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Taxing Virtual Gaming Assets

Posted by Hemos on from the someday-the-ride-will-be-over dept.

rijit writes " It appears very likely that taxation of online games assets is inevitable. Quote: 'That's because game publishers may well in the not too distant future have to send the forms — which individuals receive when earning nonemployee income from companies or institutions — to virtual world players engaging in transactions for valuable items like Ultima Online castles, EverQuest weapons or Second Life currency, even when those players don't convert the assets into cash.' "

22 of 454 comments (clear)

  1. Oh, I know. by AltGrendel · · Score: 5, Funny

    Since they are taxing virtual goods, we'll pay with virtual money.

    --
    The simple truth is that interstellar distances will not fit into the human imagination

    - Douglas Adams

    1. Re:Oh, I know. by Lord_Slepnir · · Score: 4, Funny
      And watch the Warcraft economy get even more ruined when the IRS tries to convert their gold to cash.

      To: Seren

      From: IRS dude

      Subject: $$$ GOLD NOW!!!

      Go to www.irs.gov/warcraft for the LOWEST WARCRAFT PRICES GOLD PRICES EVER! Rates as low as $9.47 for 100 gold! Amazing!

    2. Re:Oh, I know. by Fozzyuw · · Score: 2, Funny
      Since they are taxing virtual goods, we'll pay with virtual money.

      God, and I thought playing was like a 2nd job before! Now, I'll have to farm gold to actually pay for my game! hehe

      So, can my character have some fast food hats and aprons for when I'm working to pay my virtual tax?

      Cheers,
      Fozzy

      --
      "The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became truth." ~1984 George Orwell
    3. Re:Oh, I know. by electr01nik · · Score: 2, Funny
      If they want to collect my virtual money, they will need to make an IRS guild with IRS tax collector characters in game to come and get it.


      - You slay the Orc
      - You pick up 400 gold
      - You see a Tax Fairy teleport in front of you
      - The Tax Fairy steals 4 gold
      - The Tax Fairy disappears

      Adjust for your game accordingly, but the Tax Fairy remains.

  2. If we don't pay by Weaselmancer · · Score: 3, Funny

    Will they put our characters in a virtual debtor's prison?

    --
    Weaselmancer
    rediculous.
    1. Re:If we don't pay by LordEd · · Score: 5, Funny

      Your character will be transferred from your originating game to the federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison game for a 6 month subscription. Unfortunately, the conjugal visit expansion will not be available anytime soon.

    2. Re:If we don't pay by I+Like+Pudding · · Score: 3, Funny
      Your character will be transferred from your originating game to the federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison game for a 6 month subscription.

      But I already have an Everquest subscription!
  3. Sign Up by lupine_stalker · · Score: 3, Funny

    One last step remains before you can step into our magical world, forgetting your mortgage, your car loan, and your family commitments. Just pick up form number 34C-XCVII from your local tax office, and let the fun begin. The are only two things that are certain in MMO's of the future: Ganks and taxes.

    --
    Ninjas use italics.
  4. Yes! Sim CPA by FlopEJoe · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now I can implement an idea I've had back when the Sim-X and Y-Tycoon games came out... Sim CPA. You too can play in the exciting CPA world. Manage end of the quarter forms for online players in this RTS game. Bonus points for keeping two sets of books and making a little on the side. But don't get caught or you're character will be stuck in virtual jail.

  5. No Taxation without Representation! by mmdog · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thrall for Senate from the great state of Durotar!

    --
    Politicians are like diapers - they should be changed frequently and for the same reasons.
  6. Real taxes for online gaming... by roscocoltran · · Score: 4, Funny

    THAT makes those games more realistic than even the latest 3D engines!

  7. hmmm... by aliendisaster · · Score: 2, Funny

    I wonder if I can get welfare for my lvl 2 priest?

    --
    Freedom is a state of mind. A mind is a state of being. Stay the fuck out of my mind and my being. - Corporate Avenger
  8. Re:Monopoly Rent IS Next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    If you are playing Monopoly, you should now expect to pay for antitrust litigation as well.

  9. Expenses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Can I claim expenses on potions and weapons and things I require to play the game?
    Also, if I slay an opponent and claim his belongings, will I have to pay inheritance tax?

  10. Let them sell then by Orange+Crush · · Score: 3, Funny

    If the IRS really wants to tax these virtual goods, they should explicitly allow for their sale. i.e. have a Blizzard-sanctioned marketplace to trade virtual goods for real money, document the transaction, and send the necessary paperwork (1099, i'd guess). People who earn their own stuff don't have to worry about it, as only the real-currency sale is relevant.

  11. That's ok by Weaselmancer · · Score: 4, Funny

    The conjugal visit expansion would confuse most online gamers anyways.

    --
    Weaselmancer
    rediculous.
    1. Re:That's ok by Fozzyuw · · Score: 3, Funny
      The conjugal visit expansion would confuse most online gamers anyways.

      Nah, they'll just complain that the expansion 'ruined' the original game by forcing people grind even more than they where doing before without adding any real content. They'll also say it's unbalanced as not everyone will be able to experience the new content unless your hardcore!

      --
      "The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became truth." ~1984 George Orwell
  12. How about a fucktard tax? by 0123456 · · Score: 3, Funny

    With idiotic ideas like this around, the IRS would be raking in trillions...

  13. Re:Unemployment and Social Security Benefits? by LurkerXXX · · Score: 3, Funny

    Am I running a "business" -- and can I hire in-game "employees" ?

    Yes, but be careful not to hire too many. If you hire more than 14, you will have to provide them with virtual health insurance. And the rates on virtual disability insurance are just crazy. All that hacking and slashing...

  14. One out of three by seniorcoder · · Score: 2, Funny

    The only things that are inevitable are virtual birth, virtual death and real taxes.

  15. Re:Taxes suck, but why not? by theghost · · Score: 2, Funny

    In the spirit of the source article...

    Screenshots or it didn't happen.

    --
    The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
  16. Re:Be careful if you live in FL by pizzaman100 · · Score: 2, Funny
    Which brings up the inevitable ... if you have gawdawful item of unlordly worth and you lose it by say dying in game can you write it off on your taxes.

    Maybe your virtual dependents could collect Social Security.