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MMORPG Subscriptions Taxed In Europe
Thanks to GameSpot for posting an article noting that MMORPG subscriptions from players in many European countries now have 17.5 percent VAT added, implementing "an European union directive on sales of electronically delivered goods and services" which became effective on the 1st July, and was something we mentioned a few weeks back. The specific reminder came as a "..news item on Sony Online's official sites for EverQuest, PlanetSide, and Star Wars Galaxies", and it'll be interesting to see how forcefully other MMORPGs will enforce this rule.
You lose... u sux0r.
Your first post --- DENIED.
People who insult those who enjoy MMORPG's are anti-socials with an itchy trigger fingure! They should be banned from society, forced to play RPG's all day long!
This would make sense if the taxes were going to necessary infrastructure, like dungeon maintenance, armor for the knights who police the place, sewage, dragon-polish, and the like.
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
Soon it will be cheaper just to get laid and do drugs all day. Sweet sweet drugs....
My EQ subscription goes through on my business credit card so I'll be claiming back the VAT for that one.
Luckily for me, my customers will be paying it for me.
Thanks
There are places where the networks are not touching,and there are places where they are-Boeing's Lori Gunter
Thank God I live in the U.S. where the tax laws are marginally less unfair and opressive.
Americans are way way overtaxes. The only really progressive tax policy is one in which taxes are reduced.
before EU taxes slashdot,
./ is _the_ MMORPG.
after all,
Looks like O'Reilly has to charge VAT on Safari for the Europeans. Sucks to be...
Many Europeans pay VAT on things like Soda, clothing, cars, etc.
Why should MMORPGs be exempt?
If you want to get rid of the VAT, that's one thing, but why should MMORPGs be favored over non-MMORPGs?
"Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
dork, i hear your mommy callin'
Vice Taxes, you know em, you love em, it's why you pay more for smokes and liquor. "Tax the bad things so we can provide the good things" That's the battle cry of many a U.S. senator. Not only do you discourage people from doing the "bad thing" but those that still do are penalized in a manner that is positive for society.
So how about an EverQuest tax?
We can use the money to provide (f)un-employment benefits to addicts, social services to their estranged families and friends, and rehabilitation. It's a win-win scenario people!
On Wall Street they say "buy low, sell high" On the pad we say, "buy high, sell high" Isn't that somehow better?
The tax only relates to companies outside the EU who up until now were using the system to bypass paying taxes and screwing the companies who are in the EU.
The fact that SOE is drawing attention to the fact isn't because the EU is evil, but that SOE are charging a silly price for the service.
Take Neocron for example. A german game which is a heck of a lot cheaper then SW:G, and had (unfortunetly) a similar launch to SW:G except they had 4 full time developers and a small budget and Lucas had millions behind them.
You would expect better quality for the cash.
SOE could lower that online price by having a company within the EU handle the EU bills (pick the EU country with the lowest tax bracket).
Its all fine and good for the EU to expect companies in the EU to collect VAT for stuff, but expecting American and other non-EU countries to collect taxes for them is ignorant. A few companies need to tell the EU to buzz off.. I seriously doubt they could extradite for such a thing.
Take 2 people, for instance, they both choose a game from a shelf in a shop. Both products are 29.99, including TAX. No, they get home and want to play said new game. One bought Planetscape, the other Red Faction II. However, while one can play with no more TAX to pay, the other cannot. He has to pay MORE TAX. This is VAT and therefore assumes that there is more VALUE attatched to an online game than one that is not. WTF! I don't agree with this, but then again, what can the little man do about anything these days...
Karem
Anarchy Online.. just added the VAT as well.
History is doomed to repeat itself.
"I wonder what it's like living in a constant haze of stupidity" - Hiei, Yu Yu Hakusho
Their inept message says "these changes require that digital services be taxed at the point of consumption i.e. in your country of residence. " - what the hell does that mean? So if you live in the UK, you are supposed to pay to them? How will they know? Will Verant have to send lists to all EU countries every month telling them which people are subscribing to their services??
If Google really cared they would fix Android Chrome to reflow text, instead of discriminating
Your words, not mine.
Politics is derived from two words - poly, meaning many, and tics, meaning small blood-sucking insects.