Has anyone here living in California ever been charged taxes by DAZ3D? Their new site posted a  tax charge because I live in California!

Attached Link: http://www.taxingtech.com/2012/03/07/just-in-time-for-ipad3-california-updates-internet-sales-and-digital-downloads-guidance/

"Currently, Amazon only collects sales tax in Kansas, Kentucky, New York, North Dakota and Washington. Starting July 1, Texas will be added to that list. Amazon also agreed to start collecting sales tax on online items in California starting next year, and in Arizona in 2014."

Excerpted from: http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=24571 

States need revenue so expect more and more to start playing hardball with online retailers and retailers charging. I don't know if DAZ has any presence in Califas. As moriador said, it may be the new store software. Only way to fuind out is to ask them :-) 

i'm in NY, there were taxes added to my cart, as well as my pc item showing full price.

at least the rmp and forums still make sense in this universe, lol

and a lot easier on my eyeballs. 

DAZ bought Cararra and Cararra corporate offices are located in Palo Alto, California. So, if the law changed in California and DAZ is required to collect tax on digital products because they have a business presence in California then they would have to do it. But, it doesn't appear the law has changed.  

DAZ had this issue when they bought Cararra, several years ago, but realized that even though they have a presence in California that does not mean they are required to collect tax on digital products.  As far as I know California has not passed any laws regarding taxation of digital products.  However, if you live in California and purchase a tangible product in California then you will have to pay taxes, but not on digital products even if the company has a presence there.

More likely than not, the addition of taxes for California customers in the checkout process is just a glitch or technical issue that DAZ needs to fix and I'm sure they're doing their best to fix all of the issues, one at a time. 

carrara 3d was last owned by eovia, which had offices in calif. and france, but I don't know if any of those eovia employees are working for daz now, or if they had to relocate to retain their jobs.  the state of calif. is $16 billions in debt and needs all the tax monies it can get, so if everyone pitches in by paying sales tax to daz, it will be a big help.

p.s. when poser was up for sale by curious, daz chose to buy carrara instead, as part of its programme to phase out poser support over time IIRC.

I made a purchase at DAZ after the new "e-commerce engine" became active and was charged 8% sales tax, which was a first.

I realized I had not updated my address with them (I'm in NH now) and after doing so, sales tax charges went away.

As an Oregon resident, please allow me to take a moment, so that I can laugh my butt off at the very idea of paying a sales tax of any kind. 

That is all. :p

Interesting - used to live in PA a lifetime ago and commuted to San Jose for a while. I didn't know Cararra was from there.  At any rate, I think the online tax haven thing will go away in the next 5-10 years. I'm not enthusiastic about paying it but I'd rather the money went to local schools, roads etc. than to out of state online retailers.

According to the link moriador provided, unless DAZ is providing a physical backup (which, IIRC, they stopped doing a few years ago), then regardless of whether they have an office in California or not, purchases of digital goods through their store are not subject to taxation.

I don't suppose anyone has asked DAZ about the why's and wherefore's of this tax?

Quote - DAZ bought Cararra and Cararra corporate offices are located in Palo Alto, California. So, if the law changed in California and DAZ is required to collect tax on digital products because they have a business presence in California then they would have to do it. But, it doesn't appear the law has changed.  

DAZ had this issue when they bought Cararra, several years ago, but realized that even though they have a presence in California that does not mean they are required to collect tax on digital products.  As far as I know California has not passed any laws regarding taxation of digital products.  However, if you live in California and purchase a tangible product in California then you will have to pay taxes, but not on digital products even if the company has a presence there.

More likely than not, the addition of taxes for California customers in the checkout process is just a glitch or technical issue that DAZ needs to fix and I'm sure they're doing their best to fix all of the issues, one at a time. 

 

It isn't a glitch - they have been collecting taxes for Texas for some time now.

No big deal - Taxes are the price we pay to live in civilized society.

I tried to buy an item yesterday...I stopped because suddenly my item price went up due to taxes.

Was DAZ in danger of shutting down or running out of money?

Quote - I tried to buy an item yesterday...I stopped because suddenly my item price went up due to taxes.

Was DAZ in danger of shutting down or running out of money?

DAZ probably got a notice from the state of California.  Just because it is tedious to collect it doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't be done.

Quote - > Quote - I tried to buy an item yesterday...I stopped because suddenly my item price went up due to taxes.

Was DAZ in danger of shutting down or running out of money?

DAZ probably got a notice from the state of California.  Just because it is tedious to collect it doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't be done.

It's not whether it's can't or shouldn't or tedious. I would imagine it would be a few lines of code referring a database of states with yes or no and an amount. It's whether it's required or not. Reading above, it sounds to me like it's not required. Who wants to pay more? No guessing. No probably. Either they must or must not. Once more, is DAZ running out of money? Is it no longer profitable?

I hope it is. While I'm not crazy about the lean toward DAZ exclusive products, I still like some of their content and want them around.

DAZ was collecting tax for California just after the Cararra purchase.  After many California customers complained that there is no tax on digital products in California I'm sure they looked into this and discovered that their customers are correct.  So, DAZ removed the collection of tax from their cart script.  With the update to a new eCommerce store and with all of the scripting issues, I figure it's a glitch or just needs some code replacement to update the script.

What's important to keep in mind is the fact that California has not passed any laws that require companies to collect taxes for digital content.  Until that happens DAZ is not required to do so and they should not do so unless required by California law.  Simple as that. 

Quote - DAZ was collecting tax for California just after the Cararra purchase.  After many California customers complained that there is no tax on digital products in California I'm sure they looked into this and discovered that their customers are correct.  So, DAZ removed the collection of tax from their cart script.  With the update to a new eCommerce store and with all of the scripting issues, I figure it's a glitch or just needs some code replacement to update the script.

What's important to keep in mind is the fact that California has not passed any laws that require companies to collect taxes for digital content.  Until that happens DAZ is not required to do so and they should not do so unless required by California law.  Simple as that. 

 Thanks Jazzy! It is simple that! I'll go get that item and try it again today.

You're welcome quietrob :)

Looks like DAZ fixed the problem too.  I just added some poses to my cart and proceded to check out and their cart did not add tax.

Have a great weekend! 

Here in Oklahoma we have a second tax for purchase made out of state or over the internet.  No matter where you bought something, Oklahoma want's its tax base out of it.  It is not, however, usually assessed at the time of purchase.  You have to report it at the end of the year and pay the taxes on the lump sum at that time.  Until the state changes the rules again come election time.

Ya know cedarwolf that really bites!  Too bad it's that way in OK.  I think Oregon has it best.  No sales tax whatsoever, whether you buy products in a store or online.

Maybe it's time to get OK and the rest of the states to follow whatever it is that Oregon is doing right.  I'm not exactly sure how their government runs, but I imagine their roads are maintained and their school system has what it needs, etc.  They must be doing something right. 

Quote - Maybe it's time to get OK and the rest of the states to follow whatever it is that Oregon is doing right.  I'm not exactly sure how their government runs, but I imagine their roads are maintained and their school system has what it needs, etc.  They must be doing something right. 

Oh, don't get me wrong - they make up for it big-time. Our income taxes are a bit higher than most (not California high, but enough to get your attention nonetheless.) Property taxes are an evil mother if you're not prepared for them. They also find ways of sneaking in taxes where you least expect them, but yet, they won't even think of instituting a sales tax. Nothing says that localities can't levy one, but none would dare even think of doing so.

Oh, and you're not allowed to pump your own gasoline. By state law. No, I don't know why.

Roads? LOL! Umm, okay... (Hwy 101 along the coast is half paved, half pothole, half cheese-grater.)

It ain't perfect, but we do okay in spite of the worst efforts coming out of Salem (err, State gov't), and Multnomah County (err, where we keep the crazier of our citizenry. Also happens to be where Portland is located).

Finally, it beats the unholy hell out of living behind the Zion Curtain out in Utah... so I got no complaints, really. :)

Quote - Here in Oklahoma we have a second tax for purchase made out of state or over the internet.  No matter where you bought something, Oklahoma want's its tax base out of it.  It is not, however, usually assessed at the time of purchase.  You have to report it at the end of the year and pay the taxes on the lump sum at that time.  Until the state changes the rules again come election time.

Funny you should mention OK.  I used to have a gf in OKC and nearby there was a town where there was no sales tax at all.  Some guy founded this small place just for the sole purpose of not having sales tax.  Naturally, most people shop there. 

IIRC one of the reasons for not charging on 'net purchases was to encourage/not stifle the digital revolution. I think that danger has passed. On the contrary we now have people who browse the local shops to actually see the goods, talk to sales people etc. and then buy online. I know you can't stop progress and I want cheaper as much as anyone but I also don't want to see real stores that you can walk into (and the local jobs they provide) go away. I guess I'm reluctantly in favor of paying the taxes, perhaps at a reduced rate for online purchases.

Quote - > Quote - Maybe it's time to get OK and the rest of the states to follow whatever it is that Oregon is doing right.  I'm not exactly sure how their government runs, but I imagine their roads are maintained and their school system has what it needs, etc.  They must be doing something right. 

Oh, don't get me wrong - they make up for it big-time. Our income taxes are a bit higher than most (not California high, but enough to get your attention nonetheless.) Property taxes are an evil mother if you're not prepared for them. They also find ways of sneaking in taxes where you least expect them, but yet, they won't even think of instituting a sales tax. Nothing says that localities can't levy one, but none would dare even think of doing so.

Oh, and you're not allowed to pump your own gasoline. By state law. No, I don't know why.

Roads? LOL! Umm, okay... (Hwy 101 along the coast is half paved, half pothole, half cheese-grater.)

It ain't perfect, but we do okay in spite of the worst efforts coming out of Salem (err, State gov't), and Multnomah County (err, where we keep the crazier of our citizenry. Also happens to be where Portland is located).

 

Finally, it beats the unholy hell out of living behind the Zion Curtain out in Utah... so I got no complaints, really. :)

Sales taxes tend are regressive in nature - that is why Texas loves them.  The Texas State Government believe the poor should be punished at every opportunity.

Quote - Finally, it beats the unholy hell out of living behind the Zion Curtain out in Utah... so I got no complaints, really. :)

The Zion Curtain.  That's hilarious.  I've never heard that before, though  I am tempted to use it to describe our southern border with Washington. ;)

Miss Nancy wrote;

Quote - p.s. when poser was up for sale by curious, daz chose to buy carrara instead, as part of its programme to phase out poser support over time IIRC.

You do not recall correctly.

Coldrake

Or executed - oops, I guess that is punishment :-)

one-shot, so far this year, everything I buy out-of-state from any website or catalog has calif. sales added.  they tried to get taxpayers to voluntarily add up what they spent out-of-state and submit sales tax, but this didn't work, hence the state passed a tax law and the controller and state attorney followed the money to force anybody selling here to do it their way.

the sad part: this is a failed state IMVHO, hence I have to buy things from states with functioning business sectors.  one option would be to move someplace else where everything isn't broken.  another option would be to do it like apple: off-shore the money and the purchasing point.