That pesky Netflix has been copping a free ride in this country for too damned long, according to the Federal Government, and they’ve had a bloody gutful of it.
The Turnbull Government today introduced the so-called “Netflix Tax” legislation into Parliament, which – if passed – would see streaming and digital products bought by Australians from overseas providers be subject to the GST.
Netflix, and other major providers, currently pay no GST on their goods and services that are purchased by Australians. The new tax would raise somewhere in the vicinity of $350million over four years, and would be split amongst the states and territories.
The tax would apply to streaming services, apps, e-books, games, and movies provided by companies not based in Australia, and aims to level the playing field for local “competitors.”
Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison stated to Parliament that the new tax adjustment “ensures Australian businesses selling digital products and services are not disadvantaged relative to overseas businesses that sell equivalent products in Australia.“
The tax, if passed, would come into effect from July 2017.
‘Course Apple and NewsCorp are still swanning about paying barely any tax at all for operating their massive corporations within Australia. But it’s Judy Homebody on her couch finally catching up on Making A Murderer who needs to be brought into line first.
Go figure, right?
Source: The Age.
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty.
