A bold proposal in re VAT

Give VAT-paying euros their tax back in in-world stipend. What LL give users in this thing that "not a currency" is no business of the taxman; will boost the economy instead of killing it; and will make the Americans feel left out and hard done by - no bad thing!

(how naughty is that?)

For a Wednesday .. it's a little cheeky.

Now ... if it was Thursday .......

/me laughs

Sounds great to me, but don't think you are going to get away with that, just because the US is sleeping...

love imogen
Near London UK

Any L$ that LL gives away is less L$ that Supply Linden can sell. If they did do this the net effect would be exactly the same as not charging VAT at all so it's less than likely.

As far as the economy is concerned: if the amounts involved are really high, uncontrolled mass dumping of L$ by LL (for whatever reason really) will devaluate the L$ which hurts the economy pretty bad.

Oh I don't expect to - either the VAT or the "humour".

Dr Gummi
In London... and what was that about "love"...? (waxes moustache)

Oh, get a room you two!!!

I dont thing so Bilbo... i just got married on Sunday night... and not to Gummi...

love
imogen

Give them something of value....First Bling.

how about .... paying it .... *lol*

Seriously though... its getting old, we have no choice, its a european directive. Its not fair but we still go to pay it.

And New Joisey awakes .... Mornin' Bren!

We do have a choice... We can choose to pay what we feel is an amount we're willing to spend on SL.

Linden Lab may find they will have to adjust their pricing according to "market territories" if they can't retain European customers- their costs aren't really any of their customers' concerns, up to a point. It would be kind of the reverse of Adobe style price gouging in Europe.

In the meantime, we can also choose to tier down.

I think it only makes Logical sense that everyone else in the world should share the burden of paying a Tax that was enacted by EU governments to apply directly when EU citizens and EU companies buy something.

/me waves. Actually we sleep with one eye open, a by product of being so close to the City that never sleeps.

didnt realise you was so close to brussells bren *wink* hehehehe *waves*

heres a bold proposal.

if its so easy for them to identify eu residence, then i dont see why they cant let us have eu only gambling in world.

then atleast we dont have to suffer the same laws as the us, when they are not having to suffer for our laws.


FAIR IS FAIR LINDENS!!!!!

Again.

Not to confuse anyone..

But by current law US credit card companies are forbidden from making payments to gambling sites.

Thus if LL allows gambling in SL, US credit card companies will no longer pay LL money.

Theres not a distinction made of "Gambling sites that only sell gambling to non US residents"

------------------------------------------------

So your suggestion makes perfect sense. LL doesn't need the American's money.

sooo .. is that better than sleeping near the Windy City?

Failed, I'm afraid: I'm confused now. Credit Card co's definitley DO move gambling money in Europe, and they do it via all sorts of servers and companies scattered all over the world. If LL have to live with the US downside (no gambling) and the EU downside (charge VAT) then it does seem remarkably strange that they can't take advantage of any of the upsides of each location.

Of course, those of us who are VAT registered can remark on the delights of hanging on to nearly 20% of your turnover for three months at a go, and the amount of interest you can earn and fun you can have with all that extra cash, but I just know that would set the forum whingers off again.

My proposal of reimbursement in L$ to put the europeans on a par with the americans, in-world, could only be a win: more L$ floating round the economy, people inclined to spend more, a return to an economic model where owning land relates to the stipend you get (for europeans anyway)... and contrary to what you said in your other posting, there would be no "burden", since (as we are persistently told), L$ are not real money.

US credit card companies do with Bank cards issued through US banks?

Through known Gambling sites?

Since this new law was passed?

Sorry I do not believe you.

Furthermore I would suggest that part of the premium payment is a purchase of L$ and as such is not VATable.

The consequence is that residents of differing European countries would get differing stipends ... but would be getting the same rate for it.

LL could pay for this by claiming that the part that bought the stipend was a purchase of L$ and as such is NOT VATable and reduce their liability to VAT. The only "loser" is the VATman who at present is claiming VAT on not VATable payments ...

For example UK residents pay 17.5% VAT ... a 17.5% increase in stipend would mean on average an extra L$52.5, 70 or 87.5 a week (depending on the stipend level you are on).

The stipend payments can for VAT purposes be treated as partial refunds and as such carry VAT refunds (which LL can pay in L$ and reclaim on their VAT account).

Oh I see this is one of those progressive-reveal conversations. Have it with someone else, then, and save us both a lot of bother.

Progressive reveal?

What the heck are you talking about?

You made a claim that US credit card companies are making payments to European gambling sites. This is illegal. Thus I do not believe you.

I suppose it would be possible a "US credit card company" who issues a credit card through a Non-US bank can make a payment to a gambling site. Thats not the same thing at all.

My point is that if Second Life becomes classified as a gambling site - People in the US will not be able to pay for Second Life, because their credit cards wont let them.

Yes it's done through cards issued by non-US banks.

Oh No! Without US, then Euros would have to return to hating each other...the Horror!

I'm an American, and I'd approve of this plan (It will NEVER happen, but I'd approve of it). However, if I was implementing it, I'd only grant these added Linden stipends to EU residents who pay VAT, that is land owners and currency buyers, etc, and only in the direct proportion to their VAT. If an EU resident is on a free account and pays no VAT, they shouldn't be granted these stipends. However, this plan wouldn't harm the US folks, as the OP believes; it would merely even the playing field. If there was a means for the US residents to get around the gambling thing, I'd like to think the EU people would support us.