That is exactly what I needed - a digital tax to increase the cost and cut down choice of digital services.
Take that, Google!
G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax
51–60 of 88 posts
Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax
#52"Britain and France have been among the most vocal proponents of proposals to tax big" This is kind of surprising in case of Britain. As long as I remember both Cayman islands and City of London, two of the best known tax havens, are British territories so Britain could prevent tax evasion easily. When it comes to "taxing" those pesky Facebooks and Netflix globally, I am not sure I understand justification for this.…
The resources these technology firms are exploiting in, e.g. Belgium, include user data and network infrastructure - the latter in particular is often very highly publicly subsidised so if a company is seen as benefitting from it disproportionately then it's unsurprising that people think they should be taxed for taking advantage of it.
Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Companies pay taxes because they use resources and services provided in a given country (roads and other infrastructure, police protection, courts, etc.). That's one view. Another is that they pay taxes simply because they have resources that society needs. If Facebook is trading in the UK (benefitting from access to the UK market, then I think it is reasonable that they pay tax in the UK).
> they pay taxes simply because they have resources that society needs That is called theft, is not a view of any kind, and the prevention of which is literally the reason "society" was formed in the first place
No, it's called sovereignty.
Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax
#54Earlier quoted context omitted.
The citizens are not "yours" to give or take their access to various online services.
The citizens elected the government who makes the decision.
Some of the citizens voted to elect the government, and even those who did might or might not agree with every single decision of that government.
Being an elected government does not make every decision you make a legitimate one.
Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax
#55Earlier quoted context omitted.
> they pay taxes simply because they have resources that society needs That is called theft, is not a view of any kind, and the prevention of which is literally the reason "society" was formed in the first place
No, it's called sovereignty.
It's called breach of social contract
Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax
#56Earlier quoted context omitted.
So is enjoying the benefits of society without paying into it. If you don't want to pay to maintain a stable society don't cry when it comes crumbling down.
I love paying to maintain a stable society. There are many players involved in stable societies, governments being a tiny one. I dont enjoy paying the organization I participate in solely to avoid theft by others turning around and committing theft against me with the very liberties and money I gave up to it to avoid this outcome. That's just overreach by simple, short sighted people.
The government is by far the largest player in society, employing anywhere from 15-35% of the population and organizing and regulating the services needed for our very survival, including transportation (because private citizens don't build highways), electricity and water (because even if privatized the state provides the legal framework for privatization and service level agreements) and a myriad things for which you probably have _no clue_ are happening at this very moment.
Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax
#57I still don't get global taxes. In real life, how can digital startups keep track of global taxes? They simply ignore it, comply with them partially (hoping that Tuvalu doesn't sue them) or what? I understand that Google or Amazon can hire lawyers all around the world, but for a tiny self funded startup? it seems like a minefield.
You outsource the service to a payments provider that does that for you.
The _same_ way global corporations have accounting offices in every country they operate in, or the same way you buy standardized industrial components that comply with existing regulations.
It is not ideal, but getting paid overseas is far from the largest barrier startups have to face.
Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
Company pay taxes because societies a.k.a. countries say so. Taxes are not a business dealing in kind of you give this, they give you that. Countries do not need a rationale for taxes as long as they stay consistent in their law. Basically, France could charge a tax on Alaskian fish. The only problem is usually: why the hack the Alaskian company should pay. But for our global companies the situation is different: whe…
>Countries do not need a rationale for taxes as long as they stay consistent in their law Legally speaking, sure. Morally speaking, it's not so clear. Wars have been started because the rulers subscribed too heavily to your line of reasoning. Being taxed into oblivion is generally considered a damn good reason to kick out the current government, peacefully at first but violently if necessary. While I don't think Brit…
Taxing Google and Facebook is not pushing British or French population closer to that breaking point.
Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax
#59Earlier quoted context omitted.
>Countries do not need a rationale for taxes as long as they stay consistent in their law Legally speaking, sure. Morally speaking, it's not so clear. Wars have been started because the rulers subscribed too heavily to your line of reasoning. Being taxed into oblivion is generally considered a damn good reason to kick out the current government, peacefully at first but violently if necessary. While I don't think Brit…
Taxing Google and Facebook is not pushing British or French population closer to that breaking point.
Costs get passed on to buyers and eventually to consumers. They might get diluted along the way but they do get passed on.