I’m sorry, I’ve got good friends from the state, and obviously, they like the place, but this article has me pissed off:
New Jersey Taxing Downloaded Music and Video
Thanks to its $4.5 billion budget deficit, New Jersey’s just instituted a 7% tax for online purchases and downloads of music and videos. For you, that means iTunes, Napster, and other stores are going to be a bit more expensive.
No idea how they’re enforcing this, but maybe changing your State in your iTunes account can get around it? – Jason Chen
As the Glaswegian saying goes, “F*ckin’ f*cker’s f*ckin’ f*cked!” Yeah, web commerce has gotten pretty well established, but check out what else Smilin’ Jon Corzine’s taxing . . .
From Dr. Macenstein:
plagued by a $4.5 billion budget deficit that briefly closed down the state’s government, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine passed legislation this July that raised the New Jersey sales tax from 6% to 7% on all taxable items. But apparently that wasn’t good enough.
Today Governor Corzine announced that he has expanded the list of taxable items for New Jersey residents, and starting Sunday (October 1st) that list now includes iTunes downloads.
The official list of newly taxable items is as follows:
• Downloaded music and video
• Shipping and handling charges
• Flooring and carpeting installation
• Storage space
• Tanning, massage and tattooing
• Data processing
• Limousines
• Health, shopping and other club membership fees
• Parking garages and lots
• Non-clothing cleaning services
• Landscaping
• Magazines and periodicals
• Investigation and security services, such as security alarms and armored carsThat’s right, all music and video purchased via the iTunes music store (and any online service) will now be taxed at the same 7% rate that retail DVDs and CDs are. As a resident of NJ, I feel this both blows AND sucks. While in my mind I cannot justify any reason why a music download should NOT be taxed and a physical CD SHOULD (other than the state of NJ has absolutely NOTHING to do with the sale of iTunes songs), it still feels wrong. I am not sure exactly how well Apple and the NJ government will be checking on the downloads, but I, for one, will be “moving†to Virginia, or NY, or someplace without the taxes. At least as far as my iTunes profile is concerned
On the other hand, this might be the sort of thing that Uncle Joe Lieberman could play populist on.
I got your new New Deal swinging, Corzine.
Christ, had the idiot just put a tax on those horrific, sprayed-up claw bangs the Jersey chicks are still wearing, he could have made up the deficit in the short term—and eventually done away with an aesthetic abomination in the long term.
Somehow, Jeff, when you say “claw,” “bangs,” and “chicks,” you make it sound less horrible.
I never got too hung up on…
…being that they wear thongs too. (it was 80 degrees on the beach today, btw)
You just have to discipline yourself to watch them going instead…
Tax teh intarweb! Assholes. Now thanks to Corzine’s genius, the rest of the money-grubbers across the country will end up following suit.
I already pay 9.5% tax in Alabama, including probably half the things on the list you posted. But they haven’t gotten to the internets yet…and I do mean “yet.”
9.5% Beth? Sheesh.
Well, I presume you don’t have an income tax on top of that like Jersey does on top of the 7% (just moved up from 6% in addition to the newly added taxables).
But seriously, magazines are included in the tax? I thought that was illegal under federal law, no?
We have a 7.75% sales tax AND a state income tax here in the People’s Republic of California.
>>We have a 7.75% sales tax AND a state income tax here in the People’s Republic of California.<<
But we in jersey pay twice the national average for real estate taxes, too. The national average for r.e. taxes per person is something like $900, and we in this craphole of jersey pay around $1800pp. Last year my modest home cost me $8400 in taxes, and that’s on the low end of what my family and friends are paying.
Corzine passed the sales tax increase with 1/2 of the increase earmarked for property taz relief. Rather than cutting property taxes. Yeah, I’ll be holding my breath for that one. Last year I got a whole $300 back. Did I mention I hate it here? I don’t live here for the low cost of living and the good weather (not to mention the interesting smells) … it’s access to my job and proximity to friends and family. Take one of those away and I am out of here.
crap. I meant “tax releif” … warner brothers animated characters notwithstanding….
Quite frankly (snicker) I’m flabergasted (chortle) John Corzine found 38,000 new ways to raise taxes (whimper)(snicker) Why I’m just (snort) (chortle) shocked!
BWAAAAAAAA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HEEHEEHEE (WHEW)
Of course, Corzine has a plan for a (snicker) more affordable New Jersey.
Ah, nothing like a good belly laugh in the morning (as long as you don’t live in NJ.)
My sympathies, bob.
Crap again … “tax relief” … did I get it right that time? That other time? that was homage to Leif Garrett.
NY is right up there with NJ; high sales, income and property taxes.
The geniuses are going to mail us checks, maybe $150 even, because the state ended up with a surplus. (They didn’t think to pay some of the astronomical debt we already owe, or just reduce my $3600 I had to pay last month…)
Oh yes, if you itemize, the rebate is taxable.
I’m a slave – my generous masters let me keep about half my money!
FUCK NEW JERSEY ITS THE PLACE I HATE, WITH LOTS OF WHINEY, BITCH SLAPPED EAST COAST LOUD MOUTHED PUSSIES!