Friday, April 25,2008 @ 7:10pm
Tennessee govt mulls digital media taxation
The Tennessee State government is reviewing the possibility of implementing a tax on digital media downloads, which would include music videos, movies, news and entertainment programs, music, ringtones, and electronic books, among others. Law firm Waller Landsen notes that standard software downloads would not be taxable, and while the proposition has not been shown to lawmakers, it is predictably drawing negative criticism.
"Most states do not tax digitally-deliverd products," said state communications director Bill Hobbs. "Tennessee shouldn't either and state government's current fiscal crisis should not be used by the Bredesen administration as an excuse to hit the people of Tennessee with a new tax that could cost them tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars."
The law is being considered in light of a $500 million deficit in the state budget.
[Via iPod Observer]