Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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?"

2 of 404 comments (clear)

  1. Hello, Morons: by Rick+the+Red · · Score: 4, Informative

    To the morons here in /. who think this affects Microsoft: Microsoft is located in Redmond, not Seattle. The only effect on Microsoft would be rising real estate prices on the eastside as Seattle's high-tech firms (Adobe and Watchguard come to mind) relocate.

    To the morons in Seattle who thought this was a good idea: That sucking sound you hear is hundreds of high-tech businesses leaving your city.

    --
    If all this should have a reason, we would be the last to know.
  2. Re:Excellent news by Rick+the+Red · · Score: 4, Informative
    Exactly how does taxing commercial software hurt open source? This law, if it sticks, would have the exact opposite affect, if any.

    You obviously don't understand Washington's B&O taxes. It's a tax on income (not profit). If you're writing open source and not charging for it, there's no income to tax.

    --
    If all this should have a reason, we would be the last to know.