US Congress Wants to Tax MMO Transactions

Quaunaut

<div class="IPBDescription">Yep.</div><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6065534.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6065534.stm</a>

Not your subscription, or ingame exchanges, but instead, taxing when you buy virtual currency in a game like Second Life.

All I've got to say: For ######'s sake congress, get off of our ######.

Scythe

Yeah. Right. Tax moonbeams while you're at it.

This kind of thing is nigh-on impossible to regulate. Give it up mister government.

--Scythe--

Epidemic

Why do you care so much about it? Usually, ingame and IRL currency entwining is a bad thing for the game.

Cereal_KillR

So they want a chunk off AH sales because chinese farmers are paid a couple of bucks per day to sit around gathering money in a virtual world where everything belongs to the game creator? Sounds like a pretty crappy plan to me.

BlackMage

good luck enforcing that. just buy from a person in canada, *boom* notax.

tigersmith

<!--quoteo(post=1570533:date=Oct 19 2006, 12:05 PM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Oct 19 2006, 12:05 PM) [snapback]1570533[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6065534.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6065534.stm</a>

Not your subscription, or ingame exchanges, but instead, taxing when you buy virtual currency in a game like Second Life.

All I've got to say: For ######'s sake congress, get off of our ######. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


lol, thats never going to happen

Quaunaut

<!--quoteo(post=1570550:date=Oct 19 2006, 11:34 AM:name=tigersmith)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tigersmith @ Oct 19 2006, 11:34 AM) [snapback]1570550[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
lol, thats never going to happen
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

lol habeas corpus will never be suspended

lol the bill of rights won't be forgotten

lol we won't start a war over oil

lol a democracy can't become corrupted

NeonSpyder

<!--quoteo(post=1570573:date=Oct 19 2006, 05:41 PM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Oct 19 2006, 05:41 PM) [snapback]1570573[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
lol habeas corpus will never be suspended

lol the bill of rights won't be forgotten

lol we won't start a war over oil

lol a democracy can't become corrupted
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Touché

lolfighter

<!--quoteo(post=1570535:date=Oct 19 2006, 06:07 PM:name=Scythe)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Scythe @ Oct 19 2006, 06:07 PM) [snapback]1570535[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Yeah. Right. Tax moonbeams while you're at it.

This kind of thing is nigh-on impossible to regulate. Give it up mister government.

--Scythe--
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
They can delegate it to the game publishers though, who will in turn delegate it to the developers. The developers will respond "that's ridiculous and impossible," which the publishers will pass on. Then the government will go "okay, MMOs are now considered tax fraud."

Petco

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Not your subscription, or ingame exchanges, but instead, taxing when you buy virtual currency in a game like Second Life.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Meaning when you use real life money to buy virtual money?

Duff-Man

If you're stupid enough to buy MMO money with IRL money, you deserve more than one extra tax IMO.

Petco

So it is if you buy Virtual Money for Real Life money, I don't really see what's the big deal of this.

If you spent say $100 for virtual/fake money, an extra $3-5 is no big deal.

If they taxed virtual currency <-> virtual currency exchange, that would be ridiculous.

If they taxed monthly payments, I can see many people complaining, but it's not ridiculous.

If they just taxed people who pay real money for virtual money, I don't see anything wrong with that at all...

Quaunaut

<!--quoteo(post=1570590:date=Oct 19 2006, 06:12 PM:name=Duff-Man)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Duff-Man @ Oct 19 2006, 06:12 PM) [snapback]1570590[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
If you're stupid enough to buy MMO money with IRL money, you deserve more than one extra tax IMO.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Its not that simple. Some games, like second life, thats their only input method. Same with Project Entropia.

[WHO]Them

<!--quoteo(post=1570601:date=Oct 19 2006, 08:21 PM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Oct 19 2006, 08:21 PM) [snapback]1570601[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Its not that simple. Some games, like second life, thats their only input method. Same with Project Entropia.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

But it is that simple. It ranks pretty high on my list of stuff to never do ever.

Sprengi

wherever the state can grab some money off you, he will try.
if someone invented a car that runs on pure mind power the'd try to get taxes for thoughts.

Spacer

<!--quoteo(post=1570601:date=Oct 19 2006, 10:21 PM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Oct 19 2006, 10:21 PM) [snapback]1570601[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Its not that simple. Some games, like second life, thats their only input method. Same with Project Entropia.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I was sure you could make money ingame like regular MMOs.

Quaunaut

<!--quoteo(post=1570609:date=Oct 20 2006, 01:01 AM:name=T_h_e_m)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(T_h_e_m @ Oct 20 2006, 01:01 AM) [snapback]1570609[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
But it is that simple. It ranks pretty high on my list of stuff to never do ever.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Well, thats you. But theres about 40,000 subscribers of Second Life that disagree with you, that input RL money to get ingame money, weekly.

I'm not one, but still: Congress shouldn't do it.

[WHO]Them

<!--quoteo(post=1570635:date=Oct 20 2006, 10:03 AM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Oct 20 2006, 10:03 AM) [snapback]1570635[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Well, thats you. But theres about 40,000 subscribers of Second Life that disagree with you, that input RL money to get ingame money, weekly.

I'm not one, but still: Congress shouldn't do it.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

What do you want to bet that those same 40,000 people have far more than their statistical share of participants in pyramid schemes.


But that's beside the point. Taxes have to come from somewhere and people that trade real money for virtual money obviously don't have anything better to do with it.

TychoCelchuuu

Heyyyyy... tax free investments in Second Life while the going's good! It's like Scientology only with furries instead of celebrities.

Quaunaut

<!--quoteo(post=1570687:date=Oct 20 2006, 08:23 PM:name=T_h_e_m)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(T_h_e_m @ Oct 20 2006, 08:23 PM) [snapback]1570687[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
What do you want to bet that those same 40,000 people have far more than their statistical share of participants in pyramid schemes.
But that's beside the point. Taxes have to come from somewhere and people that trade real money for virtual money obviously don't have anything better to do with it.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Hey, before they wanna lump more taxes on me, howabout they stop shoving money up their butts, stop robbing our schools, and learn to read a balance sheet? THEN I will permit more taxes, if we can get our tax system to, say, a 65% efficiency level. Thats it. 65%. If I was that efficient at school I'd be failing the course. But I figure its okay for our country, at least.

[WHO]Them

<!--quoteo(post=1570697:date=Oct 20 2006, 10:57 PM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Oct 20 2006, 10:57 PM) [snapback]1570697[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Hey, before they wanna lump more taxes on me, howabout they stop shoving money up their butts, stop robbing our schools, and learn to read a balance sheet? THEN I will permit more taxes, if we can get our tax system to, say, a 65% efficiency level. Thats it. 65%. If I was that efficient at school I'd be failing the course. But I figure its okay for our country, at least.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Changing the topic, eh? I declare myself winner of the internets.

lolfighter

Declaring yourself the winner is a general sign of losing.

Quaunaut

<!--quoteo(post=1570728:date=Oct 21 2006, 09:51 AM:name=T_h_e_m)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(T_h_e_m @ Oct 21 2006, 09:51 AM) [snapback]1570728[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Changing the topic, eh? I declare myself winner of the internets.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Thats not changing the topic. Thats being brutally honest. I don't want them taxing me when they <i>can't even use my goddamn taxes near-right</i>.

Epidemic

You should rather crusade against other tax institutions then.

Swiftspear

You live in the states, you barely are getting taxed at all. In Canada the total tax I pay as opposed to my income will very nearly reach 50%.

Epidemic

<!--quoteo(post=1570743:date=Oct 21 2006, 07:56 AM:name=Swiftspear)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Swiftspear @ Oct 21 2006, 07:56 AM) [snapback]1570743[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
You live in the states, you barely are getting taxed at all. In Canada the total tax I pay as opposed to my income will very nearly reach 50%.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Only 50%? /moves to canada

Quaunaut

<!--quoteo(post=1570737:date=Oct 21 2006, 10:25 AM:name=Epidemic)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Epidemic @ Oct 21 2006, 10:25 AM) [snapback]1570737[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
You should rather crusade against other tax institutions then.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

This isn't a crusade, don't be so ignorant. I'd just like my industry of choice not be manipulated any extra, as I find that completely idiotic. I've got a problem with the tax system, but making new taxes isn't solving the problem, and then when it goes into my industry, its my business to say that the entire idea is stupid.

Renegade

Never gonna happen.

[WHO]Them

<!--quoteo(post=1570749:date=Oct 21 2006, 12:29 PM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Oct 21 2006, 12:29 PM) [snapback]1570749[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
This isn't a crusade, don't be so ignorant. I'd just like my industry of choice not be manipulated any extra, as I find that completely idiotic. I've got a problem with the tax system, but making new taxes isn't solving the problem, and then when it goes into my industry, its my business to say that the entire idea is stupid.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

So you're saying you don't like being taxed? That's truly shocking.

Personally I don't like the idea of dying and I often rant about how the grim reaper has no right to even put me on a list.

Quaunaut

<!--quoteo(post=1571395:date=Oct 26 2006, 10:29 AM:name=T_h_e_m)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(T_h_e_m @ Oct 26 2006, 10:29 AM) [snapback]1571395[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
So you're saying you don't like being taxed? That's truly shocking.

Personally I don't like the idea of dying and I often rant about how the grim reaper has no right to even put me on a list.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Oh, no, I love being taxed. No, seriously. Seeing what high tax rates have done for the Seattle Area has made me a believer.

But don't tax my games. Unless it was a base, sales tax transaction(not a specialized "MMO transaction" tax), I would never be okay with it.

Renegade

You live in Seattle, Q? I wonder how many other forum members live in the Seattle metropolitan area.