PC tax

[rob.i]

Heard a rumour that the government are thinking of taxing computers can anyone elaborate?

[Alan Stubbs]

There was a piece on the front page of yesterday's Times.

 

As with all things emanating from this government and the press, the devil is in the detail - and in this case, not surprisingly, there is a total lack of it.

 

At face value, it was headlined as a 'computer tax' to replace the television licence because of a loophole that means that you can currently watch tv and listen to radio on your PC without a licence.

 

If they introduce it as a 'computer tax, what are they going to tax? In your average house - washing machines, dishwashers, cookers all use microprocessors (in effect, computers). How many 'computers' does your car have? Will they tax those as well? I doubt it.

 

As it was just a 'comment' from Jowell and few, if any, of hers are remotely sensible, I wouldn't place too much credence on it until there is a detailed proposal put forward. All in all, I reckon it's another half-arsed announcement to con you into believing that they're actually doing something.

[jeepster]

i dont see the loophole, if you have a device capable of receiving TV signals, whether it be a conventional tv, vcr, tivo or pc with a tv card in it, then you need a tv licence

 

[ 04. March 2005, 09:06 AM: Message edited by: jeepster ]

[rob.i]

:)last sentence so eloquently put.

[Alan Stubbs]

jeepster:

i dont see the loophole, if you have a device capable of receiving TV signals, whether it be a conventional tv, vcr, tivo or pc with a tv card in it, then you need a tv licence

This should take you to the article... If there's confusion about whether or not you need a tv licence to watch from your PC, then the Culture secretary is either lying, dissembling or OFCOM don't know their ar*e from a hole in the ground....

 

Times Online - Britain... Computer tax set to replace TV licence fee By Adam Sherwin and Dan Sabbagh A levy on ownsership of PCs as well as TVs is being considered to solve the legal ...

www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,2,00.html - Similar pages

[jeepster]

the only confusion i think is that people assume they dont need a licence, the law is quite clear as far as i can see, if you're receiving a tv signal, however it ends up on your screen, then you need a licence. far be it from us to suggest that a politican would lie, or a government body wouldn't

know its ar*e from a hole in the ground

[Alan Stubbs]

jeepster:

far be it from us to suggest that a politican would lie, or a government body wouldn't know its ar*e from a hole in the ground

Oh no! they'd never do that!

BTW - I am a trainee politician!

[Elton]

The Times want to place a cookie on my machine just to read text, hence I can't see the article

 

[ 04. March 2005, 11:43 AM: Message edited by: Elton ]

[corydoras]

Elton:

The Times want to place a cookie on my machine just to read text, hence I can't see the article

Stop being so anal about cookies then. Your site uses them too you know.

[SkattyKat]

I understand that the USA has been mooting putting a tax on PC use for a while now, and of course where they lead Tone follows !! so I certainly wouldn't be surprised if they tried.