It’s a wage, but is thou an employee?

Remuneration is considered a ‘wage’, if the remuneration is paid to an ’employee’. However, is thou an employee?

Here’s the definition of ‘wage’ from 26 USC 3401 Definitions:

(a) Wages – For purposes of this chapter, the term “wages” means all remuneration (other than fees paid to a public official) for services performed by an employee for his employer

Now, from the same section, here’s the definition of employee:

(c) Employee – For purposes of this chapter, the term “employee” includes an officer, employee, or elected official of the United States, a State, or any political subdivision thereof, or the District of Columbia, or any agency or instrumentality of any one or more of the foregoing. The term “employee” also includes an officer of a corporation

An employee works for the United States (government). Only (govt) employees earn ‘wages’ in the context of federal income tax forms and their code.

Everyone else earns money. So most people don’t have a wage. And the minimum ‘wage’ only applies to work done for the government.

The word ‘includes’ draws a fence around the items listed in that definition. No other items could be implied unless in the same class, meaning very similar. Is thou similar to of elected official? No. The word ‘includes’ is restrictive because we have the phrase ‘including, but not limited to,…” We need to say ‘but not limited to’ because ‘including’ is a limit.

Notice: This post is for entertainment purposes and forms the notes for an exciting play planned for the future.

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