British Government Considers Tax on Computers

Jumbo Jimbo writes "A story in the UK Times talks about the UK government's proposals to tax personal computers, as a replacement for the television license currently paid by every household with a TV. These are proposals and aren't intended for a few years yet, but due to the growth of computer ownership, this would probably amount to a tax on nearly everybody. Hope it's not per computer, or those people with a pile of old 286s in the shed could be in for a shock."

Comments

Re:Note for Americans

[Ford Prefect]

This is how British politics works. In the UK, there is a knee-jerk reaction to like more taxes, however unfair and unwise, just as in the US there is an automatic tendency to like tax cuts, however unfair and unwise.

British counter-example.

Re:Hmmm

[geordie_loz]

I can see where they are coming from with this. I think that there are good reasons for this. There should not be an extra tax per-se, but the TV Licence to cover computers too would be a good thing overall. There may well be people who have computers and no TV, so that's increased revenue. If the BBC recieved revenue from another stream then their production will have to reflect that too.

Ultimately this means that for my TV License fee the BBC will have to provide internet streams of those programs in a free and open way (ala direc codec?). This is pretty good, the BBC already make most stuff available (Radio) for the week after broadcast, and have some channels internet streamed (News 24), so a license fee would likely bring more of this.

I pay for the BBC already, so expanding it to my computer (where I actually access it most) is fine by me.

Blanket license seems silly

[Alioth]

A blanket license on computers instead of TVs seems a bit silly.

What they can do is this. Keep the TV license as it stands. However, if you want to watch BBC TV content on the Internet, you must log into the BBC website, providing your TV license details. This shows you have a TV license, and then you can go and watch BBC TV on the Internet.

This means people with TVs only are paying and people with no TV but a computer and broadband get to support the BBC too if they are using BBC content. And people with both a TV and a computer don't end up paying twice since they supply their TV license details to the BBC website when creating their account.

Re:Nope, you are wrong.

[cowbutt]

If you have a TV, but just use it attached to a dvd player without a licence, you are breaking the law.

No, you are wrong. A friend has a TV which he only uses as a display for retro consoles and home computers. A man from TV Licensing dropped by unannounced one day, observed that the aerial lead was disconnected and all channels detuned from those frequencies in use in his region, and declared that no license fee was payable.

Re:Nope, you are wrong.

[c0p0n]

Are you saying that you're routinely visited by guys to check if you have a TV license?!? For air broadcast?!?!?!? What's the difference between that and inspecting your computer to check if you have illegal stuff in it? What kind of law allows that?!? In my country you need a judge to order it. Nobody can enter your house if you do not give your permission (or have a judge order to do so).

Re:Nope, you are wrong.

[EricTheRed]

You'll be surprised.

Here in the UK, the Police are not allowed to enter your property with out your permission or a warrant.

However, not many people know that certain agencies are permitted, at any time.

HM Customs & Excise can without notice, but even British Gas and the Post Office are permitted to enter your home.

I was surprised when I found out about the Post Office - gas I can understand for gas leaks etc.

There's another couple I can't remember off hand that have that permission, so I'm not sure about TV Licensing, but I'm pretty sure they can.