Sony plans UK e-reader launch at London BookFair 2008 - Page 4

JSWolf · 10-12-2007, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

A resident of one State does not have to pay taxes of an other State.

Actually, if you live in New Hampshire which has no sales tax and then go to Massachusetts, you would then have to pay Mass sales tax of 5% for anything you've purchased.

But, if you (in MA) purchase from a shop online that does not have a presence in MA then you don't have to pay sales tax. Just maybe shipping.

yvanleterrible · 10-12-2007, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Actually, if you live in New Hampshire which has no sales tax and then go to Massachusetts, you would then have to pay Mass sales tax of 5% for anything you've purchased.

But, if you (in MA) purchase from a shop online that does not have a presence in MA then you don't have to pay sales tax. Just maybe shipping.

If you physically go out of State to the neighbors, I agree but if you order online, you're not charged.

HarryT · 10-12-2007, 10:05 AM

But, Jon, doing a little research I see that Massachusetts has a 5% sale or use tax. If you buy goods out of state, or online, which are intended for use, storage, or consumption within Massachusetts, you are required to pay a 5% use tax on those goods. If the same goods are purchased in a U.S. state that does collect sales tax for such goods at time of purchase, then whatever taxes were paid by the purchaser to that state can be deducted (as a tax credit) from the 5% owed for subsequent use, storage or consumption in Massachusetts.

See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_tax

Xenophon · 10-12-2007, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

But, Jon, doing a little research I see that Massachusetts has a 5% sale or use tax. If you buy goods out of state, or online, which are intended for use, storage, or consumption within Massachusetts, you are required to pay a 5% use tax on those goods. If the same goods are purchased in a U.S. state that does collect sales tax for such goods at time of purchase, then whatever taxes were paid by the purchaser to that state can be deducted (as a tax credit) from the 5% owed for subsequent use, storage or consumption in Massachusetts.

See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_tax

That is indeed the way it is supposed to work. In practice, "use tax" is collected only on very large transactions -- those that are likely to make the news, for example. Call it "mass civil disobedience" if you like.

Xenophon

HarryT · 10-12-2007, 10:28 AM

As I say, Xenophon, I'm just a bit surprised that the collection of what must a huge amount of money, nation-wide, isn't enforced. State governments must be losing billions in revenue collectively by not doing so.

Liviu_5 · 10-12-2007, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

As I say, Xenophon, I'm just a bit surprised that the collection of what must a huge amount of money, nation-wide, isn't enforced. State governments must be losing billions in revenue collectively by not doing so.

There is no way to enforce it and make sense; only when someone buy a million dollar painting to hang it in his NYC office, but declares he bought it for his home somewhere else to avoid paying the NY state high sales tax, then the law gets enforced. Also for car buying, you pay your county sales tax wherever you buy it... For small transactions it's just not worth it, and the only way to try would be the RIAA way, make an example of some random citizens out of milions; that would cost elections so ....

There are above 10000 different jurisdictions, and each taxes different things (in PA or NJ you do not pay tax on clothes, so you go buy there and come back to NY theoretically you should pay the NY tax but again...); even in NY when they declare a tax holiday on clothing, local stores have trouble adjusting; is it the full 8.5 tax rebated, or just the 4.25 state part and not the 4.25 NYC tax; does this apply to shoes?, to belts ?... the local tabloids have a field day going in stores and making trouble for the confused merchants by pointing that either they charged too much tax or too little; you get the idea...

Steven Lyle Jordan · 10-12-2007, 11:07 AM

It's merely another example of the fact that the U.S. tax system has fallen behind the times (long before the Internet came along), and needs revamping to better befit an international market (not to mention the support of its own people).

Nate the great · 10-12-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

It's merely another example of the fact that the U.S. tax system has fallen behind the times (long before the Internet came along), and needs revamping to better befit an international market (not to mention the support of its own people).

Yes, we need a tax system like like GB, with a 19.4% VAT. Yeah, sure we do.

NatCh · 10-12-2007, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Sony didn't announce. It was leaked.

But you are correct in that they leaked it on purpose.

You are mistaken on that, Nate. I can say with some certainty that the 505 leak was not deliberate on Sony's part.

However, I suspect that bowerbird may have been referring to last year's 500 launch, which Sony did deliberately announce quite a bit in advance.

HarryT · 10-12-2007, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Yes, we need a tax system like like GB, with a 19.4% VAT. Yeah, sure we do.

17.5% actually.

yvanleterrible · 10-12-2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liviu_5

There is no way to enforce it and make sense; only when someone buy a million dollar painting to hang it in his NYC office, but declares he bought it for his home somewhere else to avoid paying the NY state high sales tax, then the law gets enforced. ...

It is usually the seller who is investigated, not the buyer.

Nate the great · 10-12-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

You are mistaken on that, Nate. I can say with some certainty that the 505 leak was not deliberate on Sony's part.

However, I suspect that bowerbird may have been referring to last year's 500 launch, which Sony did deliberately announce quite a bit in advance.

I was referring to the UK launch, not the 505.

Liviu_5 · 10-12-2007, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

It is usually the seller who is investigated, not the buyer.

In the last case in the news of this type, the buyer and seller got socked big time, the buyer for fraud, the seller for conniving.

Unfortunately I have to listen every day to mostly inanities on CNBC from 9 to 4 (one reason that after hours I run from TV like from the plague), but sometimes they discuss interesting stuff, and online taxes and that art case are among the things I perk my ears to.

JSWolf · 10-12-2007, 12:50 PM

When I purchase something online that has no sales tax, I don't declare it. We have an occasionally sales tax free day. But that's usually for items up to a certain amount. If I was going to declare it, why would I not just buy it here instead? Well ok, price could be one issue. But nobody declares stuff like a Sony Reader. It would be silly. Also, we don't pay tax on food at the grocery store or clothes.

NatCh · 10-12-2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I was referring to the UK launch, not the 505.

Now that, I don't know anything about — it could have been sanctioned on Sony's part, I guess, but didn't the actual info reportedly come from the publisher side?

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10-12-2007, 10:05 AM	#48
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	But, Jon, doing a little research I see that Massachusetts has a 5% sale or use tax. If you buy goods out of state, or online, which are intended for use, storage, or consumption within Massachusetts, you are required to pay a 5% use tax on those goods. If the same goods are purchased in a U.S. state that does collect sales tax for such goods at time of purchase, then whatever taxes were paid by the purchaser to that state can be deducted (as a tax credit) from the 5% owed for subsequent use, storage or consumption in Massachusetts. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_tax

10-12-2007, 10:28 AM	#50
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	As I say, Xenophon, I'm just a bit surprised that the collection of what must a huge amount of money, nation-wide, isn't enforced. State governments must be losing billions in revenue collectively by not doing so.

10-12-2007, 11:07 AM	#52
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	It's merely another example of the fact that the U.S. tax system has fallen behind the times (long before the Internet came along), and needs revamping to better befit an international market (not to mention the support of its own people).

10-12-2007, 12:50 PM	#59
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,718 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	When I purchase something online that has no sales tax, I don't declare it. We have an occasionally sales tax free day. But that's usually for items up to a certain amount. If I was going to declare it, why would I not just buy it here instead? Well ok, price could be one issue. But nobody declares stuff like a Sony Reader. It would be silly. Also, we don't pay tax on food at the grocery store or clothes.