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Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? | |
| Vision Thing
Offer Upgrade  User ID: 997882  United States06/09/2010 12:18 PM  Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 829503  Canada06/09/2010 12:21 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? Cutting "foreigners" a break? Pfff... I won't even say what I'm thinking. And this is GOOD for you. This is encouraging more British Columbians to come over and buy stuff in America, when they could just spend their money in Canada. |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 680963 United States06/09/2010 12:58 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? let me see....yet if I go to Portland, Oregon...and buy a TV...I still have to pay Wash. state tax on it...even though they have no sales tax in Oregon...hmmm...state residents just can't win....glad to see someone can... |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 500901 United States06/09/2010 01:02 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? I'm in Washington. In general I don't begrudge the sales tax on real goods, though I do believe they could spend the money more frugally. I also don't care if others get a tax break, as long as this does not make a lot of extra work for sales clerks and the like. I don't know what the plan is now, but it used to be that you had to fill out a decently long form every time someone wanted a fifteen cent tax break. They should just put a bottom tax break limit on the deal t prevent that from taking place, as it gets to be a hassle and places hardship on civilians not employed by the state to do the work of the state. |
| Vision Thing
(OP) User ID: 997882 United States06/09/2010 01:09 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? They're saying border towns like Blaine and Bellingham would see a ten percent drop in sales tax revenues. Obviously the Canadians would love it, and I have no problem with them being entitled to their point of view! Obviously more Canadians would come down and shop, and that would benefit me directly if they did! However, why the fuck should we give them exemption from sales tax (that questions stands alone) when there is no chance in hell that the province of BC would EVER reciprocate and make Washington State residents exempt from sales tax in British Columbia!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face! WHERE do they come up with these ideas? |
| babyboomerjoe
User ID: 997964  South Korea06/09/2010 01:10 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ???  |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 628775 Canada06/09/2010 01:10 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? Cutting "foreigners" a break? Pfff... I won't even say what I'm thinking. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 829503And this is GOOD for you. This is encouraging more British Columbians to come over and buy stuff in America, when they could just spend their money in Canada. +1 The reason I can see for this action is to encourage Canadians to spend there. It should help stimulate the local economy. If they want to complain about us helping their economy then, keep your money at home Canadians. Stop purchasing anything from their state. |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 628775 Canada06/09/2010 01:12 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? They're saying border towns like Blaine and Bellingham would see a ten percent drop in sales tax revenues. Quoting: Vision ThingObviously the Canadians would love it, and I have no problem with them being entitled to their point of view! Obviously more Canadians would come down and shop, and that would benefit me directly if they did! However, why the fuck should we give them exemption from sales tax (that questions stands alone) when there is no chance in hell that the province of BC would EVER reciprocate and make Washington State residents exempt from sales tax in British Columbia!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face! WHERE do they come up with these ideas? Actually, if you are not a citizen of Canada, you can apply when you get home to get your money back from taxes paid. I provide the documentation on how to do this all the time to people. So you are full of crap, you can get your money back. |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 430043 United States06/09/2010 01:13 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? let me see....yet if I go to Portland, Oregon...and buy a TV...I still have to pay Wash. state tax on it...even though they have no sales tax in Oregon...hmmm...state residents just can't win....glad to see someone can... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 680963Why would you have to pay sales tax on goods bought in Oregon, and who would enforce that? I'm in Oregon btw. |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 983512 Canada06/09/2010 01:15 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? Actually, if you are not a citizen of Canada, you can apply when you get home to get your money back from taxes paid. I provide the documentation on how to do this all the time to people. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 628775So you are full of crap, you can get your money back. This is true. OP, you are inaccurate. Americans can get a tax break. |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 971636 United States06/09/2010 01:17 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? let me see....yet if I go to Portland, Oregon...and buy a TV...I still have to pay Wash. state tax on it...even though they have no sales tax in Oregon...hmmm...state residents just can't win....glad to see someone can... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 430043Why would you have to pay sales tax on goods bought in Oregon, and who would enforce that? I'm in Oregon btw. The ask you at the register what state you are from. Obviously you can get away with it on small purchases, but not something large. And yet Oregon residents have a tax-exempt card so they can shop in WA and not pay tax. Then if you live in WA and work in OR you get to pay state taxes that don't even benefit you. |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 430043 United States06/09/2010 01:19 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? let me see....yet if I go to Portland, Oregon...and buy a TV...I still have to pay Wash. state tax on it...even though they have no sales tax in Oregon...hmmm...state residents just can't win....glad to see someone can... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 971636Why would you have to pay sales tax on goods bought in Oregon, and who would enforce that? I'm in Oregon btw. The ask you at the register what state you are from. Obviously you can get away with it on small purchases, but not something large. And yet Oregon residents have a tax-exempt card so they can shop in WA and not pay tax. Then if you live in WA and work in OR you get to pay state taxes that don't even benefit you. I've never heard of this tax-exempt card and I've lived in Oregon my whole life. You should move to Oregon then, we're a much better state anyway. |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 997972 United States06/09/2010 01:24 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? "foreigners" hmmmm, did you see last week ,when one of the papers had a story about how,some east part of the state place had been useing guest workers in stead of american workers? "Jun 2, 2010 ... BREWSTER, Wash. – Five months after Gebbers Farms fired an undisclosed number of undocumented workers during a federal audit, Jamaican guest workers ..." you find in in google, it's sad, the same uber rich farm owners who use the undocumented workers in the first place cause they wouldn't hire americans, now just brought in guest workers, don't ya think those jobs in this time of need should go to americans? why is uber rich fucks trying everything but useing american workers? |
| Vision Thing
(OP) User ID: 997882 United States06/09/2010 01:26 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? Actually, if you are not a citizen of Canada, you can apply when you get home to get your money back from taxes paid. I provide the documentation on how to do this all the time to people. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 983512So you are full of crap, you can get your money back. This is true. OP, you are inaccurate. Americans can get a tax break. I thought there was a dollar limit on that, that your purchase had to be over a certain amount, plus not in certain categories, and it's only for the GST, not for the PST? Would you file the paperwork for going to the drugstore for toilet paper and stuff, like people do when they shop down here? I have ZERO anti-Canadian feeling. I have been in love with a Canadian and dating across the border for TEN YEARS. Before that I took all my vacations in Canada for ten years too. I have Canadian ancestors. But with the economy sucking so bad the way it is now, the local sales tax revenues have already plummeted, like 13% is what I heard? So if you combine that shortfall with removing sales tax on sales to tourists, which they estimated might produce ANOTHER ten percent drop, where does that leave our already hit-hard public transportation system? I am actually against the whole idea of even having a sales tax, I owned a business for many years and collected sales tax for the state, and when you really start to think about it on a different level, the legality of it, okay I'm cutting myself off, that's a whole topic of its own. I don't look forward to having our good Canadian customers fill out a form with all their information for every little .25 cents in tax they would have paid otherwise. I LOVE it that Canadians shop down here. I wouldn't care if they got a break. I have NOTHING against Canadians, I love their business. I just CANNOT understand why Washington state would do this at this time. I am 100% positive that they were not motivated by how it would be all stimulating to the economy. That was not the lines they were thinking - they never do, I don't think they are capable of it. |
| Vision Thing
(OP) User ID: 997882 United States06/09/2010 01:31 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? For those who are pointing out that you can get an exemption from Canadian sales tax by filing a form after the fact and mailing it in and waiting for a check, I don't believe that's what they are talking about here, I believe they are talking about being exempt at the cash register, I do not equate those two systems, I don't see that as reciprocal, plus, someone want to clarify since you brought it up, is it on both the PST and the GST? Also what Mayor Dan Pike said in the article wasn't entirely clear to me at first reading, I don't think he meant that "if they pass the HST, so many Canadians are going to be pissed off that they will do all their shopping in the US to protest" but that's how I took it on first reading. |
| Vision Thing
(OP) User ID: 997882 United States06/09/2010 03:30 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? I was pissed and shocked because the people proposing this are not the ones who would be affected. It wasn't local border communities who thought this up. The local border towns are the ones who need all the sales tax revenue for essential services. They are already having problems because of the slow economy. For the boneheads in the capitol, Olympia, to just hit the border towns with this out of the blue, that's what's appalling, and I just don't get why such a thing would ever occur to them!!!! It was NOT proposed to "stimulate" the economy by inviting Canadian shoppers down for a good deal. They do not have the best interest of small shopkeepers in mind, you can bank on that. |
| Seamus
User ID: 993047 United States06/09/2010 03:46 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? let me see....yet if I go to Portland, Oregon...and buy a TV...I still have to pay Wash. state tax on it...even though they have no sales tax in Oregon...hmmm...state residents just can't win....glad to see someone can... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 680963WHY??? The store in Oregon isn't going to charge you a sales tax! I go to a Costco near PDX. The Parking Lot is PACKED with Washington license plates and has been that way for years. They aren't paying sales tax at the checkout line, so how does WA know you bought a TV in Oregon??? Autos, I know, get hit even if purchased in Ore, but that's because you have to register the car so they know you bought it. 'When Plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men, they create for themselves, in the course of time, a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.' Frederic Bastiat, 'The Law' 1850 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "The business of the journalists is to destroy the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I know it, and what folly is this toasting an independent press? We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities and our lives are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes." JohnSwinton, 1830-1901, Former chief-of-staff New York Times ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "The bold effort the present bank has made to control the Government, the distress it has wantonly produced ... are but premonitions of the fate that awaits the American People should they be deluded into a perpetuation of this institution (The Bank of the United States), or the establishment of another like it." Andrew Jackson (December 2, 1834) |
| Seamus
User ID: 993047 United States06/09/2010 03:48 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? They're saying border towns like Blaine and Bellingham would see a ten percent drop in sales tax revenues. Quoting: Vision ThingObviously the Canadians would love it, and I have no problem with them being entitled to their point of view! Obviously more Canadians would come down and shop, and that would benefit me directly if they did! However, why the fuck should we give them exemption from sales tax (that questions stands alone) when there is no chance in hell that the province of BC would EVER reciprocate and make Washington State residents exempt from sales tax in British Columbia!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face! WHERE do they come up with these ideas? How is it hurting you if it is helping you? Retailers near the border would see an increase in business. They will hire more people and therefore there would be an increase in payroll taxes and employment. Seems like a good thing. 'When Plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men, they create for themselves, in the course of time, a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.' Frederic Bastiat, 'The Law' 1850 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "The business of the journalists is to destroy the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I know it, and what folly is this toasting an independent press? We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities and our lives are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes." JohnSwinton, 1830-1901, Former chief-of-staff New York Times ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "The bold effort the present bank has made to control the Government, the distress it has wantonly produced ... are but premonitions of the fate that awaits the American People should they be deluded into a perpetuation of this institution (The Bank of the United States), or the establishment of another like it." Andrew Jackson (December 2, 1834) |
| MountainTux
User ID: 873257 Canada06/09/2010 04:26 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? How is it hurting you if it is helping you? Quoting: SeamusRetailers near the border would see an increase in business. They will hire more people and therefore there would be an increase in payroll taxes and employment. Seems like a good thing. Actually, this is a brilliant move, and the timing is VERY specific... oh, smart smart decision! You see, unless we are able to block it, BC will fall under the new HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) as of July 1st. This is going to cause a LARGE increase in what we are paying for even day-to-day goods, never mind large purchases. In addition, it's going to be a HUGE blow to employment in the province. This will drive BC shoppers across the border in DROVES. I understand 100% why this is upsetting, as it seems YOU guys are getting the shaft while we get a huge bonus. But the increased business, not to mention increased employment, as stated above, will be a HUGE benefit. Additionally, smaller service industries, like restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc. will see a LARGE increase in business, and I bet if we dig a bit deeper we'll find that there's some form of state subsidy to offset the tax waiver. I totally get being upset about this, on a personal level, but you have to admire the brilliance and foresight of your state's plan here. Way to play our own economy against itself! LOL if anything, forward-thinking CANADIANS should be upset, as well... I GUARANTEE there will be a huge outcry from small-to-midsized businesses on this side of the fence, especially along the border! Cheers! The power of Linux COMPELS you! |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 793891 United States06/09/2010 04:27 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? Any tax exempt sales (items bought for resale) in the US must have strict documentation. Are they requiring the same here? If not, any store could give that break to anyone they chose with no way for the state to disqualify it. |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 701285 United States06/09/2010 04:55 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? Actually, if you are not a citizen of Canada, you can apply when you get home to get your money back from taxes paid. I provide the documentation on how to do this all the time to people. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 628775So you are full of crap, you can get your money back. Same thing when I traveled to Europe and Ireland. If you're from out of the country, you can have sales taxes refunded. |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 993047 United States06/09/2010 05:36 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? let me see....yet if I go to Portland, Oregon...and buy a TV...I still have to pay Wash. state tax on it...even though they have no sales tax in Oregon...hmmm...state residents just can't win....glad to see someone can... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 971636Why would you have to pay sales tax on goods bought in Oregon, and who would enforce that? I'm in Oregon btw. The ask you at the register what state you are from. Obviously you can get away with it on small purchases, but not something large. And yet Oregon residents have a tax-exempt card so they can shop in WA and not pay tax. Then if you live in WA and work in OR you get to pay state taxes that don't even benefit you. Complete Bullshit! (except for the part where WA residents get stuck paying Oregon income taxes because they work in ORE- that is a screw job - and one that a good atty should take on by suing the state of Oregon for no representation but taxation).... The ask you at the register what state you are from. Obviously you can get away with it on small purchases, but not something large. 'They' don't ask what state you are from! Even if they did, say: "Oregon!" But no clerk at the TV store gives a shit if you are from Oregon or Washington or New Jersey. Why? Because NO STORE IN OREGON IS OBLIGATED TO COLLECT TAXES FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON! And yet Oregon residents have a tax-exempt card so they can shop in WA and not pay tax. Oregonians have a 'tax exempt card'??? Again, you are clueless. Oregonians, like everyone else, have things called 'Driver Licenses'. If I go to buy something at a store in Vancouver or Seattle or Bellingham I can flash my ODL and, IF THE STORE WANTS TO, the store can fill out the appropriate paperwork that saves me from having to pay wash state sales tax. The store is not obligated to do this, BTW... Just like I am not obligated to shop in a particular store. But if the store wants my business, he's going to provide the paperwork so I don't have to pay a tax to WA state. |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 993047 United States06/09/2010 05:44 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? How is it hurting you if it is helping you? Quoting: MountainTuxRetailers near the border would see an increase in business. They will hire more people and therefore there would be an increase in payroll taxes and employment. Seems like a good thing. Actually, this is a brilliant move, and the timing is VERY specific... oh, smart smart decision! You see, unless we are able to block it, BC will fall under the new HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) as of July 1st. This is going to cause a LARGE increase in what we are paying for even day-to-day goods, never mind large purchases. In addition, it's going to be a HUGE blow to employment in the province. This will drive BC shoppers across the border in DROVES. I understand 100% why this is upsetting, as it seems YOU guys are getting the shaft while we get a huge bonus. But the increased business, not to mention increased employment, as stated above, will be a HUGE benefit. Additionally, smaller service industries, like restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc. will see a LARGE increase in business, and I bet if we dig a bit deeper we'll find that there's some form of state subsidy to offset the tax waiver. I totally get being upset about this, on a personal level, but you have to admire the brilliance and foresight of your state's plan here. Way to play our own economy against itself! LOL if anything, forward-thinking CANADIANS should be upset, as well... I GUARANTEE there will be a huge outcry from small-to-midsized businesses on this side of the fence, especially along the border! Cheers! Anything that brings sales is a good thing at this point. I shop at a Costco near the Portland airport; which happens to be directly across the river from WA. Until a few years ago, this was the SINGLE BUSIEST COSTCO in the world. Why? All the WA license plates in the parking lot. You'd be an idiot to buy a $1000 refrigerator in WA when you can drive 5 miles and save nearly $100 in taxes. They built a new Costco in Vancouver, and now WA people who aren't making big purchases shop there to save the traffic jam driving into Oregon... So this store is still very busy, but no longer the busiest. Question, WHAT is the 'Harmonized Sales Tax'??? Harmony. Such a nice, soft, warm word. It must be something Great the Gov't is doing to you!! |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 769657 United States06/09/2010 05:45 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
| TripleOG User ID: 817039 Canada06/09/2010 05:45 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? For the border bullsh!t we have to deal with to enter the USA you should be thankful that Canadians are choosing to spend their money in your country. Plus, you expect Canadians to show their ID everytime we make a purchase in Washinton State and have local businesses cut us a deal? Are you guys going bankrupt down their? Support your local KCTS9 public television network. Last night there was a 1.5 hour special about the Cascadia Subduction Area and the Juan de Fuca plate which neatly slides under the coast mountain ranges - just waiting for the next big one like they had up in Alaksa (9.2 - second biggest ever recorded in history) only 40 years ago. Best Wishes to you. |
| Anonymous Coward User ID: 794813 United States06/09/2010 05:54 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? Actually, if you are not a citizen of Canada, you can apply when you get home to get your money back from taxes paid. I provide the documentation on how to do this all the time to people. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 983512So you are full of crap, you can get your money back. This is true. OP, you are inaccurate. Americans can get a tax break. Right, the difference is we used to be able to get our refund at the border on our way out of Canada but they don't do that anymore. Who takes the time to send in paperwork? So, maybe WA state should give Canadians the paperwork to get the tax refunded after they get home? Not that it matters, really. Lots of Canadians shop in Bellinham because the prices are better than in Canada. My daughter managed a Shucks Auto Supply up there and had a ton of Canandians come down to get their auto stuff. |
| Vision Thing
(OP) User ID: 998178 United States06/09/2010 06:30 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? Actually, this is a brilliant move, and the timing is VERY specific... oh, smart smart decision! Quoting: MountainTuxYou see, unless we are able to block it, BC will fall under the new HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) as of July 1st. This is going to cause a LARGE increase in what we are paying for even day-to-day goods, never mind large purchases. In addition, it's going to be a HUGE blow to employment in the province. This will drive BC shoppers across the border in DROVES. I understand 100% why this is upsetting, as it seems YOU guys are getting the shaft while we get a huge bonus. But the increased business, not to mention increased employment, as stated above, will be a HUGE benefit. Additionally, smaller service industries, like restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc. will see a LARGE increase in business, and I bet if we dig a bit deeper we'll find that there's some form of state subsidy to offset the tax waiver. I totally get being upset about this, on a personal level, but you have to admire the brilliance and foresight of your state's plan here. Way to play our own economy against itself! LOL if anything, forward-thinking CANADIANS should be upset, as well... I GUARANTEE there will be a huge outcry from small-to-midsized businesses on this side of the fence, especially along the border! Cheers! all right Mountain Tux, you had the best answer in this thread, thanks. I did fly off the handle when I saw that big article on the Bellingham Herald web site. I just can't see why a state that is in trouble financially with big budget shortfalls would sit around thinking of ways to reduce revenue - but you're right, with the HST controversy, there will be plenty of Canadians coming down, they do already of course, and our prices are better on just about everything down here, I know, cause I spend a lot of time in Vancouver and I know how much groceries & basic HH supplies cost up there, they never go on sale with deep discounts like they do down here. My boyfriend gets most of his clothes & stuff like that down here, much better prices. Our sales tax is already half what you pay in BC, wait til theirs goes up another third, scary. |
| MountainTux
User ID: 873257 Canada06/09/2010 06:39 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? Question, WHAT is the 'Harmonized Sales Tax'??? Quoting: Anonymous Coward 993047Harmony. Such a nice, soft, warm word. It must be something Great the Gov't is doing to you!! Well, in answer to your question, here's the HST in a nutshell. This is a brief explanation for a far-reaching potentially VERY damaging tax alteration, which will of COURSE hit the average Joe the hardest... "H.S.T. Explained With all this talk about H.S.T., it is often difficult to know how these proposed changes will affect you, the average British Columbian. The bottom line is at the end of the day, this new tax will end up costing you more money by making you pay 7% more tax on a wide range of goods and services. Right now, there are many goods and services which are exempt from the 7% Provincial Sales Tax (P.S.T). Once H.S.T. is in place, that means that all those goods and services that were once exempt, will now cost 7% more. Can you afford this increase in taxes during a time of a damaging recession? Click here to see a breakdown of some of what will now cost you 7% more." I'm sure you can see the implications. The power of Linux COMPELS you! |
| PA Viking
User ID: 959460 United States06/09/2010 06:39 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
| MountainTux
User ID: 873257 Canada06/09/2010 06:46 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? Our sales tax is already half what you pay in BC, wait til theirs goes up another third, scary. Quoting: Vision ThingYes, and it goes MUCH farther than that... Thanks to our government screwing our Forestry industry, BC now relies primarily on tourism as our provincial source of income. And the HST impacts tourism and recreation in a HUGE way, and a very NEGATIVE one. We're going to see MANY small businesses which can no longer afford to operate, meaning MORE unemployment, especially in areas such as where I live (Vancouver Island.) This in turn means less money to afford more taxes... the spiral deepens. It's getting pretty ugly here. And THAT is where the move comes from, and again I say BRILLIANT strategy from WA. The power of Linux COMPELS you! |
| Momto3 User ID: 998298 United States06/09/2010 07:55 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: Any Washington State residents here? OMG new ruling says visiting shoppers from British Columbia will be exempt from state sales tax?!?! WTF ??? I live in Whatcom County. Canadians will continue to shop here, eat here, get their gas here and fly out of our airport because our prices are across the board 20-30% lower than in BC. The only thing this does is hurt local tax revenue. This move will not benefit Whatcom County, but be detrimental to our economy. I don't feel that Canadians should get a break. I'm a resident and I don't get a break. And the analogies to OR and Alaska are irrelevant. Last time I checked BC is in Canada, and those resident are not even US citizens. I personally am tired of all the entitled Canadians coming into the states with their snotty attitudes, clogging up our highways, speeding and driving erratically. I say continue to tax them, just as they tax us their ridiculous taxes when we go to BC. |
