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Post by phinehas on Jan 8, 2007 11:37:31 GMT -5
I have posted this on another board and will put it on here for comment. I noticed that Alabamians don't have to pay a sales tax on newspapers. Why is that? We pay a tax on food, gasoline and other things that are necessities, so why not on a newspaper?
How about Florida or other places? Now, I am not one to want taxes placed on anything but am wondering why the newspaper companies get a break on this, ie. their product is not taxed.
Granted, I don't think anyone will be deprived of buying one by the addition of a 13 cent tax, but that's money that could be brought in by the State and I have heard them whining on about other things and not a peep about this.
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Post by brandon on Jan 8, 2007 17:00:49 GMT -5
Maybe one could argue that taxing a newspaper is a tax on free speech? I know that I'm probably offering a bunk argument, but I'm just trying to add to the conversation.
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Post by phinehas on Jan 8, 2007 17:17:58 GMT -5
brandon, True but it really isn't free if we have to pay for the newspaper. Thanks for replying and I look forward to anything else you would add.
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Post by brandon on Jan 8, 2007 17:46:32 GMT -5
True but it really isn't free if we have to pay for the newspaper. What I meant was free speech with regards to government restriction upon the press. The newspaper can obviously charge you a fee for their news services. However, one could argue that the government's attempts to tax a news service would amount to a government restriction upon the press in violation of the First Amendment. I'm sure there's probably even case law concerning such a thing, but I'm at work right now and too lazy to search for it. If Cornbread from Murphy's board comes over, I'm sure he can dig it up. He can find anything.
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Post by phinehas on Jan 8, 2007 17:55:39 GMT -5
LOL, I think you are confusing me with Fragerella.
I understand what you are saying. It makes sense. I would think that they would not be able to tax televisions, radios and magazines as well, since, like a newspaper, it is a vehicle for the citizens to receive information from the press.
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Post by merrycrankster on Jan 8, 2007 18:23:26 GMT -5
The tax could be figured into the price as well. Lots of taxes are built into the price of things with no itemization. The .gov loves to get its hands into our pockets any way it can.
The concept of not taxing due to a free press does have merit as well, though.
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Post by phinehas on Jan 8, 2007 18:26:05 GMT -5
The tax could be figured into the price as well. Lots of taxes are built into the price of things with no itemization. The .gov loves to get its hands into our pockets any way it can...... Good point. No doubt, the processing of the newspaper from start to finish is taxed at each step and purchase made by the company...why it's then not taxed at the end is superficial in a way.
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Post by Mott The Hoople on Jan 8, 2007 18:59:01 GMT -5
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
SALES, USE & BUSINESS TAX DIVISION
SALES & USE TAX RULE
810-6-1-.110.01. Newspapers, Sales of.
(1) Sales of newspapers are subject to sales tax except when made at wholesale to dealers licensed in accordance with the provisions of Section 40-23-6, Code of Alabama 1975, as amended, or when made to the United States, the State of Alabama, or the counties or cities of the state. (2) Sales of newspapers made by publishers and licensed dealers to unlicensed independent newsboys will be, in all instances, subject to tax as retail sales, the tax to be measured by the gross proceeds of such sales. (3) The word "newsboys" as used herein shall be understood to mean street hawkers and newspaper route persons of all ages. (4) Newsboys who are itinerant vendors who have not filed with the Department of Revenue the bond required by the provisions of Section 40-23-24, Code of Alabama 1975, as amended, will not be licensed as dealers under said act. (Amended January 25, 1977, to comply with decision rendered by the Court of Civil Appeals in State v. The Advertiser Company). (Readopted through APA effective October 1, 1982)
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Post by tragicpizza on Jan 9, 2007 15:40:42 GMT -5
Fifty cents for a daily and a buck and a half Sunday? Trust me, we're taxed.
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