25% default; 12% groceries, restaurants, hotels and the like; 6% various cultural things such as books, sports, concerts etc; 0% often applied to basic welfare things such as medicare, prescription drugs, insurance, education, and–for some reason–gambling.

Thanks for correcting that, not sure where I got 8% from.

We used to have 24% flat, but to be fair this year it was reduced to 20% and 9% for food. Still it's a lot especially because prices are on par with Germany for example (my wife actually buys lots of stuff from there because it's cheaper and she travels there quite often because of the job), while wages are about 25% or less of German wages. Minimum is about 210 euros after taxes, average around 360 euros/month after taxes (we have no tax deductions so it's basically the same for everyone).

We all get things wrong sometimes. :)

I have heard that Norwegians living close to the Swedish border often make a trip over to Sweden to do their weekend shopping. I do believe that the average salary in Norway is higher than in Sweden though.

You might want to avoid that at all costs. I guarantee you, 24% VAT is barely viable.

It's illegal to charge ("collect") sales tax unless you are registered with the government to do so, at least here, and in the US. You can create a "handling" or "processing" fee and keep it, that's perfectly legal, but you can't call it sales tax. That's why you have to include your number on every invoice.

If someone starts charging sales tax then the CRA (or IRS) has the right to expect that amount to be reported and remitted.

Here's the meat of the answer I got back ;

Humble Store products and Monthly Bundles are the only things you have to worry about paying taxes on.


So the November HB Monthly and HB Store purchases are going to be taxed now (U.S.) :(

Does this mean Humble has business operations in every state?

I don't know if it should be VAT specifically, but I'm in favor of the US adopting a tax code closer to international standards. To be honest I've never heard of any other nation on Earth as convoluted. Different rates in 50-plus states and territories, with the ability for innumerable local governments to tack on additional tax.

Lol what? VAT is a regressive tax and a fucking crime against humanity. To decrease the tax on luxury goods and services is just icing on the shit cake.
Sweden, I am disappoint.

AT least it's not the weekly bundles. I can handle that.
Signing up for the Monthly Bundle is a complete crapshoot anyways which wouldn't have survived if not for the reveal they do of the game that's their major selling point which most people get the bundle specifically for.
Only reason I ever bought from the Humble Store was knowing that a portion of the money would go to charity (as opposed to Steam where it all goes to GabeN).

To be fair, there were a couple hidden games in some of the others I was looking for - ones I didn't get of course.

This upcoming one for Stardew Valley would only be the third Monthly for me if I go for it . . . one of those pixelated games I don't normally care for, but this ones not as bad as say Sword & Sworcery.

It might be a bit of a challenge for the weekly Bundles as they price is more of a variable bidding type deal.

Not so, I was charged tax on a single purchase, so fuck IGN...I'm done with humble, thank god for gog I'm so glad they're not based in the US!

To be fair, our property tax rate is higher (though bound by similar though distinct laws from increasing y-o-y), and our 9% income tax rate kicks in at a much, much lower $$ amount.

There's been talk for decades about retooling the whole thing and bringing in a sales tax, but it's hard for any politician to accrue the political capital to do it. There was talk Kitzhaber was on the cusp of pulling off reform in his 4th term before his romantic life and related ethical questions did him in.


Washington, by comparison, has a moderately high sales tax, I believe slightly higher property tax, but no income tax.

moderately high by U.S. standards, that is.

Do agree that the U.S. is a mess in terms of its layers of taxation that makes business (or even relocating as an individual) challenging, even if the overall tax burden is lower than Europe.

so now that they've started doing this. what exactly are those end of sales taxes actually covering? what part of the internet does the government look after? ponder this as we wait on papa paipai to spread your anus for the telecoms special partnership program/vip service/penis.

I'm less against this than some people would be, but it's kind of strange that humble is the one doing this, right?

Single purchase from the Store?
Yes, as I said that will be taxed.

Humble Monthly, that will be taxed too.