siouxcityjournal.com — I recently moved back to the midwest from wacky California, and now I read of our state's attempts to tax all music downloads. Much like mail-order, the tax collection would be by the honor system. Hmm, will we owe tax on our BitTorrent mp3's?
Apr 20, 2007 View in Crawl 4
ia2caApr 20, 2007Submitter
Full text of article:DES MOINES -- The Iowa Senate approved a bill Thursday dubbed the "iPod tax" by its Republican critics.The bill, approved 29-20, would impose the state sales tax on the sale of digital downloads -- including songs, cell phone ring tones, software, audio books and other electronic products.Although the tax would be required, it would be collected on the honor system. It would be up to consumers to send payment to the state, right after they finish loading their iPod with new tunes.Backers of the move insist digital consumers should play by the same rules as shoppers at traditional stores who must pay sales tax on audio CDs and other items. The tax could bring in $4.8 million annually.But Sen. Jeff Angelo, R-Creston, said the bill is proof that government will tax anything."This tax is impractical. It's unenforceable. And it's highly unpopular," Angelo said.All 20 Senate Republicans voted no. Passage sends the bill to the House.