Tax on texts

[dahamsta]

Is there an actual sourse for this "apparently", or is it an "I heard in de pub from my mates granny's goat" type of apparently?

[Sheridan]

The Greens' deputy leader hoisted the kite very explicitly, hasn't been any comment from the government proper AFAIK.

[sligoman]

I heard Mary Harney mention it was certainly something they could look into on RTE the other night.

[corkboy360]

Not through tax, the point is that text speak has become a problem in this and other countries. A tax on texts might reduce the number of texts sent and therefore slow the spread of text speak.

I'd have no problem with it being introduced at say 2 cents. That's maybe 200 million a year, and hopefully it will stop people from texting so much. I'd say I send 5 texts a week at most.

It's great having no friends.

Text speak for me just saves time nd if you have a long message you can fit it in with text speak.

Is there an actual sourse for this "apparently", or is it an "I heard in de pub from my mates granny's goat" type of apparently?

The Greens' deputy leader hoisted the kite very explicitly, hasn't been any comment from the government proper AFAIK.

I heard Mary Harney mention it was certainly something they could look into on RTE the other night.

Was also on redfm "cork talks back" last night.

[pete]

Green Conference

Proposal to tax texts criticised

A proposal by deputy leader Mary White to put a 1 cent tax on every mobile phone text message was criticised at the party’s national conference in Wexford, for “hitting the less well off”.

Cllr Tony McDermott (Terenure/Rathfarnham, Dublin) said “texting is an important method of communication and provides many positive functions, particularly for the young and the vulnerable.

“Putting a tax on texts would hit the less well of because high-end phones have internet-based ‘instant messaging’ and people who use more expensive phones would escape the tax. Technology that connects people and improves communication must be encouraged.”

About 25 million text messages are sent by Irish mobile phone users daily, which would generate €91 million in tax revenue annually.

[Dodge]

I heard Mary Harney mention it was certainly something they could look into on RTE the other night.

Can't remember her exact words but it was something like "We hear talk about a tax on texts and its something we'll have to look at"


EDIT; Irish times article

Minister for Health Mary Harney indicated yesterday that the tax on texts was among a range of options being considered in the forthcoming budget. “There are a lot of reliefs that have to be examined, there’s excise taxes, we’ve heard reference to text taxes, we’ve got to look at all these things,” Ms Harney said.

[DmanDmythDledge]

The goverment know that people will always text especially the younger generation who text more anyway.

People would just use webtext when at home and makes calls when out as a quick call would be cheaper than a text (almost is at the moment). If there's going to be a tax on texts it will be small.

I don't have a problem with a tax on texts. Won't cost people that much and would generate a decent amount of income for the government.

[dahamsta]

Thanks for posting sources.

Slipperly slope, I say.

[Dodge]

Thanks for posting sources.

You not see the thanks button?

[dahamsta]

You not see the thanks button?

Dammit, and I was the one that installed it!

[Macy]

The greens hard at work with the big solutions to the big problems, again.... Wasn't White the genius behind a seperate driving licence for rural people - they should be exempt from having to actually pass the test like them there city folk?

Surely texts are already taxed - VAT on bills/ top ups?

[Dodge]

Surely texts are already taxed - VAT on bills/ top ups?

There are a couple of operators offering free texts. Even with qualifying top ups the money will go towards call charges and that’s where VAT would be added.

I'm not sure how operaters would pass a "text tax" on to these customers

[Macy]

It's a long time since I was on prepaid, but there used to be a minimum top up amount over a certain period. On my bill pay, I get free texts as part of my tariff, on which VAT is charged. I'm not really arsed, but this is just more bloody tinkering whilst Rome burns - they oversee stupid bank bailouts and a massive budget deficit and the sum total of their suggestions on the economy is a bloody text tax!

[corkboy360]

It's a long time since I was on prepaid, but there used to be a minimum top up amount over a certain period. On my bill pay, I get free texts as part of my tariff, on which VAT is charged. I'm not really arsed, but this is just more bloody tinkering whilst Rome burns - they oversee stupid bank bailouts and a massive budget deficit and the sum total of their suggestions on the economy is a bloody text tax!

The annoying part is once there is a boom in the economy this will not be removed.

[Mr A]

Meh. There's lots of people who seem more intent on texting than the actual conversation they're involved in.

Slap it right up them I say.

[corkboy360]

Meh. There's lots of people who seem more intent on texting than the actual conversation they're involved in.

Slap it right up them I say.

No friends to text Billy no mates ?

[Macy]

No friends to text Billy no mates ?

He's too busy talking on tinternet forums...

[NeilMcD]

There could be a tax on posts on internet forums next.

[endabob1]

90M Euros to collect but how much to administer?

[Macy]

There could be a tax on posts on internet forums next.

Double taxation - I'm already taxed to be in work!