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G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax

reuters.com

41–50 of 88 posts

Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax

#41
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Facebook has a plenty of competition in the social media space, Apple certainly isn't the only hardware manufacturer, Amazon has competition everywhere and so does Netflix. Google hardly runs the only ad network. None of these companies are taking it all.

Google + FB + Amazon will own 70%+ of digital advertising this year.

top three winners take 70%. That sounds like most industries nowadays. More healthy than telecom or film I'd guess.

Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax

#42
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google should suffice.

Facebook has a plenty of competition in the social media space, Apple certainly isn't the only hardware manufacturer, Amazon has competition everywhere and so does Netflix. Google hardly runs the only ad network. None of these companies are taking it all.

Facebook controls 70% of social media

Amazon has 50% of all e-commerce spend in the US.

Netflix put Blockbuster and every other movie rental store out of business. It currently has 50% of all video streaming traffic in the US.

Google has 80% of the search market.

I'm not so sure about what Apple monopolizes, but they do have a duopoly in the app store space with Google.

Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax

#43

Earlier 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).

What about David Cameron, Beckham ... Every rich person in the UK is incorporated in British overseas territory. Shouldn't they be the first to be taxed ?

David and Victoria Beckham paid £12.7m tax in the last year. Facebook, which collected £1.3bn in UK sales, paid £15m...

Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax

#44
post #32

Earlier 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.

That's simple..how many times has a state caused it's own anarchy/civil war through politics or corruption?

There a few places you can go with no little to no government if that's what you prefer.

I guarantee you'll be crying to come home in short order though.

Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax

#45
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google + FB + Amazon will own 70%+ of digital advertising this year.

Well, that sounds like the exact opposite of winner-takes-it-all.

Thankfully, the EU disagrees with you as do a growing number of people around the world.

Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax

#46
post #28

Earlier 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

You can consider it free market: do you want access to "my" citizens ? You have to pay the price I ask (in form of taxes), or you can take your business elsewhere.

The citizens are not "yours" to give or take their access to various online services.

Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax

#47
I 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.

Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax

#48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can consider it free market: do you want access to "my" citizens ? You have to pay the price I ask (in form of taxes), or you can take your business elsewhere.

The citizens are not "yours" to give or take their access to various online services.

The citizens elected the government who makes the decision.

Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax

#49
post #32
post #28

Earlier 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

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.

Re: G20 agrees to push ahead with digital tax

#50
post #29
post #22

"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.…

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 Britain and France are anywhere near a breaking point with respect to taxes it's worth remembering that a breaking point exists.

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