Assigner Role (Title edited to show proper spelling. Assigner not assignor)

[Bumps]

Jeff, I did a search and could not find info on this question.

I am taking over the assigning of a moderate size recreation League in town. I know the board members and have been involved with the League for many years in various roles, the last few as "just" an umpire.

My question is, for those of you that assign games, do you use a program or do you use just a regular old spreadsheet? It will be 4 divisions, with up to 7 fields and will have about 20 umpires on the primary crew. Rarely will all 7 fields be used at once, except at tournament time at seasons end.

[Majordave]

Arbiter.com. Costs money but makes your life easier.

[noumpere]

There is also horizon web ref and ref town (and probably some others)

[Bumps]

Thanks, I was thinking arbiter and Refpay, as that is the way I am assigned for HS.

The previous assignor just did a 2 week spreadsheet and paid the guys out of his own account, after he was funded by the league. I feel like I want a little more accountability with something like Refpay, but the guys are not currently paying anything to get games. I also believe most of them are not claiming this revenue at tax time.

[noumpere]

If you are paying them, you will have to send then a 1099 if they make more than $600 (I think) -- and you will have to report it to the IRS yourself on a 1096 (I think) -- and that might include all payments (even if less than $600).

[Bumps]

Understood, but this was DEFINITELY NOT happening before, which is why I want to make sure no party involved (me, League, other umpires) has liability. Just want it done correctly.

As I talk this out, arbiter and Refpay seem the way to go, as all those reports are available, for a nominal fee.

Thanks again for the help, advice, guidance.

[Majordave]

Do what noumpere says. If not you could be liable for fines, penalties etc.

[Ump29]

I am an assigner in Canada where any umpire income is not reportable/taxed. Also the umpires are paid in cash at the field by the teams. I do all my assigning the old way over the phone and on paper. Only high tech I do is post assignments to a web site for all to see. I assign about 40 to 50 games a week.

[scrounge]

Signupgenius.com is free and allows self-nominations

[zoops]

We have a fairly small association with only 10-15 games a week in the summer and we use a google docs spreadsheet.  Works pretty well - updates automatically so you don't have to constantly send out updates like you would with excel and is easy to access from a smartphone, etc.  

[cyclonehokiece]

I would also tell you to consider having a separate bank account to keep the money separate and easier to track.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ump29]

Glad to see title change to assigner. One of my pet peeves to have it spelled assignor.

 

assigner – a person who assigns, allots or apportions.

 

assignor – a person who legally transfers to another some property or right.

[Majordave]

Recipient of that property or right from an assignor is an assignee.

It's an affliction. I apologize.

[mjr_2013]

With only 20 umpires, I'm not sure Arbiter would really be worth it.

 

My LL has about 20 umps for five divisions and seven fields... I have no problem doing it on an Excel sheet and then sending an email. I only made one real mistake, forgetting to schedule a guy one week, through the entire season.

 

If you charge your umps to join the association and the money is there, go for Arbiter, but if you're in penny pinching mode like most leagues, you probably won't have any problems with an Excel sheet.

[thunder6661980]

I am an assigner in Canada where any umpire income is not reportable/taxed. Also the umpires are paid in cash at the field by the teams. I do all my assigning the old way over the phone and on paper. Only high tech I do is post assignments to a web site for all to see. I assign about 40 to 50 games a week.

Sorry to bust your bubble but all income as to be reported in Canada...

[Magic]

I use arbiter. I have 30 umpires and I assign in the neighborhood of 500 games a year. I charge the guys $13/yr for Arbiter and $2/game assigned fee. Everyone has the option each May to opt out for the upcoming year if they so choose. I charge them for Arbiter so I don't have to raise my assigning fees. Noone complains. But I must say, I have a great group of umpires and for the most part I never hear any complaints from any coaches about their professionalism.

[Ump29]

 

I am an assigner in Canada where any umpire income is not reportable/taxed. Also the umpires are paid in cash at the field by the teams. I do all my assigning the old way over the phone and on paper. Only high tech I do is post assignments to a web site for all to see. I assign about 40 to 50 games a week.

Sorry to bust your bubble but all income as to be reported in Canada...

 

 

Not what I was told.

[thunder6661980]

 

 

I am an assigner in Canada where any umpire income is not reportable/taxed. Also the umpires are paid in cash at the field by the teams. I do all my assigning the old way over the phone and on paper. Only high tech I do is post assignments to a web site for all to see. I assign about 40 to 50 games a week.

Sorry to bust your bubble but all income as to be reported in Canada...

 

 

Not what I was told.

 

Let's just say that you should trust me on that one...

[Bumps]

Thanks again to all for thoughts. I have decided that we are going to use refereeschedule.com

Less expensive than arbiter, easy to use and has many of the same reports available.

Looks like for this league, I will schedule around 250 - 275 for the fall, plus a Holiday tournament in early December and then schedule around 300 for the spring season.

Will report back mid fall as to how it is going.

[treydawgmt]

I am an assigner in Canada where any umpire income is not reportable/taxed. Also the umpires are paid in cash at the field by the teams. I do all my assigning the old way over the phone and on paper. Only high tech I do is post assignments to a web site for all to see. I assign about 40 to 50 games a week.

Sorry to bust your bubble but all income as to be reported in Canada...

Not what I was told.

Let's just say that you should trust me on that one...

I'd trust thunder here also. While I know nothing other than what I read to try to get you a factual answer about Canada tax code, I'm extremely well versed in tax code in the USA. I find it hard to believe ANY country would willing tell you not to report this income. According to the Canada Revenue Agency there are only a few incomes that are not taxable. Umpiring income isn't one of the exemptions. http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/rprtng-ncm/nttxd-eng.html Another interesting bit I read centered around if officiating income is employment income or self employment income. In the USA we use a similar test to decide which category your employment falls under. In the USA the IRS actually ruled that officials are indeed self employed. The CRA in Canada has never made a ruling, making the waters more muddy up there. Reading the seven tests fire determination I side on self employment argument personally, but as you can see there are strong arguments on both sides. What all sides agree is that legally, you must report that income somehow. http://forums.redflagdeals.com/how-report-side-job-income-tax-return-1300668/ In both the USA and Canada many people don't report various incomes because "it's not enough," my buddy Mike doesn't, I wasn't sent a 1099 form, or many other excuses. Usually the IRS/CRA doesn't audit you, and nothing happens. However, ALL INCOME is reportable unless specifically exempted. And if you get caught, the fines and penalties in both countries are steep. Is it worth it??

[thunder6661980]

Very good post Treydawgmt.

 

In Canada, chances of being audited for umpiring is slim since most of the organization don't file T-4's (employment income) or report money given to self-employed individuals. The province of Quebec tried to get information from these organizations for audit purposes but people were outraged; everybody seems to think that only 14 or 15 years old are getting paid to umpire/referee. I know someone that did over 400 hockey games (at 25$ a pop) and he will not pay taxes on it...

 

But as per tax laws, all income should be reported.