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Washington State Debates Taxing Software Creation

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the you-think-and-we'll-take dept.

zzyzx writes: "An article in the Seattle PI discusses the existing tax on software creation in Seattle. The law was clarified recently to allow the taxing of the software that was created in Seattle, even if the manufacture of the discs occurred elsewhere. Some Washington state lawmakers are working to overturn these changes. The issue at the heart of the matter: Should an intellectual activity such as programming be taxed in the same way as manufacturing is?"

7 of 404 comments (clear)

  1. How do they set the tax rate? by 8127972 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Do they use a Vulcan Mind meld?

    --
    This is my opinion. To make sure you don't steal it, it's covered by the DMCA.
  2. No wonder by WndrBr3d · · Score: 1, Funny

    We could expect this from a state who's:

    a) So close to Canada
    b) Doesnt Impose State Taxes on Working Students
    c) Helped the Spead of Communism (In the form of Starbucks
    .. and finally ..
    d) Their only Claim to Fame, other than Coffie, is Nirvana.

  3. So how much do they charge... by MarkusH · · Score: 4, Funny

    For 'Hello World'?

  4. In other news.... by bobdehnhardt · · Score: 5, Funny

    The entire fleet of Bekins moving vans was last seen converging on Redmond, WA. A company spokesman reported that they had received "one hellacious moving order" from an undisclosed client. This report came on the heels of a sudden dip in the housing market in and around Seattle, as home prices fell 73%, while listings increased 800%....

  5. Tax bar napkins by slickwillie · · Score: 4, Funny

    They could just add a tax on cocktail napkins, sort of like the tax on recordable media. After all, isn't most good intellectual property created on the back of a napkin, in a bar, just before last call?

  6. No big deal by r_j_prahad · · Score: 5, Funny

    If they're proposing a tax on innovation, I don't think Microsoft has anything to worry about.

  7. MS isn't affected by Hooya · · Score: 3, Funny
    ...because they're talking about taxing software that's 'created' in seattle/Washington. As we all know, some (if not all) software in windows was written elsewhere (BSD?, CPM, OS/2 etc..) so this tax doesn't apply to them!

    This could very well change if they extend the tax to include innovation. oh, I forgot, we're talking about MS.