Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: bairdlander
Are the prices in US currency?

I see all prices like "GBP 16.99". This is when not logged in, and also rather curiously, I cannot see anywhere to chose a currency other than GBP. I wonder if the store tries to guess my location from my IP Address and change the currency to match?

Recently (ie a week or two ago) I bought WitE (physical version) and thought I'd just check what I'd paid compared to the "sticker" price

WitE price in the store (for physical and free download) = £59.99

What I paid - £59.99 + £4.25 (shipping) = £64.24

Then I looked at what I would have paid for d/l only - £52.99 + £10.60 (VAT) = £63.59


So it looks like you don't get charged any VAT at all if you order a physical copy of the game but do at 20% if you buy a download only.


My tip if you are thinking of buying WitE (or for that matter proably anything else) and you are in the UK - get the physical version as for your extra 65p you will get a nice CD with your name on it, a manual and a box to put them both in !

VAT is chargeable on all UK imports with a value of £18 or higher.{outside of EU}.

Now, customs don't always charge this, but often they do. It depends on what the customs label says. If an item is shipped and the customs label had a value of £65 then you MAY be liable for a 20% VAT tax PLUS another £8 handling charge from Royal mail.

Not every time, but often enough.
I've been caught out before.

ORIGINAL: ezz


VAT is chargeable on all UK imports with a value of £18 or higher.{outside of EU}.

As Plimus (the Matrix store opperator) distributes from Germany (ie within the EU) would it be liable for VAT ?

Or have I just got lucky in this instance.

ORIGINAL: diablo1

Wow how is this "political" thread lasting so long? [:)]

Because no one has explained to me yet what VAT is. [:D]

Seriously though, from what I've gathered, it looks to be some kind of luxury tax. Do we have anything here in the States that is comparable to it?

Do we have anything here in the States that is comparable to it?

It depends on who you ask and the way you look at it.

As far as the U.S. government sees it from their viewpoint, on paper, technically they argue they don't really have something in place that mimmicks the VAT in details, and hence this has now given them a license to propose yet another tax upon the people. And it looks like this NEW tax will be added on pretty soon, which has been argued the people should just bear it since it will help stop the economy from spiraling down as fast as it has been going. At least in theory!

The other arguement is it will do nothing at all to slow down the debt accumulation to what is already a 3'rd world economy, and right now the U.S. can't afford to be pushing even more taxes and cuts on the people left who are managing to hold jobs. Corporations in America are already the highest taxed in the world BTW.

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

Because no one has explained to me yet what VAT is. [:D]

[/quote]

There are much better than this site places to find factual information on such subjects (not Wiki).

Google is a good place as any to start a search.

ORIGINAL: diablo1
Wow how is this "political" thread lasting so long? [:)]

Because only one person has really tried to make it political (and one fell for the baiting). The rest are really just commiserating.

What I don't understand is how any government got away with calling it a "VALUE ADDED" Tax. Aren't "Value Added" and "Tax" mutually exclusive terms?

A better term would be value subtracted.

Some plans could suggest this tax be added at each step along the way. manufactuer/grower sells to assembler/packager (tax added) who sells to wholesale distributer (tax added) who sells to retail distributer (tax added) who sells to consumer (tax added)

A way for ever expanding government to raise enough money for their programs as tax is produced/multiplied at each step along the way instead of one time tax when purchasing. However VAT is set up, the end result like most taxes is higher cost to consumers of the products subject to the tax.

Considering the topic, it is natural to assume that this thread will eventually be shut down for being a prohibited political discussion that could become heated at some point. Anyway I am trying with this post not to take political sides or accuse certain persons or parties of being wrong. It like some others is just trying to describe in some form what VAT is/does and not meant to make judgement about it's merit or lack there of.

ORIGINAL: parusski

Your fault for living in the stupid VAT European Union. Or at least for letting your politicians shackle you with such an insidious tax.

the USA invented the income tax and paper money following/during the civil war as a "temporary" measure. They tax us for everything except the air we breath so I do not think the VAT is all that bad. Just a different way of the government getting there share.

Madgamer

ORIGINAL: madgamer2

ORIGINAL: parusski

Your fault for living in the stupid VAT European Union. Or at least for letting your politicians shackle you with such an insidious tax.

the USA invented the income tax and paper money following/during the civil war as a "temporary" measure. They tax us for everything except the air we breath so I do not think the VAT is all that bad. Just a different way of the government getting there share.

Madgamer

And now that the EPA has classified the exhaled gas from your lungs as a pollutant and has joined the president in a call for regulation of the gasses in your exhaled breath, we are just moments away from them taxing the air you breathe.

ORIGINAL: madgamer2

I do not think the VAT is all that bad.

You should try paying it sometime, before saying something that [Expletive Deleted].

All philosophies aside, their VAT rate is horrendous.

You should try paying it sometime, before saying something that [Expletive Deleted].

I do end up paying it all the time... well unless it's groceries or other basic needs   And while it can seem painful at times, at least I like to look at places like Sweeden which IIRC have to pay 1/4 the whole price just in vat (ouch!). That really doesn't make me FEEL as bad when taken into consideration.

Now, to the Original thread poster, I suppose if the VAT due to Matrix-Games titles is being crippling, you could try to incorporate your home-gaming room, and then see about deducting your game expenses that way  

The only hitch is you may be in the hot-seat when you get an audit notice in the mail by Mr. Tax-Man.

quote:

Do we have anything here in the States that is comparable to it?

In the US, you have Sales Tax.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_taxes_in_the_United_States

ORIGINAL: jomni

quote:

Do we have anything here in the States that is comparable to it?

In the US, you have Sales Tax.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_taxes_in_the_United_States

But its not so bad....Some states have none while others(cough,cough, NY) are ridiculous.

ORIGINAL: Yogi the Great

A better term would be value subtracted.

Some plans could suggest this tax be added at each step along the way. manufactuer/grower sells to assembler/packager (tax added) who sells to wholesale distributer (tax added) who sells to retail distributer (tax added) who sells to consumer (tax added).

A way for ever expanding government to raise enough money for their programs as tax is produced/multiplied at each step along the way instead of one time tax when purchasing. However VAT is set up, the end result like most taxes is higher cost to consumers of the products subject to the tax.

Well in Europe the impact is of course that the cost to the end consumer is higher (i've never seen a tax that makes it cheaper) but the "each step of the way"is not how it works (though I realise you are positing a scenario how it could work in some jurisdiction).

Until the end consumer, each company (registered for VAT) can recover the VAT it suffers on its purchases, but then charges VAT on to its customer. the amount of the tax increases as it moves on the chain because as each company processes it ("adds value") the base cost upon which the tax % is applied increases. So the final consumer (who does not sell on) has to eat the tax. the tax is not cumulative, but increases as suppliers "add value".

And for the progressive bit, at least in the UK the tax leaves out certain "non luxuries". To quote from wikipedia:

The third largest source of government revenues is value added tax (VAT), charged at 20% on supplies of goods and services. It is therefore a tax on consumer expenditure.
Certain goods and services are exempt from VAT, and others are subject to VAT at a lower rate of 5% (the reduced rate, such as domestic gas supplies) or 0% ("zero-rated", such as most food and children's clothing).[25] Exemptions are intended to relieve the tax burden on essentials while placing the full tax on luxuries, but disputes based on fine distinctions arise, such as the notorious "Jaffa Cake Case" which hinged on whether Jaffa Cakes were classed as (zero-rated) cakes—as was eventually decided—or (fully-taxed) chocolate-covered biscuits. Until 2001, VAT was charged at the full rate on sanitary towels.

I particularly like that the UK treats books as essentials, and so no VAT. Sadly the Dutch do charge (albeit at a reduced rate) when I import here from Amazon UK.

If I lived in Europe I would be more concerned about the Muslim people cramming themselves into enclaves and purposely failing to assimilate so they can use your own laws against you in order to bring about Sharia ad nauseum, than your VAT issues. Either way, you gents are toast.

I take it you obsess on this in any thread on any subject involving Europeans?

ORIGINAL: RangerX3X

If I lived in Europe I would be more concerned about the Muslim people cramming themselves into enclaves and purposely failing to assimilate so they can use your own laws against you in order to bring about Sharia ad nauseum, than your VAT issues. Either way, you gents are toast.

Warspite1

Boring.....

Apart from wanting the thread locked, what was the point of posting that comment here?

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Apart from wanting the thread locked, what was the point of posting that comment here?

You honestly can't recognize old fashioned trolling? *grin*