The Vent and Rant Thread

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

[might be entertaining - cats sliding backwards - no carpet to dig into during the retching]

And you could film it and put it on you-tube for a bazillion hits!

[WT Sharpe]

You could shave the cats...

[happy_terd]

Wow, kenny. You got more posts than this thread does.

GG to the 12k club both of you.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by happy_terd

Wow, kenny. You got more posts than this thread does.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Yes, but just a few weeks ago I did not pay tax on an ebook I purchased!

Sounds like the state of Colorado saw a potential source of revenue and decided to tap it, and leaned on Amazon in the process.

Expect it to happen all over.

DAMN! DAMN! DAMN! This could drive one to the darknet! The damn government already gets too much of my money and wastes it!

Which damn government do you refer to, and what do you count as "waste"?
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Dennis

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

You could shave the cats...

Nah. You vacuum them.

"Excuse me. I have to go vacuum the cat." is a popular phrase among some writers referring to doing things that aren't writing when they should be at work on the next book. I was deeply amused when I saw videos of cats that liked getting vacuumed. (They were long hairs who had been accustomed to it from kitten hood. Regular vacuuming did wonders for shedding, and the cats were more comfortable and knew it.)
______
Dennis

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Sounds like the state of Colorado saw a potential source of revenue and decided to tap it, and leaned on Amazon in the process.

...
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Dennis

Maybe, but I'm leaning towards the publisher conspiracy theory meaning that since the book is only being Agented by Amazon and if the Publisher has a presence in Colorado then it is taxable....

Either that or the laws just changed....

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Maybe, but I'm leaning towards the publisher conspiracy theory meaning that since the book is only being Agented by Amazon and if the Publisher has a presence in Colorado then it is taxable....

I doubt it. What sort of presence would the publisher have in CO? Simply having books they published sold there doesn't qualify.

And Amazon as Agent and publisher presence aren't meaningful as a conspiracy. They don't benefit from the move. The state does. I'm quite certain Amazon would be just as happy to not charge tax, to save themselves the headache of keeping track of whether they had to in any particular location, just what tax they had to charge, and where they had to remit what they collected. Likewise, the publisher will be happy at anything that doesn't add to the cost the buyer pays. They have no incentive to like taxes. It's just something they're stuck with.

Either that or the laws just changed....

Or are just now being enforced.
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Dennis

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

I doubt it. What sort of presence would the publisher have in CO? Simply having books they published sold there doesn't qualify.

And Amazon as Agent and publisher presence aren't meaningful as a conspiracy. They don't benefit from the move. The state does. I'm quite certain Amazon would be just as happy to not charge tax, to save themselves the headache of keeping track of whether they had to in any particular location, just what tax they had to charge, and where they had to remit what they collected. Likewise, the publisher will be happy at anything that doesn't add to the cost the buyer pays. They have no incentive to like taxes. It's just something they're stuck with.


Or are just now being enforced.
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Dennis

What about "presence" do you not understand?
Sheesh!

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by kennyc

What about "presence" do you not understand?
Sheesh!

I may not understand what you mean by the term (or how it's defined by your local tax code.)

But meanwhile, you're stuck with it. I'm afraid your option is suck it up and deal.
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Dennis

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

I may not understand what you mean by the term (or how it's defined by your local tax code.)

But meanwhile, you're stuck with it. I'm afraid your option is suck it up and deal.
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Dennis

True, unless unless something changes.

If it is related to the presence/agent thing then it should only apply to certain books. I'll report back if I see anything along those lines (e.g. I purchase a book and am NOT charged sales tax.)

It may be that the law changed, we did have a number of new laws go into effect in the last month....

(I do like a good conspiracy theory though and would be a shame for it to just be greedy politicians.)

Oh and "Presence" related to tax codes is if the internet seller has a storefront in the state.

[MacEachaidh]

Kenny, I've just bought something from Amazon (US) a couple of nights ago and saw no reference to sales tax (though I got light-headed at the shipping costs! About 50% on top of the purchase price of the goods!) Where is the sales tax listed in the price breakdown?

Or is it like the UK's VAT, and because I'm buying from Somewhere Else On The Planet I don't get charged it?

Enquiring minds want to know! ;-)

Thanks,
Bran

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

Kenny, I've just bought something from Amazon (US) a couple of nights ago and saw no reference to sales tax (though I got light-headed at the shipping costs! About 50% on top of the purchase price of the goods!) Where is the sales tax listed in the price breakdown?

Or is it like the UK's VAT, and because I'm buying from Somewhere Else On The Planet I don't get charged it?

Enquiring minds want to know! ;-)

Thanks,
Bran

it's probably like the VAT. here you get a subtotal (the price you actually see) then the tax is added, and that is your total cost

[devilsadvocate]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Oh and "Presence" related to tax codes is if the internet seller has a storefront in the state.

Bingo. I pay sales tax on computer hardware I buy at TigerDirect; not because Intel, G.Skill, or XFX have a retail presence here but because TigerDirect does. I believe it also applies to subsidiaries, e.g. TigerDirect can charge sales tax in any state where there's a CompUSA.

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

it's probably like the VAT. here you get a subtotal (the price you actually see) then the tax is added, and that is your total cost

Thanks kk, much appreciated.

(I guess it is like VAT, because there's no "sales tax" item on my sales record.)


(Actually, I just logged onto Amazon and checked their copy of the invoice, as distinct from the one they sent me, and theirs *does* have an item for "Sales Tax". Though it's $0.00, it's still there.)