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TMFDeej (99.46)

An iPod Tax?!?!?!

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December 17, 2008 – Comments (11)

 

Are they freaking serious?!?!?!?!  In its proposed 2009-10 budget New York state has included an "iPod Tax" which if approved will charge an additional 4% tax on downloaded music and other "digitally delivered entertainment services." 

In addition to this little gem, the budget also has tax hikes on gasoline, taxis, cable / satellite TV, cigars, beer, movie tickets, sports tickets, and health spas. 

Like Coke?  Too bad, the new budget contains a new 18% tax drinks containing less than 70% real fruit juice.  It's supposedly being implemented to fight obesity, but I bet you a buck that it will be charged on diet soda as well.  If they are only attempting to fight fat with this new tax and not line their pockets, I suppose New York residents will receive some sort of refund for every mile that they walk on their treadmills.  It could be like the deposit system that forces people to recycle cans and bottles.  We'll charge you 18% at the time of purchase, but refund you the money when you show us a receipt that you printed from your special treadmill.  Good grief.

I don't care about these specific taxes because I don't live in New York, but I fear that it is representative of the sorts of tricks and trinkets that we are going to see the government, both state and federal, play on us in the future as declining tax revenue resulting from a sluggish economy is unable to pay for our massive government spending.  Guys, stop printing money already.  It's working stiffs like us who are eventually going to have to pay.

New York Gov. Proposes 'iPod Tax'

Deej

11 Comments – Post Your Own

#1) On December 17, 2008 at 5:19 PM, TMFRosetint (99.48) wrote:

QFT

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#2) On December 17, 2008 at 5:38 PM, goldminingXpert (30.65) wrote:

Suddenly the idea of digitally downloading anarchist punk music got a lot less appealing...

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#3) On December 17, 2008 at 5:46 PM, Schmacko (93.52) wrote:

what about bottled water?  Is that getting the 18% tax since it doesn't contain fruit juice?  Cause that would be hilarious.

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#4) On December 17, 2008 at 5:55 PM, kdakota630 (31.77) wrote:

Schmacko, please don't give the government any ideas, regardless of how ludacris you think they are.

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#5) On December 17, 2008 at 6:00 PM, Mary953 (40.07) wrote:

Our state taxes everything they can think of EXCEPT income - yup - no state income tax! Oh, and they haven't figured out how to tax Internet sales.  Now, is New York going to repeal any taxes???  Oh, I know, I know.  The first thing furiners from the other states say is "You guys know what you pay in grocery tax alone?"  The second is "Why don't you have any services?"  If they stay that long, along about March, the third question is  "I can't figure out how to file my state income tax."  So  we tell 'em...... and then we watch the smile..........Tis a beautiful thing, it is.

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#6) On December 17, 2008 at 6:37 PM, guiron (21.40) wrote:

I don't like the iPod tax, but it's no different than blank media tax, like cassette tape and blank "music" CDs (at least those which are labeled for music are taxed), although those aren't state taxes.

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#7) On December 17, 2008 at 7:30 PM, chilln868 (96.33) wrote:

This is just the begining. Keep electing those who tax the rich to give to the poor. Do you think the citizens will sit there with their thumbs up their butts or will they recall all the dumb as dog poop politicians who know only how to tax instead of learnign how to cut.

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#8) On December 17, 2008 at 7:45 PM, bigkansasfool (< 20) wrote:

chillin, the whole point of new york's tax system is "tax the poor give to the rich". They don't have an income tax, specifically a graduated income tax. Instead they have consumption taxes that disproportionately effects lower income people more than the rich. have them switch to an income tax system and then you won't have all these stupid taxes!

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#9) On December 17, 2008 at 7:57 PM, DemonDoug (98.85) wrote:

Are they freaking serious?!?!?!?!  In its proposed 2009-10 budget New York state has included an "iPod Tax" which if approved will charge an additional 4% tax on downloaded music and other "digitally delivered entertainment services." 

Sounds like they are serious, and this would be maybe the biggest blunder of unintended consequences ever.  The vast majority of "digitally delivered entertainment services" are downloaded free of charge on peer-to-peer networks or are hosted as videos on chinese video vault websites.  All free to the end user.  I have to believe that netflix, itunes, amazon, and even a company like Valve which distributes it's Half Life series through the internet, would be absolutely up in arms knowing that this type of policy would drive even more customers towards "illegal" downloading.

If the governor is looking to absolutely kill online business in his state, then I say mission accomplished if they pass this boondoggle.

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#10) On December 17, 2008 at 8:40 PM, kdakota630 (31.77) wrote:

bigkansasfool

Personally, I prefer the idea of a consumption tax to an income tax.  First, I hate the idea of government getting a chunk of the money that I earned before even I do.  Second, taxing consumption should to some degree disincentivize consumption, driving more money into savings and investment.

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#11) On December 18, 2008 at 12:24 AM, Option1307 (30.45) wrote:

DemonDoug

Well said Demon...This is typical of the governemnt. They "solve" one problem while creating several others. Idiots!

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