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YouTube tells foreign creators they will soon be charged American tax

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Re: YouTube tells foreign creators they will soon be charged American tax

#61

American taxes are so screwed up. Many typical hackernews folks may not be aware but potentially hundreds of thousands if not millions of people are realizing that they owe taxes on the unemployment income they received when they lost their job this year. Nothing like getting a stimulus check and then giving it all to the IRS plus some.

> Nothing like getting a stimulus check and then giving it all to the IRS plus some.

In what situation is the income tax over 100%

Re: YouTube tells foreign creators they will soon be charged American tax

#62
post #52

American taxes are so screwed up. Many typical hackernews folks may not be aware but potentially hundreds of thousands if not millions of people are realizing that they owe taxes on the unemployment income they received when they lost their job this year. Nothing like getting a stimulus check and then giving it all to the IRS plus some.

How is that screwed up? Unemployment income is still income. It works the same way in canada as well[1]. I get why it sounds stupid on the surface (ie. why is the government giving you money, then asking to give a portion back?), but it makes sense if you think about it. Otherwise unemployment disproportionately benefits high income earners because it's tax-free. [1] https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/2021/…

That is probably a strong term. What term best applies to money that has been taxed multiple times?

Re: YouTube tells foreign creators they will soon be charged American tax

#63

American taxes are so screwed up. Many typical hackernews folks may not be aware but potentially hundreds of thousands if not millions of people are realizing that they owe taxes on the unemployment income they received when they lost their job this year. Nothing like getting a stimulus check and then giving it all to the IRS plus some.

Unemployment income is taxed as regular income in every jurisdiction I am aware of. Not sure where this outrage is coming from. And as the previous reply explains, it makes sense as to why that happens.

Re: YouTube tells foreign creators they will soon be charged American tax

#64

But why? If you’re not physically present in the US and are not a US citizen, why would you be subject to (income) tax? Or is that not a form of income tax, but something else?

> But why? How are they able to generate the income? Through the services YouTube provides from the US. How is YouTube able to provide those services? Because the US government creates infrastructure to enable it. How is that infrastructure paid for? Taxes. Hence they tax the income.

> the government creates infrastructure to enable it.

Hearty laugh.

Yes, to a degree, but at the current time (and for a good long time) the US government does not even pretend to try. Tell me a significant infrastructure package since the interstates.

Many relevant infrastructure are created by telecom companies, should we owe taxes to those too?

Re: YouTube tells foreign creators they will soon be charged American tax

#65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But why? How are they able to generate the income? Through the services YouTube provides from the US. How is YouTube able to provide those services? Because the US government creates infrastructure to enable it. How is that infrastructure paid for? Taxes. Hence they tax the income.

Ok, but that doesn’t answer the question at all. If I live in the EU and work for Google I don’t have to pay US income tax. I’m not arguing for/against btw. Just asking about the technical reason.

If you live in the EU and work for Google, you probably actually work for Google's EU-based subsidiary. There's no US-based company involved in the relationship. It's confusing because the company treats all the subsidiaries as one whole, while the law treats the subsidiaries as their own entities.

Re: YouTube tells foreign creators they will soon be charged American tax

#66
post #52

American taxes are so screwed up. Many typical hackernews folks may not be aware but potentially hundreds of thousands if not millions of people are realizing that they owe taxes on the unemployment income they received when they lost their job this year. Nothing like getting a stimulus check and then giving it all to the IRS plus some.

How is that screwed up? Unemployment income is still income. It works the same way in canada as well[1]. I get why it sounds stupid on the surface (ie. why is the government giving you money, then asking to give a portion back?), but it makes sense if you think about it. Otherwise unemployment disproportionately benefits high income earners because it's tax-free. [1] https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/2021/…

I think people think its messed up because most people are using the very little money they are given just to not be evicted or buy food. No one is saving it. So the idea that people will be able to cover it in taxes is... well honestly laughable.

Re: YouTube tells foreign creators they will soon be charged American tax

#67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think they meant that Spain can now demand Youtubers to pay tax for money they made from Spanish viewers on Youtube. Etc.

Right - my point was YouTube can just not show the videos to viewers in Spain. The company isn’t based there - it can forget about it if it wants. What would Spain do about it?

Are you suggesting Youtube stop showing their videos outside the US? You're probably not aware that Youtube has far more users internationally. They will get crashed.

Re: YouTube tells foreign creators they will soon be charged American tax

#68
post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think they meant that Spain can now demand Youtubers to pay tax for money they made from Spanish viewers on Youtube. Etc.

Nobody made any money from Spanish viewers... they made money from YouTube.

You are hellbanned btw.

They are making money from Spanish viewers - Spanish YouTube premium and Spanish advert impressions.

Re: YouTube tells foreign creators they will soon be charged American tax

#69
post #52

American taxes are so screwed up. Many typical hackernews folks may not be aware but potentially hundreds of thousands if not millions of people are realizing that they owe taxes on the unemployment income they received when they lost their job this year. Nothing like getting a stimulus check and then giving it all to the IRS plus some.

How is that screwed up? Unemployment income is still income. It works the same way in canada as well[1]. I get why it sounds stupid on the surface (ie. why is the government giving you money, then asking to give a portion back?), but it makes sense if you think about it. Otherwise unemployment disproportionately benefits high income earners because it's tax-free. [1] https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/2021/…

The fact that it is surprising to many people is a problem, whether or not it makes sense to you or makes sense in the abstract.

Re: YouTube tells foreign creators they will soon be charged American tax

#70
post #40

That seems like a potentially risky move from YouTube. Won't every other country now demand that they do the same for them? This is going to be extremely confusing for creators. I can't imagine anyone but the very largest YouTubers being able to handle getting taxed in multiple countries and figure out what exactly they need to pay at home. Actually, the large YouTubers may be better of simply demonetizing they video…

How is abiding to the U.S. law, where Google/YouTube is incorporated a "risky move"? It's not like there is a choice. https://support.google.com/youtube/thread/101463270?hl=en

I thought that was a strange phrasing as well?

Since when is YouTube more powerful than national governments? People seem to be under some confusion as to how business works. The governments tell YouTube what YouTube has to do to operate in their jurisdiction, and YouTube either does it, or leaves that jurisdiction.

If Togo made the demand, you can leave. If the US or Germany make the demand, you say, "Right away sirs", and you start collecting their taxes.

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