What can we non-EU players do to help our brothers and sisters in the EU ?

It'll take more than a Benny Hill Boxed Set. What else you got?

Those that are suppose to be paying for the VAT, are you now paying that to LLABS? That questen was never fully known. Thats why i am asking this.

Knockwurst?

You pay that to Linden Labs, yes. And LL release this amount to EU tax authorities on each country , depending on the country of origin of each citizen. (or maybe they give it to UK tax office and this one didtributes the tax to other countries, not sure)

If you have a vat number, you pay 0 to linden labs, but then you have to declare this amount to your tax declaration about vat. This has only to do with companies and business entities and not individuals. It's not that you escape VAT, it's just paid by a business enity in eu.

Does it match?

Yes, they updated our accounts to include the VAT amount before the blog entry or e-mails:

This is unreal. After taking to people from the VAT paying parts of the world. Many are thinking leaving and or paying the cost down to its buyers or renters. WOnders how mnay are going to leave or sell their land because of this issue. If i had a 17.5% tax or even a 10% tax i would leave.

Usagi

I think the best thing to do is for all non-EU estate owners to raise their rents by about 17% so that the playing field is once again level. Solidarity! Standing shoulder to shoulder to lift this boulder! OK. Maybe it isn't such a good idea. Hey I haven't heard YOUR idea.

Thank you making more clear.

Not quite --

The idea is that VAT is a consumption tax, and should usually be paid by the final consumer.

A business can have essentially two models:
- the "unregistered" model: when the business sells things, it keeps all the money the customer pays; but when it buys supplies or similar things, it pays VAT on them. This is only legal for businesses up to a certain size.
- the "registered" model: when the business sells things, it has to charge VAT to its customers and sends the money to the government; but when it buys supplies or similar things, it doesn't have to pay VAT. Most business suppliers have arrangements for businesses to indicate that they don't have to pay VAT; or if the business _does_ get charged VAT, they can claim it back from the taxman.

Being registered is thus generally better for a business, but it's a high responsibility thing: amongst other things a VAT-registered business has to be regularly inspected, and the expenses that it claims against VAT will have to be judged to see if they are indeed business supplies.

Although LL have incorporated a system allowing businesses to enter VAT registration numbers, it has two flaws:
- There is no way for a business to specify that some of its land is VATable and some is not. If you own an island, for example, where half is your shop and half is your house, then you can't claim the house portion as a business supply, but there's no way to tell SL that.
- Businesses that work only in SL can't ever register. The problem is that their business transactions will be in L$, and as L$ aren't a real currency, that isn't formal enough to meet the legal obligations for collecting tax. I suppose the only way they could do this is to argue that their real business is "selling L$ for US$ on LindeX" and that they are not really selling at L$266, they are selling at L$312 but then charging VAT.. but then they'd have to send 17.5% of their entire transaction to the taxman, even though some of those L$ were probably bought by US users who have no VAT to pay.

The OP lowered his rents. So I guess you have a difference of philosophy.

In some ways couldn't non VAT landlords be doing their European Counterparts a disservice by lowering rents. They could be encouraging renters to abandon landowners already with a retention problem.

Well.... I moved my shop to a plot I bought next to my home. The sim owner that I bought land from has to pay VAT.....and he's concerned about keeping the sim going. This would truly suck because he's done a great job with it and I love my land. I have 3 plots.....the 3rd he agreed to allow me to put a shop on even tho it's residential....because by being more flexible, hopefully he can keep his island. I lowered my prices and have opened my land to anyone who wants to come explore the houses and just hang out.

Sales have been pathetic anyway..... I have no idea what's accounting for the extreme dip.....but hopefully this move will help him and me.

Although we shouldn't be paying VAT on mainland until October 27th. I've raised a support ticket over this. My bill still shows VAT due, when the blog implies it's not.

There's this ship in the harbor with lot's of tea on it. We sneek aboard and ....
oh. that was another tax. Never mind.

And don'f forget buying all the Monty Python gestures...

Herring anyone...?

.d

Ranma does not play well with others. This behavior is pretty typical for Ranma.

If the land market was going great guns, I'd actually give it more than a thought. I'm not greedy and I'm not trying to get rich. The land market is really depressed right now unless you're selling some really prime real estate. Even then, I'm not sure those folks are doing great either. At least with my low prices, I can help out tenants. The EU land barons, maybe we can steer business to their tenants ?

Dovetailing into my All-star estate owner list from the other day...what if we compiled a list of reputable EU estate owners and promoted it somehow?

good idea !

We can start with Alicia Sautereau and Steven Zenith. Those are the two I know and trust who are subject to VAT. Who's next?

Best explanation for George Bush ever.



Will you be a dear and tell George that the next time he sends his troops somewhere...?

Ah but Ranma has somehow decided that she's not American anymore and is the Ambassador for Okinawa now.

Most Americans definitely do not deserve the wackos we have in our government right now. Believe me, we're trying to get rid of them as fast as we can!

SJ

How dare you say that?

Insulting wackos like that. Shame on you.