Open Source R&D Tax Credit?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Monday March 20, 2006 @10:16AM from the never-get-past-the-lobyists dept.

Dan writes "The Center for American Progress is proposing an R&D tax credit for open source development." From the article: "Subsidizing open source software development can also be justified on grounds of economic efficiency. Open source software development enhances the ability of other developers to create new products. It also enhances the development and dissemination of knowledge and ideas more broadly. Since the benefits to the broader software development community and the economy as a whole go well beyond the users of an individual software product, a policy that subsidizes open source development would increase economic efficiency."

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Built In Tax Break by rtb144 · 2006-03-20 10:19 · Score: 5, Funny

Most open source software comes with a built-in tax break. No income, no income tax.

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Sie ist tunbar!
Stupid and pointless. by jcr · 2006-03-20 12:02 · Score: 5, Insightful

Just ask anyone who's tried to organize a 501 (c)(3) corporation. We do NOT need IRS involved in deciding what is or isn't open-source software.

Lobbying for little tax breaks here and there simply perpetuates the problems of the tax system being used as an instrument of policy.

There's a better way.

-jcr

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The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."