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Massachusetts Introduces Software Service Tax

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Re: Massachusetts Introduces Software Service Tax

#61

Post by SamReidHughes »

mindslight wrote: post #23
asmithmd1 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

NH has no sales tax and no state income tax. Of course you have much fewer "services" than MA. For example MA has a 19 member Commission on the Status of Women - which of course needs an executive director. And the executive director needs an assistant.

But don't forget that reduced services include things like town water (you'll need a well with a radon filtration system), a reliable electric grid (you'll need a generator), and timely snow removal (you'll want a vehicle that uses thrice the fuel). And the crux of the matter - as NH does absolutely nothing against federal taxes, you'll still be paying the majority of your present transaction costs.

NH has water (right?), an electric grid (no idea whether it's reliable, all I know for sure is that they have a nuclear power plant) and based on what I was told, the best snow removal in the country.

Re: Massachusetts Introduces Software Service Tax

#62

Post by gaadd33 »

kgrin wrote: post #22

I'll say this as the owner of a small consultancy that will (probably) be affected by the new law: I have far less objection to the tax itself than the specifics of how it's implemented. In any case, it might first be worthwhile to read the actual language in question [1]. So with that in mind, the implementation problems include: 1) There was very little notice given to the affected parties - the bill passed July 24…

It seems like they should extend that to all industries and not just single out software development. Why not say that any lawyer who just modifies boilerplate legal documents is now subject to a tax? That would seem to be in the same spirit.

Re: Massachusetts Introduces Software Service Tax

#63

Post by hga »

SamReidHughes wrote: post #61
mindslight wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But don't forget that reduced services include things like town water (you'll need a well with a radon filtration system), a reliable electric grid (you'll need a generator), and timely snow removal (you'll want a vehicle that uses thrice the fuel). And the crux of the matter - as NH does absolutely nothing against federal taxes, you'll still be paying the majority of your present transaction costs.

NH has water (right?), an electric grid (no idea whether it's reliable, all I know for sure is that they have a nuclear power plant) and based on what I was told, the best snow removal in the country.

It'll depend on the location, plenty of it is rural. But plenty of it is built up and e.g. Manchester has a water works: http://www.manchesternh.gov/Departments/WaterWorks.aspx

(What do you expect from a town incorporated in 1751 with 110K residents?)

Re: Massachusetts Introduces Software Service Tax

#64

Post by gaadd33 »

camz wrote: post #49

I practice tax law and write for forbes on tax law.. this area of law may seem confusing, but that is mostly for the media buzz. The law has generally been fairly clear. Many states have long had laws that taxed "pre-written or canned software." MA is just one of the newer states that have enacted this law. New York has had the law in the books for years. Pre-written software means that you've previously created soft…

Why do they single out software in this regard? Or are there similar laws on the books for things like legal documents? i.e. if I have a lawyer draw up a lease and its a boilerplate with the correct blanks filed in, is there a tax on that? If not, why not since it seems extremely similar?

Re: Massachusetts Introduces Software Service Tax

#65

Post by pc86 »

SamReidHughes wrote: post #61
mindslight wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But don't forget that reduced services include things like town water (you'll need a well with a radon filtration system), a reliable electric grid (you'll need a generator), and timely snow removal (you'll want a vehicle that uses thrice the fuel). And the crux of the matter - as NH does absolutely nothing against federal taxes, you'll still be paying the majority of your present transaction costs.

NH has water (right?), an electric grid (no idea whether it's reliable, all I know for sure is that they have a nuclear power plant) and based on what I was told, the best snow removal in the country.

Since when do we let facts get in the way of snark?

Re: Massachusetts Introduces Software Service Tax

#66

Post by mbell »

camz wrote: post #49

I practice tax law and write for forbes on tax law.. this area of law may seem confusing, but that is mostly for the media buzz. The law has generally been fairly clear. Many states have long had laws that taxed "pre-written or canned software." MA is just one of the newer states that have enacted this law. New York has had the law in the books for years. Pre-written software means that you've previously created soft…

Adding a tax on the 'services' portion is exactly what this bill does. Mass has also had sales tax on the 'canned software' itself for years.

Re: Massachusetts Introduces Software Service Tax

#67

Post by vermontdevil »

rdouble wrote: post #56
vermontdevil wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The name of the country is United States of America. So it was formed that way - each of the original 13 states got together to form a more perfect union. But each of the 13 states retained some autonomy including ability to levy tax within the state for various means or purposes. Been that way ever since. Can't see a national tax - our culture would not allow it.

There is a national tax on gasoline.

Let me try again. I'm talking about a national tax to divide among the states.

Federal Income tax, Gasoline tax, etc all fund the Federal Government. And yes the Feds does distribute some of the money via grants or a Congressional action (Medicaid, highway funds, etc).

But I don't see the US adopting a national use tax like VAT that is collected by the Federal government but automatically given out to the states based on where the money is spent.

Our country likes to keep things on the state and local level as much as possible.

Re: Massachusetts Introduces Software Service Tax

#68

Post by mindslight »

asmithmd1 wrote: post #47
mindslight wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But don't forget that reduced services include things like town water (you'll need a well with a radon filtration system), a reliable electric grid (you'll need a generator), and timely snow removal (you'll want a vehicle that uses thrice the fuel). And the crux of the matter - as NH does absolutely nothing against federal taxes, you'll still be paying the majority of your present transaction costs.

You want to talk about town water? Boston and surrounding towns get water from the Quabbin reservoir. Due to above average rainfall this year it is filled to 95% capacity. If not one more drop of rain were added to the reservoir it would take 5 years to drain it at current use rate. So I was shocked when the MA DEP forced our town to restrict outdoor watering. Someone in a make work job decided our towns use was abov…

Why were you shocked - had you just moved to MA?

One town I was in won't pick up your garbage unless your recycling bin is out as well. No concept that someone could produce so little trash and would rather the quarter-full recycling sit the rare occasion they put out a trash bag. And of course it precludes taking the emptied bin in before the second truck comes around. And FSM help you if the guy decides to search in your bag and declares your trash demolition or construction material.

They of course had color coded water restrictions posted everywhere busybodies frequented - elementary schools etc. And I can't not mention the legislature-dictated seat belt law.

But my quarrel is that the nanny state is a symptom of how broken and autonomous our "representational" system is. One shouldn't have to give up civilization to get away from the busybodies, and escaping to NH is just a pressure relief valve. While the people doing it feel freer, this couldn't be further from reality - the ridiculousness has only become distant because other people are more distant. All types of militarized law enforcement may still freely kill them or their dogs while pretending to be heroes. Their communications are still stored indefinitely and mined for thoughtcrime. They're still prohibited from ingesting whatever chemicals they'd like. And they're still working over a quarter of the year to support these hostilities against them. But since they have an illusion of freedom they're likely to stop criticizing the entirety of the nanny state, focus on aspects they identify with, and flip to supporting it.

Re: Massachusetts Introduces Software Service Tax

#69

Post by Zakharov »

asmithmd1 wrote: post #8

MA has so many make-work jobs who do absolutely nothing at least they could leave those of us trying to do something alone. I was talking to a guy who used to be a product designer for Brookstone, Polaroid and GM. He has an idea to create 100 simple products all manufactured within 100 miles of Boston. http://www.onehundred.co He thought he would reach out to some MA economic development organization and let them kno…

Well, I'd assume "Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director" is the secretary for the no. 2 at the MTC, which doesn't seem all that unreasonable. The "Program Assistant to the Director" is probably a project manager. The "Director of Cluster Development" is probably in charge of whoever is developing clusters, whatever those are. The titles are slightly overblown, but little more than I'd expect at any government department or large corporation.
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