Australia's GST (VAT) threshold for online purchases could fall from $1,000 to $20 - Polidicks

Two questions. Is this good? Will games be cheaper?

[QUOTE=Xonax;48297974]Two questions. Is this good? Will games be cheaper?[/QUOTE] lol no. It means that if you buy a game from overseas, and it's over AUD$20, you have to pay GST, in other words an extra 10%.

Australians should move to Pennsylvania. Our state government doesn't tax digital products as far as I'm aware. All of my Steam/GOG/GMG purchases have never been taxed. [editline]27th July 2015[/editline] And yes, I mean all Australians.

[QUOTE=U.S.S.R;48301982]Australians should move to Pennsylvania. Our state government doesn't tax digital products as far as I'm aware. All of my Steam/GOG/GMG purchases have never been taxed. [editline]27th July 2015[/editline] And yes, I mean all Australians.[/QUOTE] They couldn't fathom the shear hilly nature of Pennsylvania. The idea that there is no flat land anywhere would confound them. But on a serious note, the US is probably going to levy a federal internet tax soon enough, states are already jumping in, and pretty soon their taxes will be tied up in the courts and it'll be forced upon congress to act

[QUOTE=Antdawg;48295635] Yeah man paying tax is terrible[/QUOTE] Sorry I'd rather not further increase the ridiculous price of imports because the government is too stupid to manage its money properly. And don't give me that stores pocketing money crap. If you look at most things on amazon and steam they are, in theory, cheaper than most retail prices.

[QUOTE=CertainDOOM;48303299]Sorry I'd rather not further increase the ridiculous price of imports because the government is too stupid to manage its money properly. And don't give me that stores pocketing money crap. If you look at most things on amazon and steam they are, in theory, cheaper than most retail prices.[/QUOTE] Are you sure about Steam? Because they keep asking me to pay $80-$90USD for new release triple-A games, which comes out to about $110-$125, much more than retail.

[QUOTE=TacticalBacon;48303605]Are you sure about Steam? Because they keep asking me to pay $80-$90USD for new release triple-A games, which comes out to about $110-$125, much more than retail.[/QUOTE] True it's kinda hard to argue a point for steam, but it's not them pocketing the money directly, it gets way more complicated than that with distributors just being fuckwits and the fact that our economy is trashed atm.

[QUOTE=Antdawg;48295635]But how can local businesses try to be more competitive (which they do) when tax rules put them at an inherent disadvantage? Not only do they have to pay for a physical presence and local labour, but they have to collect the GST as well. Which online stores don't have to do. It's actually the online stores who do it for the 'extra profit' because you often do see online stores selling stuff for just below or the same price as local stores while not charging GST, so they end up pocketing that difference which would have otherwise been a saving for the customer or revenue for the tax office. [editline]26th July 2015[/editline] Yeah man paying tax is terrible[/QUOTE] Found the struggling store owner.

[QUOTE=maxumym;48303831]Found the struggling store owner.[/QUOTE] 1: never owned a business 2: if I did, I wouldn't have to register for GST if the turnover is less than $75,000 3: you don't have to be in business to see how inequitable the current system is

[QUOTE=maxumym;48303831]Found the struggling store owner.[/QUOTE] Being able to purchase something cheaper overseas due to it being GST free does not help local business. As Ant said, there needs to be an even playing field.