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Tennessee to Tax Software as Property?

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the pad-the-bottom-line dept.

thatkidkel writes "The Chattanooga Times Free Press is reporting that 'a state board is proposing a sweeping change to make computer software used in business subject to property taxes, a move that some business leaders contend could drive up costs and hurt job growth in Tennessee.'"

3 of 312 comments (clear)

  1. However... by alpinist · · Score: 1, Redundant
    If Tennessee considers software property, then don't you legally own that software, the same as one would own a house or a car? Would this not fly in the face of most EULAs, where you've only purchased the right the use the software, but never actually own it?

    Anyone with legal kung-fu in the house?

  2. Software is licensed, not owned by Darren+Hiebert · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Software is not owned--publishers license its use. EULAs have always made this very clear. We do not own the software we license, so I don't understand how a government can tax something not owned. For the government to make a legal determination that conflicts with the legal definitions created by the software publishing industry raises very interesting issues and consquences, indeed!

  3. Great plan, there. by mcc · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Start to tax software as property just as significant chunks of the software industry are starting to move to a leasing model anyway.

    Then there's the open source world's "service model" pricing... how does open source software get taxed under this plan?

    --
    Irritable, left-wing and possibly humorous bumper stickers and t-shirts