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Swag Bags: Can't Nobody (Even the IRS) Hold Them Down

Where: 8555 Beverly Boulevard [map], Los Angeles, ca, United States, 90048

The IRS might be cracking down on the infamous Swag Bags handed out at such events like the upcoming Emmy Awards but product promoters are still determined to hand off their freebies to celebs.

Starting today at the Sofitel Los Angeles Hotel, a band of swaggers, GBK productions, will be opening up their "swag suite" which will give selected celebs free stuff like Lasik eye surgery and a $22,000 Caribbean cruise. But of course, they will be abiding by the new IRS rules demanding taxed be paid on all the free goods:

Tax forms will be available at the Emmy "swag suites" too. "We'll be giving them the necessary paperwork for what it's valued at," said Gavin Keilly of GBK Productions.

Despite a positive reaction at the recent Kids' Choice Awards swag parties, it still remains to be seen whether celebs will want to pick up all the goods now that they have to pay taxes. As the LA Times pointed out, an A-list actor in the top tax bracket will have to pay $40,000 on a $100,000 worth of swag. An A-list actor might be able to manage that fee but a reality TV star or Tara Reid might have trouble making that payment. Is the $22,000 cruise really worth it?

Related Stories:
· Hollywood Gets Freebie Jeebies [LA Times]
· Sofitel Los Angeles reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Swag coverage [HotelChatter]