Taxation of digital goods

Digital goods are software programs, music, videos or other electronic files that users download exclusively from the Internet.[1] Some digital goods are free, others are available for a fee. The taxation of digital goods and/or services, sometimes referred to as digital tax and/or a digital services tax, is partially governed by a federal statute and has been the area of significant state legislative and rule-making activity. The digital tax is gaining popularity across the globe, as the result almost 50 jurisdictions have made changes in their current legislation regarding the taxation to include the digital tax, or presented new laws focused on taxation of digital economy.[2][3]

History

In 1997, the United States federal government decided to limit taxation of Internet activity for a period of time. The Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) prohibits taxes on Internet access, which is defined as a service that allows users access to content, information, email or other services offered over the Internet and may include access to proprietary content, information, and other services as part of a package offered to customers. The Act has exceptions for taxes levied before the statute was written and for sales taxes on online purchases of physical goods.

The statute has been amended three times since its enactment to extend this prohibition. The first amendment solely extended the Act's duration. The second extended it again and clarified the definition of Internet access as including certain telecommunication services, as well as reorganizing sections within the Act. The third amendment again extended the prohibition but narrowed the definition of Internet access to "not include voice, audio or video programming, or other products and services . . . that utilize Internet protocol . . . and for which there is a charge" except those related to a homepage, email, instant messaging, video clips, and personal storage capacity.

In 2009, Anna Eshoo, Congresswoman from California's 14th District (which includes most of Silicon Valley), introduced a bill to make the Act permanent in its most recent permutation. However, this bill died in committee.[4]

States levying a tax on digital goods may be violating the ITFA. The states using their original tax code may fall within the grandfather clause of the ITFA, but there has been no litigation to clarify this or other aspects of the Act. One of the few cases brought under the ITFA involved Community Telecable of Seattle suing the city of Seattle in Washington state court, where Telecable claimed it should not have to pay a telephone utility tax because it was an Internet access provider under the ITFA. The Washington State Supreme Court held that Telecable could not be taxed as a telephone provider when it was providing Internet access under the ITFA.[5]

Every digital-specific tax created by a state has been enacted after the ITFA became law. These laws may be preempted because the ITFA bars taxes on Internet access, and multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce. Courts have yet to clarify whether the existing laws compound taxes or are discriminatory. Although, it is likely that these laws can survive scrutiny under the ITFA because they can be interpreted to only tax services that fit within the exception to Internet access described in the statute and to be the only taxes on these digital products. On the other hand, there may be problems with these taxes because they may cover products and services dealing with homepages, email, personal storage, or video clips.

Without litigation, it may be difficult to distinguish the difference between the definitions of content given by the ITFA, such as between a video clip and video programming. iTunes, for example, could be designated as video programming for the videos it sells based on the definition found in the federal statute regulating cable companies,[6] and as video clips for its previews. These laws may also run into trouble if they tax a download that is already taxed by another state, because multiple taxes are defined as taxing property that has been taxed once before by another state or political subdivision.[7] VIDEO software>

Another possible federal limitation on Internet taxation is the United States Supreme Court case, Quill Corp. v. North Dakota, 504 U.S. 298 (1992),[8] which held that under the dormant commerce clause, goods purchased through mail order cannot be subject to a state's sales tax unless the vendor has a substantial nexus with the state levying the tax. The dormant commerce clause could also apply to any efforts to tax downloads. Since most downloads are from companies that are centralized in a small number of states, it is likely that there will not be many states with a substantial nexus to download providers. At present, no litigation has arisen to determine what will be defined as a proper nexus for a distributor of digital content within a state. It is possible that a state would argue that servers are enough of a nexus to tax the content passing through, although the Supreme Court has already ruled that communication by common carrier is not enough to form a substantial nexus.[9]

Status of taxation of digital goods per state.
  States relying on general tax laws to govern digital goods
  States that have enacted laws specifically addressing digital goods taxation
  States that expressly do not tax digital goods
  Status not known
  Other countries

States initially were slow to enact taxes on downloads, but with recent downturns in tax revenue caused by consumers purchasing more digital downloads, many states have sought ways to impose taxes on purely digital transactions. There are multiple ways that downloads are taxed. Some states use their existing franchise, sales, and use taxes to tax purchases/uses/transactions of consumers of Internet goods and services. Other states enacted laws specifically aimed at digital downloads.

States relying on general tax laws to govern digital goods

Some states presume that downloads are automatically covered by their existing tax statutes based on the common law definition of tangible personal property, which is anything that holds value on its own that is not real property.

  • Alabama[10]
  • Arizona – Uses definition of tangible personal property to be anything that can be discerned by human perception, which includes digital goods transmitted electronically.[11]
  • New Mexico – New Mexico Property Tax Code § 7.35.2 [12]
  • Utah – Clarified its tax law to include digital products in 2008, though it claimed sales tax on these products prior to the amendment.[13]
  • West Virginia[14]

In other states, state tax boards have released bulletins to explain what products are subject to sales and use taxes, tax administrative boards have handed down revenue rulings, and statutes have been amended to define "tangible personal property" to include digital goods and therefore subject them to sales tax.

  • Indiana – Interprets tangible personal property as anything that can be perceived by the senses, including electricity, water, gas and steam. Yet, the taxes do not reach as far as purchasing virtual points for an online game because the points themselves cannot be "perceived."[15]
  • Louisiana – The Supreme Court of Louisiana has interpreted tangible personal property to be equivalent to corporeal movable property. Article 471 of Louisiana's Civil Code defines corporeal movable property as things that physically exist and normally move or can be moved from one place to another, which is then illustrated by examples, including digital or electronic products such as audio and video downloads.[16]
  • Maine – Taxes all "tangible personal property" that includes any computer software that is not a "custom computer software program." A custom computer software program is a program made in a single instance for a single customer.[17]
  • Texas – Defines "taxable items" as including tangible personal property in electronic form instead of in physical form. TX Tax Code §151.010.[18] This is in addition to an administrative ruling holding that electronically transmitted music is the same as taxable tangible personal property.

States that have enacted laws specifically addressing digital goods taxation

The remaining states that tax downloads have specific statutes that define exactly what is to be taxed and what is not. The similarity in these taxes is that they are based on a sales-type scheme, where each download (or group of downloads) is taxed like a purchase in physical space.

  • Colorado - As of July 1, 2012, software is only taxable if it is prepackaged for sale, is governed by a license agreement, and is delivered in a tangible medium.[19]
  • Connecticut - As long as no tangible personal property is provided in the transaction, sales or purchases of "digital downloads" are treated as sales or purchases of computer and data processing services, and taxable at a 1% rate. As of October 1, 2019 the tax for digital downloads was changed from 1% to 6.35%.[20]
  • Idaho – Includes in its tax code a sales tax on "canned" software, no matter the method of delivery. Other digital products are then defined as canned software.[21]
  • Kentucky – Defines digital property and then taxes it as common tangible personal property.[22]
  • Nebraska – Statute providing for taxes on sales of digital audio works, digital audiovisual works, and digital books. Further, the state taxes digital codes that provide the purchaser with the right to obtain one or more of these products delivered electronically.[23]
  • New Jersey – Statute taxes all digital property delivered through electronic means, such as music, ringtones, movies, books, audio and video works, and similar products.[24]
  • South Dakota – Created a specific statute levying a tax on electronically delivered products, defining the products as analogs of their physical counterparts (CDs, DVDs, etc.).[25]
  • Tennessee – Amended its sales tax to include digital products, which include "specified digital products" sold with either permanent ownership rights or for less than permanent use.[26]
  • Vermont – Created a specific tax on digital audio-visual works, digital audio works, digital books and ringtones that are transferred electronically.[27]
  • Washington State – Has a digital download and digital service specific tax. This tax applies solely to the digital realm, with many exceptions (presumably to avoid preemption by the Internet Tax Freedom Act).[28]
  • Wisconsin – Statute specifies for taxation purposes, digital audio-visual works, digital audio works, and digital books, along with greeting cards, finished artwork, periodicals, video or electronic games, and newspapers or other news or information products that are transferred electronically.[29]

States that expressly do not tax digital goods
  • North Dakota – Defined digital products and then specifically exempted them from taxation.[30]
  • Washington D.C. – Has a sales tax only on data processing and information services which include the distribution of news or current information. However, the tax statute specifically disclaims sales of digital content and certain Internet related services. Title 47 §2001(n)(1)(N) & (n)(2)(G).[31]

Some of these laws specifically address the taxation of software, which may or may not be interpreted by those states' courts to include downloadable content, i.e. music and video files.

The EU operates Value Added Tax (VAT) and electronic goods and services are subject to VAT at the applicable rate. Each member state may set its own rate of VAT if they want

VAT regulations are very complicated and the intent of this article is not to provide definitive guidance but rather to list some of the relevant factors.

Businesses located within an EU member state

If a business is located within an EU member state and its turnover through internet sales or otherwise exceeds that member state's VAT threshold then the business must register for VAT. It is then obliged to collect VAT on its sales (outputs) and remit it to the tax authorities having deducted the VAT it pays on its purchases (inputs).

Distance selling threshold

If a business makes sales of physical goods to a member state that exceeds that member states distance selling threshold (typically either EUR 30,000 or EUR 100,000) then it must register to pay VAT in that member state and collect VAT at that member state's VAT rate.

If sales are below the distance selling threshold VAT must be collected at the VAT rate in the business' own member state.

Selling e-services within the EU

If a business is located within an EU member state and supplies e-services to an individual who is not VAT registered in another EU member state then VAT rules of the state where the business is located apply. If the business supplies e-services to a VAT-registered individual in another state then the business is not obliged to pay VAT in its state and thus the individual must pay VAT in its state. If the business supplies e-services to a VAT-registered individual yet the individual receives the e-services in a state where neither the business nor the individual has their establishment then the business is obliged to register for VAT in the state where the e-services are delivered to. The 2015 EU VAT legislation requires two non-conflicting pieces of evidence to be produced so as to determine what VAT rate should be applied to these digital goods sales.[32]

A business must always charge VAT to non-VAT registered entities (i.e. consumers) but should not charge VAT to foreign EU VAT registered businesses who provide them with a VAT number. These foreign EU businesses are required to declare their purchase and the tax due to their own tax authorities.

In his budget of May 12, 2015, the then Australian Federal Government Treasurer Joe Hockey revealed details of a new 10% goods and services tax (GST) to be introduced on "certain electronic supplies".

The proposed GST has already been dubbed the 'Netflix Tax' in Australia as on-demand video-streaming is one of the services that will come under the scope of the new rules. The Australian GST on digital services is due to come into effect in July 2017.

On Wednesday, February 10, 2016, the draft bill outlining Australia's new digital GST was introduced with Treasurer Scott Morrison telling the Australian Parliament that the new rules would: "ensure Australian businesses selling digital products and services are not disadvantaged relative to overseas businesses that sell equivalent products in Australia."[33]

Singapore

Singapore was the first state in its region to consider implementing digital tax into its tax system. The idea was revealed in February 2018 and the according bill passed by the parliament of Singapore in November of the same year to come in effect on 1 January 2020. The main reasoning behind this was explained by the Singapore Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat who said during his speech about budget in 2018: “Today, services such as consultancy and marketing purchased from overseas suppliers are not subject to GST. Local consumers also do not pay GST when they download apps and music from overseas. This change will ensure that imported and local services are accorded the same treatment.”[34] It is estimated that implementing of the digital tax will bring Singapore 65,5 million USD per year. The implemented tax will be at the same level as the GST (Goods and service tax) rate nowadays in Singapore, which is 7%, but it is important to notice that there is planned increase of GST rate at some point between 2021 and 2025.

Malaysia

Following Singapore, Malaysia was the second to make step towards implementing of the digital tax into its legislation system, as announced by Malaysia's Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah in November 2018. The tax rate will be introduced at level of 6% which one of the lowest digital tax rates in the World. For comparison Russia has 18%, Norway has 25% and New Zealand has 15%.[35] The digital tax in Malaysia will come in effect on 1 January 2020

Thailand

Thailand is the last of the three South-east Asia countries that introduced plan to impose tax on digital goods. It was introduced in report released in April 2019 stating that it will aim at taxing the digital platform operators and joint with e-payment law prevent tax evasion of local online platform operators. It is also planned to come in effect at the beginning of 2020.[36]

Chile

Chile introduced digital tax as part of its tax reform in August 2018. The tax rate was revealed to be at 10% by Chile's Finance Minister Felipe Larrain. However, this proposal was withdrawn and is now a subject to reviewing.

Colombia

Colombia has already passed its digital tax law and since July 2018 all foreign suppliers have a liability of collecting and paying 19% VAT from sales to individuals. Online platforms operating strictly on B2B (business to business) are not subject of this taxation.[37]

Uruguay

In Uruguay the first idea of taxing the digital services from foreign suppliers appeared in 2015. As in Colombia the law regarding digital tax has come in effect in July 2018 being set at 22% as considered as VAT. As in most cases one of the main reasons was to make local suppliers competitive. It is estimated that this new VAT can bring US$10 million per year into Uruguay treasury.

Brazil

First plan to implement digital tax in Brasil was revealed in October 2017. On 15 March 2018, São Paulo State Court decided in favour of Association of Information and Communication Technology Companies (Brasscom) and so the effects of the digital tax were suspended on software streaming and downloading. [38]

Argentina

The reveal of implementation of digital tax in Argentina took place in October 2017. It was specified that non-residents supplying digital services to customers in Argentina will be taxed 21% rate. The law is effective since June 2018. Argentina has a unique approach to collecting this tax. Usually, the collecting and remittance of VAT is liability of the non-resident supplier, in Argentina the tax is charged through the customers´ credit cards used to pay for online services.[39]

References
  1. See Music download
  2. "2020 vision: Singapore set to tax cross-border digital services, following international trends". www.blog.taxamo.com. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  3. "In the digital era, tax, trade and competition rules need an upgrade". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
  4. 111th Congress, HR 1560. This amendment would have merely made the ban permanent, not changing the substance of the Act. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/111/hr1560
  5. 164 Wash. 2d 35 (2008). http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=wa&vol=2008_sc/797021MAJ&invol=4
  6. "'Video programming' means programming provided by, or generally considered comparable to programming provided by, a television broadcast station." 47 U.S.C. 522(19).
  7. 47 U.S.C. §151 section 1105(6).
  8. "FindLaw's United States Supreme Court case and opinions".
  9. Quill, 504 U.S. at 311.
  10. "2006 Alabama Code - :: Chapter 23 — SALES AND USE TAXES".
  11. http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/42/05001.htm&Title=42&DocType=ARS "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-01-03. Retrieved 2009-12-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-12-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. http://us.kpmg.com/microsite/taxnewsflash/2009/Aug/SALT_Digital_Prod.pdf%5B%5D http://le.utah.gov/~2008/bills/hbillenr/hb0206.htm
  14. "West Virginia Code".
  15. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-11. Retrieved 2009-12-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. http://www.rev.state.la.us/forms/publications/1001%2810_03%29.pdf
  17. "Title 36, §1752: Definitions".
  18. "Tax Code Chapter 151. Limited Sales, Excise, and Use Tax".
  19. "Department of Revenue - Taxation |".
  20. http://askdrs.ct.gov/scripts/drsrightnow.cfg/php.exe/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=750&p_created=1336735999&p_topview=1
  21. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2009-12-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/KRS/139-00/010.PDF
  23. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2009-12-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. "State of NJ - Department of the Treasury - Division of Taxation - Tax Notes - Digital Property".
  25. "Home" (PDF).
  26. https://web.archive.org/web/20100529163325/http://www.tennessee.gov/revenue/legsumm/2008legsumm.htm. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2009. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  27. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010.1/Acts/ACT001.pdf
  28. "Washington State Legislature".
  29. http://www.revenue.wi.gov/pubs/pb240.pdf
  30. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-02. Retrieved 2009-12-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. http://government.westlaw.com/linkedslice/default.asp?SP=DCC-1000
  32. "Taxamo Blog "Chart Courtesy Of The EU Taxation & Digital Goods custom Website"". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
  33. "Treasurer introduces 'Netflix tax' for GST on digital products to Parliament". The Age. 2016-02-10. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  34. "Digital tax trends: International plans to tax the digital economy". Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  35. "Malaysia passes bill to tax foreign-supplied digital services". Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  36. "Revenue Department seeks more authority". Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  37. "Colombia's tax on foreign-supplied digital services". Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  38. "Preliminary injunction suspends ICMS taxation on software in São Paulo". 20 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  39. "Argentina starts to tax digital services supplied by non-residents". Retrieved 30 April 2019.

See also
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.