparison of the costs of new plasma televisions:

http://www.nextag.com/42-inch-plasma-tv/search-html

B) 42 inch plasma televisions sold on Ebay:

http://search.ebay.com/42-plasma-television_W0QQfbfmtZ1QQfromZR41QQsabfmtsZ1QQsascsZ1

Is there an issue of having to pay either sales or income tax on such an expensive winning? I often wonder whether people who win new cars have the IRS and the state checking in. Some winner on the first SURVIVOR didn’t pay any taxes on his $1 mil award and went to jail for a year, I think.

There are always taxes, but usually the winnings are worth more than you pay in taxes anyway. For example, if we were to buy a plasma it would cost a lot more than the taxes will on winning one.

@figbash, thanks.

Does your dad have to pay taxes for having won the TV, whether he keeps it or not?

I understand the taxes on purchases.

Yes, but can write it off on tax forms as a donation since we’ll probably donate it to our synogogue’s annual auction.

Ah, a perfect solution.And a terrific addition to the synagogue’s auction. BTW, I meant to ask you, Tali, how your parents come to speak Hebrew?

Well, my dad learned in day school growing up and retained it, and my mom learned a little bit when we lived in Israel a few years ago.