Lawmakers in New Jersey and Wisconsin are considering taxing online music downloads with a state tax. Nicknamed the "iPod tax," it would be collected on purchases of any digital content. Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle has already proposed the tax in his state, though some members of the legislature are already saying they will block the proposal. "It's an issue of tax equity," said Jessica Iverson, a spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, told CNet.com. "If you go into a Main Street business and purchase a CD, you are paying tax."
In New Jersey, a new budget proposal also adds digital downloads as a taxable item. According to NJ.com, music downloads would carry a six cent tax. For example, 99 cent iTunes downloads would be $1.05.
Apple does address the issue of sales tax in its iTunes Terms Of Sale. According to their terms, "purchases will include sales tax based on the bill-to address and the sales tax rate in effect at the time of download." Additionally, Apple says it "will only charge tax in states where music downloads are taxable. No customers are eligible for tax exemptions for purchases made on the iTunes Music Store."
In some states, consumers may technically be breaking the law already by not paying taxes on downloads. South Dakota and Utah have such a law, though neither state tracks down the handful of dollars that go uncollected.
Wisconsin state Rep. Scott Jensen tells CNet that if the law is passed, it would likely go unenforced, like in the other states. Jensen is one of the lawmakers fighting against the bill.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
Does this apply to me if I still steal music w/o paying anything?
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Well, if the recent Eminent Domain ruling is any sign of what' to come, the local governments should just come into your house and take your CD collection, then make you pay taxes on all the online songs you have to download to replace them.
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2004 6:40 pm Posts: 746 Location: Tampa
broken_iris wrote:
Well, if the recent Eminent Domain ruling is any sign of what' to come, the local governments should just come into your house and take your CD collection, then make you pay taxes on all the online songs you have to download to replace them.
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:53 pm Posts: 20537 Location: The City Of Trees
Let me tell you how it will be
There�s one for you, nin'teen for me
Cause I'm the tax man
Yea I'm the tax man
Should five percent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
Cause I'm the tax man
Yea I'm the tax man
If you drive a car-car I'll tax the street
If you try to sit-sit I'll tax your seat
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat
If you take a walk I'll tax your feet
Tax man
Well I'm the tax man
Yea I'm the tax man
Don't ask me what I want it for
If you don't want to pay some more
Cause I'm the tax man
Yea I'm the tax man
Now my advice for those who die (tax man)
Declare the pennies on your eyes (tax man)
Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2005 6:30 am Posts: 6116 Location: NC
SuneilKumar wrote:
Well it applies to an enourmous population, right? Fine, everyone will be angry about this. There, happy?
-Sunny
Do you sign your name every post? doesn't that get annoying? why not just put it in your sig?
on-topic:
I personally am looking forward to this taxing of digital downloads.
of course, besides for the CD's i buy, I obtain all my music illegally... and I hold great disdain for the idiots who buy songs, so tax the fuck out of them. Than when everyone starts downloading illegally again, something that's uncontrollable by the government... maybe that'll teach them a lesson.
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