# A tax break for WASPs only? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 9, 2004, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161 "2004-04-09T12:01:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Cloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@Little\_Cloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Cloud)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/1 "2004-04-09T12:01:41Z")
Somebody once told me that if you can prove you are descended from the founding fathers you are entitled to some kind of tax break. It came up when I mentioned accompanying my aunt to DAR meetings when I was a child. He said his girlfriend was in the DAR and got a good break because of it. I suppose I could contact the DAR and find out the name of my qualifying ancestor through my aunt’s records. Heck I’d even join this organization of little old ladies if it is true. God knows, I need all the help I can get. Please tell me it’s true. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/2 "2004-04-09T12:43:58Z")
> [@Little Cloud](#): > > Somebody once told me that if you can prove you are descended from the founding fathers you are entitled to some kind of tax break. It came up when I mentioned accompanying my aunt to DAR meetings when I was a child. He said his girlfriend was in the DAR and got a good break because of it. > > I suppose I could contact the DAR and find out the name of my qualifying ancestor through my aunt’s records. Heck I’d even join this organization of little old ladies if it is true. > > God knows, I need all the help I can get. Please tell me it’s true. 😃 Oh come on! You don’t really believe this, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/3 "2004-04-09T15:21:16Z")
I also doubt that there is a tax break for descendants of the founding fathers, but there are many scholarships that have specific eligibility requirements. I’m looking at the DAR website, and they have some scholarships that are open to anyone, and others that are restricted. For example, there is one for which the “applicants must be members, descendents of members or eligible for membership in NSDAR.” ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/4 "2004-04-09T15:21:18Z")
Nonsense, I’m sure. The DAR does some charitable work, so one can get a tax break for donations to DAR, including donations of stock, but just for being a DAR? Pfft. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/5 "2004-04-09T16:13:36Z")
You don’t have to be a WASP to be a descendent of one of the founding fathers, either, as fairly recent news stories have revealed. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/6 "2004-04-09T17:25:39Z")
It’s true, but it’s not a “tax break” as such. If you are a card carrying member of the DAR liquor stores in the New England states will give you a 5% discount on gin and vermouth, Not much, but every little bit helps. ---
**Author:** ![Tokyo\_Mann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@Tokyo\_Mann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tokyo_Mann)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/7 "2004-04-09T18:17:14Z")
> [@Little Cloud](#): > > Please tell me it’s true. Please give me a bit of what you are smoking. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Cloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@Little\_Cloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Cloud)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/8 "2004-04-09T18:47:14Z")
His information seemed so reliable. He was a rich guy in thre finance world. Any Tax attorneys out there? ---
**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/9 "2004-04-09T19:36:57Z")
If this is true, he should be able to supply the relevant portions of his girlfriend’s tax return to you to prove it. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/10 "2004-04-09T19:44:26Z")
Sounds a hell of a lot like the tax scam that some crooks are running that tries to convince African-Americans that they can claim compensation from the IRS for slavery reparations – all they have to do is sign up for a $200 seminar to learn how to make the claim. If someone tries to sell you a ticket to a seminar or do some paperwork for a “nominal charge” or something, call the cops. Scam scam scam. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/11 "2004-04-09T21:31:38Z")
Somehow I missed this question on TurboTax 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/12 "2004-04-10T03:45:14Z")
There are Black descendants of at least one Founding Father and surely plenty of non-Protestants and non-Ango-Saxons. That pretty well takes out the WASP theory anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Starguard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Starguard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starguard)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/13 "2004-04-10T11:33:59Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > There are Black descendants of at least one Founding Father and surely plenty of non-Protestants and non-Ango-Saxons. That pretty well takes out the WASP theory anyway. Pardpn my ignorance, but what exactly is WASP? Is this the same organization that were responsible for the annalliation of the Hawaiians ? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/14 "2004-04-10T11:46:47Z")
WASP=White Anglo-Saxon Protestant ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Cloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@Little\_Cloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Cloud)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/15 "2004-04-10T13:03:25Z")
My God, The WASP thing was just to add a touch of levity to the OP. Whoooosh. ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/16 "2004-04-10T13:55:17Z")
> [@Little Cloud](#): > > My God, The WASP thing was just to add a touch of levity to the OP. Whoooosh. Ha - Ha. People tried to answer your question as if you were really serious. Yep, you certainly get points for fooling everyone. Good luck on getting serious responses to any future questions. ---
**Author:** ![Starguard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Starguard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starguard)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/17 "2004-04-10T19:16:27Z")
:o 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Cloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@Little\_Cloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Cloud)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/18 "2004-04-10T19:32:39Z")
Though I would still be grateful for any info on the OP, You can read my response to **Papermache Prince** in the pit. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tax-break-for-wasps-only/239161/19 "2004-04-10T19:46:51Z")
> [@](#): > > **Starguard** : Pardpn my ignorance, but what exactly is WASP? Is this the same organization that were responsible for the annalliation of the Hawaiians ? WASP stands for White Ango-Saxon Protestant. I’m no historian, but I don’t think that Hawaiians were _completely_ annihilated. :rolleyes: I think that the native Hawaiians were exposed to diseases that they had not built up immunities to. I don’t know if all of these diseases were brought in by “WASPs” or not. They certainly had a part in it, though unintentionally. I am open to correction if I am mistaken.