General Fuzzy McBitty Posted October 17, 2006 Interesting. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061016/wr_nm/life_secondlife_tax_dc Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elmuerte Posted October 17, 2006 you mean retarded, right? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Fuzzy McBitty Posted October 17, 2006 Yes... but from a legal point of view it is interesting. Online gaming has blurred the lines in many of our laws. You pay for a service, yes, but in many cases you buy currency, items... ect. The government is BOUND to want its cut. Virtual markets and real ones are starting to become intertwined. It was only a matter of time before something like this happend. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elmuerte Posted October 17, 2006 don't see the big deal. when you sell something (be it a good or a service) and you earn money with it you should count it as income and therefor pay income-tax. The only question left is the VAT issue. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Fuzzy McBitty Posted October 17, 2006 I don't think it is a good idea for the government to get into stuff like this... I just find it amusing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wrestlevania Posted October 17, 2006 I’m surprised how slow larger, non-associated bodies (i.e. governments) have been to spot this happening in the entertainment/games industry – and identify it as being a viable, taxable revenue stream. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elmuerte Posted October 18, 2006 someone made the excelent remark: "Then I assume the IRS doesn't mind me paying my taxes in virtual cash." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrChlorophyll Posted October 18, 2006 Sweet, cause I'm loaded with Monopoly money. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brkl Posted October 18, 2006 someone made the excelent remark:"Then I assume the IRS doesn't mind me paying my taxes in virtual cash." Can't you do that? I have trouble believing you have to send taxes to the IRS in paper money. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
n0wak Posted October 18, 2006 I don't think it is a good idea for the government to get into stuff like this... I just find it amusing. While I agree that governments shouldn't get into stuff like this -- you know, taxing people on their income and sales -- they already do and earning 50k of real money selling hotdogs is no different, cash wise, than earning 50k of real money selling hot dogs in a virtual world. Seems like a no brainer to me. It's like taxing people on profits they make on stocks -- which is all "imaginary" money until you cash out. Virtual worlds are the same. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elmuerte Posted October 18, 2006 Can't you do that? I have trouble believing you have to send taxes to the IRS in paper money. No you can't. You can pay with electronic money, not virtual money. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Fuzzy McBitty Posted October 19, 2006 No you can't. You can pay with electronic money, not virtual money. Yes... but if you're making real money in a virtual world, you have to pay the real world with real money. If you were just making virtual money no one would care. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
