New York Gov’nor proposes: tax DLC for consoles, iPod
What’s this? More taxes?!? More importantly, in downloadable content?!? Come. On. Apparently, it’s gonna suck to be a New Yorker because of this. Included in the state’s proposed budget is the suggestion that DLC, in both the iPod and video games, be taxed.
What’s this? More taxes?!? More importantly, in downloadable content?!? Come. On. Apparently, it’s gonna suck to be a New Yorker because of this. Included in the state’s proposed budget is the suggestion that DLC, in both the iPod and video games, be taxed.
Yep, they don’t just want to control your purchase of the game, they also want to make sure you give a little something-something back to the government every time you play. Hey, there is tax in entertainment, but no entertainment in tax, I’d like to say.
Anyway, the reason behind this brilliant proposition is because, well, the economy sucks. So, Gov. David Paterson has responded to the situation by proposing a budget that would result to layoffs, service cutbacks and new taxes such as this.
The New York Daily News reports:
Gov. Paterson’s proposed US$ 121 billion budget hits New Yorkers in their iPods – and nickels-and-dimes them in lots of other places, too. Trying to close a US$ 15.4 billion budget gap, Paterson called for 88 new fees and a host of other taxes, including an “iPod tax” that taxes the sale of downloaded music and other “digitally delivered entertainment services.”
Here’s the pertinent clause in said budget document:
Close Digital Property Taxation Loophole. Imposes state and local sales tax on purchases of prewritten software, digital audio, audio-visual and text files, digital photographs, games, and other electronically delivered entertainment services to achieve tax parity. For example, with the passage of this bill, a book, song, album, or movie would be subject to sales tax no matter if it was bought at a brick and mortar store or downloaded online.
So to those complaining of pricey DLCs, looks like there’s no way to turn but for you to enjoy this while it’s free. You never know, if this turns out successful for the Big Apple, you just might find your state adopting this policy as well.
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