go to content go to search box go to global site navigation
Destinations
Africa Antarctica Asia Caribbean Central America Europe Middle East North America Pacific South America
Themes Shop Thorn Tree Forum
Bookings
Hotels Flights Adventure tours Sightseeing tours
Insurance
Basket

Thorn Tree Forum

Tax refunds departing USA

Replies: 32 - Last Post: Jul 5, 2012 7:45 PM Last Post By: ianw6705

jump to
← Back to topic list

ianw6705

ianw6705 avatar

Jul 4, 2012 6:07 AM
Posts:  8,201

15

See ... not much different to our 10% GST ... but I concede, a lot less than most Euro-VATs.

yaofeng

yaofeng avatar

Jul 4, 2012 7:31 AM
Posts:  807

16

Keep in mind NY is the perhaps the highest taxed State in the country. You cannot find a State in the union with 10% tax.

ianw6705

ianw6705 avatar

Jul 4, 2012 4:24 PM
Posts:  8,201

17

Yes, but there are city, and county, and dog-catcher taxes. I have booked a room at the Super8 Culver City LA - Seniors EarlyBird Special - $84.15, and tax is $11.78. That is an effective rate of about 14%.

And New York does know how to tax aggressively ... an Australian mate of mine with a Green Card and living in Manhattan cannot sell his house in Sydney because NY State wants to tax any capital gain at an incredible rate (and most of that capital gain is as a result of exchange rate changes over the past decade, not outrageous growth), and even though the income is not earned in the US at all ... pretty ambitious.

yaofeng

yaofeng avatar

Jul 4, 2012 4:31 PM
Posts:  807

18

You are not going to get the hotel room taxes back when you leave. I think you know that. There are also a number of States which have no sales tax at all. Zero.

ianw6705

ianw6705 avatar

Jul 4, 2012 5:37 PM
Posts:  8,201

19

Yes I know that, and staying off topic, I wonder how the states with zero sales tax balance the books? Charge more for car registration, hospitals, and so on, I expect. Or go deeper into debt. There's no free lunch. And it is much better to tax consumption than production, to my mind.

Kahua

Kahua avatar

Jul 4, 2012 6:00 PM
Posts:  3,877

20

The receipts from legalized gambling come to mind...

ianw6705

ianw6705 avatar

Jul 4, 2012 6:21 PM
Posts:  8,201

21

Well, that's a tax as well!

yaofeng

yaofeng avatar

Jul 4, 2012 6:53 PM
Posts:  807

22

The State cannot print money. Deleware collects taxes on business sale receipts, for example, so consumers are paying for the taxes anyway even though they are shielded by the process. There are also States with no income taxes. Texas is one.

ianw6705

ianw6705 avatar

Jul 4, 2012 6:57 PM
Posts:  8,201

23

The Australian Constitution reserves income/company tax for the federal government only.

PoppyG

PoppyG avatar

Jul 5, 2012 3:04 AM
Posts:  7,780

24

gee Ian, you have corrupted this lot - fancy being allowed to continue on posting off topic.

ianw6705

ianw6705 avatar

Jul 5, 2012 3:08 AM
Posts:  8,201

25

Yes indeed Poppy ... the mods must be asleep - or consumed by Wimbledon and the upcoming Olympics!

PoppyG

PoppyG avatar

Jul 5, 2012 3:16 AM
Posts:  7,780

26

it isn't just the mods,it is the regular posters who aren't saying anything which has surprised me.

ianw6705

ianw6705 avatar

Jul 5, 2012 3:41 AM
Posts:  8,201

27

I think I have an honorary Seppo stamp on my forehead these days ... perhaps.

Kahua

Kahua avatar

Jul 5, 2012 8:08 AM
Posts:  3,877

28

This topic is so incredibly boring that any stray discourse is encouraged.

Websterella

Websterella avatar

Jul 5, 2012 12:22 PM
Posts:  46,891

29

ian, for someone who complains about the US so much, you certainly visit here a lot.

Please stop.
← Back to topic list
ADVERTISEMENT

In our shop

See all shop products

Hotels & Hostels

See all hotels & hostels
 
 
Destinations Africa Antarctica Asia Caribbean Islands Central America Europe Middle East North America Pacific South America
Shop Destination Guides eBooks Pictorial & Gifts Phrasebooks Activity Guides Special Offers
Thorn Tree Forum Departure Lounge Check in with Lonely Planet The Lobby
Themes Adventure travel Beaches Best in Travel Family travel Honeymoons Photography Road Trips Value Travel Wildlife World food
Travel Booking Hotels Flights Insurance
Newsletter sign up

Subscribe now and receive a 20% discount on your next guidebook purchase

About us Work for us Contact us Press centre, trade & advertising Terms & conditions

© 2013 Lonely Planet. All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission.