Big TV Help

[Kermit]

Walmart has it for $1498 and you can watch it tonight and not worry about shipping damage.

California tax is now like what - 17%?

[Syncopate]

Samsung seems to be the highest-rated brand in large screen LCD TVs.

Agree, that's what I have. And don't get sucked into that extended warranty bit, depending on what credit card you use they may extend the manufacturer's warranty automatically.

[PrivateSmiles]

Walmart has it for $1498 and you can watch it tonight and not worry about shipping damage.

But you have to pay sales tax.

Ordering over the Internet from a company that is not in CA avoids sales tax. Plus free shipping = win-win. Save-save.

[MaryS]

But you have to pay sales tax.

Ordering over the Internet from a company that is not in CA avoids sales tax. Plus free shipping = win-win. Save-save.

You still OWE the tax, they merely don't collect it.

Many major retailers are now collecting the tax.

[PrivateSmiles]

Yes, it's getting closer to that all the time.

But how would we pay that tax? If you live in CA and buy from an Internet co. that's based in MA, do you pay their sales tax, to the state of MA? Or do you pay it to the state where you live, who doesn't have any right to claim MA's sales tax (yet). And what if you live in a state that doesn't have any sales tax, then do you still owe the money to MA?

Until that's all figured out, I say, buy your big-ticket items on the Internet while you can. It's not against the law yet.

[MaryS]

It's called a "use tax" and is nothing new.

http://www.boe.ca.gov/taxprograms/usetax/index.html

Same thing applies when someone buys something at retail, thus not paying tax as it's supposedly for resale, and then use it for themselves.

[Andyc]

Yes, it's getting closer to that all the time.

But how would we pay that tax? If you live in CA and buy from an Internet co. that's based in MA, do you pay their sales tax, to the state of MA? Or do you pay it to the state where you live, who doesn't have any right to claim MA's sales tax (yet). And what if you live in a state that doesn't have any sales tax, then do you still owe the money to MA?

Until that's all figured out, I say, buy your big-ticket items on the Internet while you can. It's not against the law yet.

If you live in CA you report the tax on line 95 of your income tax return. Not reporting it is against the law.

[Vince P]

Yes, it's getting closer to that all the time.

But how would we pay that tax? If you live in CA and buy from an Internet co. that's based in MA, do you pay their sales tax, to the state of MA? Or do you pay it to the state where you live, who doesn't have any right to claim MA's sales tax (yet). And what if you live in a state that doesn't have any sales tax, then do you still owe the money to MA?

Until that's all figured out, I say, buy your big-ticket items on the Internet while you can. It's not against the law yet.

If you live in CA you report the tax on line 95 of your income tax return. Not reporting it is against the law.

Andy,

Can I deduct the price of this TV as a gambling expense when I lose?

And which line do I enter it on Schedule A?

Vince P

[PrivateSmiles]

I live in WA state. We don't have state tax. We do have sales tax. However, we don't have anyplace on the 1040 form to claim it. When you buy an item on the Internet and the store doesn't have a physical prescence in your state, how do you know how much the sales tax is in the state where the item is being purchased if there is no indication in the transaction?

Anyway, getting way off topic.

Buy a Samsung.

Shop online for best price.

Order.

[PrivateSmiles]

It's called a "use tax" and is nothing new.

http://www.boe.ca.gov/taxprograms/usetax/index.html

Same thing applies when someone buys something at retail, thus not paying tax as it's supposedly for resale, and then use it for themselves.

Still OT, but that is specific to CA, and for Vince, who is probably even more confused than usual by now.