- What are capital credits?
- How do I become a member of the cooperative?
- How do I know if I have Capital Credits?
- How do I earn Capital Credits?
- Allocations
- What is a capital credit allocation?
- What is the difference between allocated and retired Capital Credits?
- What is required to remove or change a member’s name from the capital credit check?
- What happens to member’s capital credits of a deceased member?
- Are capital credits taxable income?
- What are unclaimed capital credits?
- Can I receive my capital credit allocation whenever I want?
- What happens to my capital credits if I stop receiving service from GBT?
- How often does GBT retire or return capital credits?
- What is retirement of capital credit or refund?
What are capital credits? #
GBT is a not-for-profit cooperative that is owned by its members. Capital Credits are one of the many benefits of membership in the cooperative. At the end of each year, any excess operating margins are allocated to GBT’s members that received service during that year in the form of Capital Credits. The amount of excess operating margins, if any, varies every year. Capital Credits are generally either allocated as equity on the cooperative’s books to accounts associated with each member, or distributed as a cash patronage refund.
How do I become a member of the cooperative? #
GBT customers who are eligible for cooperative membership must live in the Golden Belt Telephone Association, Inc. service area, which includes these communities in Kansas: Albert, Alexander, Bazine, Beeler, Bison, Brownell, Burdett, Ellis, Garfield, Lewis, McCracken, Ness City, Otis, Ransom, Rozel, Rush Center, Timken, and Utica. Customers in these areas must subscribe to telephone to qualify for membership.
How do I know if I have Capital Credits? #
You begin accumulating Capital Credits when you begin receiving telecommunications services from GBT. Members receive a statement annually detailing the status of their Capital Credit accounts.
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How do I earn Capital Credits? #
The amount of capital credits you earn in a given year is based on the amount of capital contributed to the cooperative through payment of your monthly bill for services and the amount of operating margins realized by the cooperative. Capital Credits are usually retired, which means paid to the member, as a percentage of certain prior year’s allocations.
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Allocations #
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What is a capital credit allocation? #
Margins are “allocated” or assigned to members who belong to the cooperative during the year in which a margin is generated. The allocation is based on the member’s proportion of service usage for that year. Each member’s portion is referred to as a “capital credit allocation.”
What is the difference between allocated and retired Capital Credits? #
Allocated Capital Credits are amounts entered on to the cooperative’s permanent financial records representing each member’s pro rata share of annual excess operating margins. Every year, GBT’s Board of Directors reviews the financial health of the cooperative and determines whether any previously allocated Capital Credits will be paid out to members. Capital Credits that are paid out to members are referred to as retired Capital Credits.
What is required to remove or change a member’s name from the capital credit check? #
Each scenario may vary based on the member’s situation. If a change needs to be made to the membership name, GBT requires legal documents to support the change. Both parties must sign off on any change. Please contact GBT with any questions concerning your capital credit allocations at phone number 785-372-4236.
What happens to member’s capital credits of a deceased member? #
The Cooperative may specially retire capital credits when it receives proper written notification that a member or former member has died. Upon request from the appropriate representative of the member and receipt of the appropriate documentation, the Cooperative will pay the estate at a discounted rate. An heir must fill out a request for payment of Capital Credits, and it must be notarized. We also require a copy of the Death Certificate. They can apply for 40% of the unretired amount that is available to be paid.
Are capital credits taxable income? #
For residential service accounts, capital credits are generally not taxable. According to Internal Revenue Service guidelines, members receiving capital credits checks in excess of $600 are sent a 1099. Consult your tax advisor for tax implications.
What are unclaimed capital credits? #
When capital credits are retired, meaning a check has been issued and mailed to the member’s address on record, the cooperative sometimes receives returned mail marked “undeliverable.” In the event that GBT has unclaimed capital credits, a letter will be sent to the membership in an effort to locate those members with unclaimed capital credits. It is important update your mailing address with GBT to ensure you receive future capital credit checks.
Can I receive my capital credit allocation whenever I want? #
No. Capital credits allocations are simply a record of your pro rata share of the margins. Since the capital is not held in an account and is reinvested to support the operations and growth of the business, the entire balance cannot be retired to you at once. There is no legal obligation imposed on the Cooperative to retire capital credits or to pay out the balances in full. The method, amount and timing of capital credit retirements is at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors.
What happens to my capital credits if I stop receiving service from GBT? #
Allocated capital credits remain on the GBT books in your name and account number until they are retired. Capital credit retirements (payments) are made years after capital credits have been allocated. Please notify GBT of your new mailing address.
How often does GBT retire or return capital credits? #
Each year the GBT Board of Directors reviews the financial status of the cooperative to determine whether a refund is feasible and if so, how much. While capital credits are allocated every year, they are not automatically retired or refunded to the members every year. GBT uses margins (i.e. capital credits) to fund the operating activities and upgrades to your infrastructure and equipment, with the intent of repaying this capital to the members in later years. The Board of Directors strive to operate in a prudent business manner so that the member-owners will continue to have the very best telecommunications services possible at the lowest cost consistent with sound economy and good management.
What is retirement of capital credit or refund? #
It is the return of members’ capital credits. Retiring capital credits is a way of ensuring that each generation of members pays its own way. GBT operates on an at-cost or nonprofit basis by annually allocating to each member, based on the member’s purchase of services, operating revenue remaining at the end of the year. Later, as finances permit, these allocated amounts, or capital credits, are returned to members, by check.
