Original story by Natalie Finn for E!Online, 14 Aug 2006

Read about the contents and value of the free Emmy Goodie Bags – which has to be reported to the IRS should the receiver decide to keep it.

Stars scheduled to present statuettes Aug. 27 at the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards received a letter from ATAS, politely asking for their compliance with federal, state and local tax guidelines, along with a waiver to sign acknowledging that they received the letter in the first place.

The total value of the goods in this year’s presenter bags – or, great big boxes of stuff – has been estimated at somewhere between $27,000 and $33,000. When the 2006 Academy Award gift bags weighed in at more than $100,000 apiece, with no single gift being worth any less than $500, the IRS issued a statement wishing the Oscar nominees luck and reminding them to include their $25,000 four-night Hawaiian vacations and $7,000-worth of Victoria’s Secret undies on their income tax returns.

If they choose to keep the gifts, that is. Charitable donations are usually tax-deductible. The IRS couldn’t be reached for comment, but it was reported earlier this year that the government agency stood to collect almost $1.2 million from Oscar bags alone.

“As the world watches the glamour and glitz of the Academy Awards, it’s important to keep in mind that movie stars face the same tax obligations as ordinary Americans,” IRS commissioner Mark W. Everson said in a statement in March. “We want to make sure the stars ‘walk the line’ when it comes to these goodie bags. This has become big business for companies promoting their products. These things aren’t given without pride and prejudice. There is a tax implication for them. We just want to make sure no one crashes into the tax code.”

Product-placement company Madison & Mulholland – which is prepping Ultimate TV Nominee Bags for Emmy attendees – has stuffed its bags with $2,000 gift certificates for Diamo scooters and a “Baby Bling Bag” containing everything from brand-name pacifiers to a Bellablu baby knitting kit. Here’s a complete rundown of the final list of goodies heading into the ultraswank 2006 Primetime Emmy Presenter Gift Bags:

* Five-day stay at Old Bahama Bay on Grand Bahama Island, plus access to all water sports;
* One-year bicoastal membership to the Sports Club/LA (which, contrary to its name, has locations in San Francisco, Miami, New York and various other hotspots);
* Sprint Fusic mobile phone, retails for $329;
* Two nights at the US Grant in San Diego, including spa treatments;
* One-year bicoastal membership to YogaWorks;
* Five-day golf or ski getaway at the Adara Hotel in Whistler;
* Six days at the Wharekauhau Country Estate in Featherston, New Zealand;
* Four days at the Dolphin Bay Hotel & Residences in Pismo Beach, California;
* Six days at The Lodge at Molokai Ranch on Molokai, Hawaii;
* Babystyle gift card, Lulu the Lamb original stuffed kids’ chair and personal shopping consult;
* Gift certificate for two-day “Emmy Crush Camp” wine appreciation at the Napa Valley Hotel;
* Food & wine pairing for six people from the Crustacean Restaurant in Beverly Hills;
* Spa gift certificate and products from Fresh;
* Gingi skincare products;
* Ike Behar silk tie, button-down shirt and lapis cufflinks;
* Morton’s Steakhouse gift certificate (last year’s was for $1,500);
* String of pearls from Pearl Paradise;
* Prive Salon and Ona Spa gift certificate;
* Dooney & Bourke leather roller luggage;
* “365 Days of Dove” chocolate assortment;
* Gift certificate for linens from DreamSleep Studio;
* Instructions on how to donate gowns, tuxes and other Emmy goodies to the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation to benefit relief efforts in Darfur, Sudan, the Children’s Defense Fund and Cure Autism Now.