6 ms·

Isn't the general argument that state taxes mean almost nothing to businesses like Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, et al (in Washington State) but are actually a hug

by hbosch 8y ago

Isn't the general argument that state taxes mean almost nothing to businesses like Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, et al (in Washington State) but are actually a huge pain in the ass for small/mid-size businesses? The quote featured in this headline underscores an editorial bias that is pro-Microsoft (who keeps their campus in the suburb of Renton) and anti-Amazon (the scapegoat for rising Seattle real estate).

almost_usual 8y ago
>Isn't the general argument that state taxes mean almost nothing to businesses like Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, et al (in Washington State) but are actually a huge pain in the ass for small/mid-size businesses? "The bill proposes increasing the state business and occupation tax by 20 percent on about 40 categories of technical services, such as telecom, engineering, medical and finance. And by 33 percent on tech firms with more than $25 billion in annual revenue. But here’s where this goes off the charts, into politically unheard-of territory. It mandates a top rate, a whopping 67 percent business tax increase, for those “advanced computing businesses” with “worldwide gross revenue of more than one hundred billion dollars” per year." Not sure if you read more than the headline but I don't think this bill targets small/mid-size businesses.
- anth_anm 8y ago
  That's true, but what is the rate now? If it's going from 3% to 5% that's not as bad as 10 to 17 or whatever.
  - linuxhiker 8y ago
    The B&0 tax is off the top based on gross revenue generated in Washington state. For my small company, 5% would put me out of business. I don't recall the exact rate we pay but it's nowhere near five.
chihuahua 8y ago
Most of the Microsoft main campus is in Redmond, not Renton. They have some buildings in Bellevue and Seattle. But as far as I know, Microsoft has no office space at all in Renton.
- seanmcdirmid 8y ago
  Reminds me of this classic Almost Live segment about the 425 area code switch over: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V9jlo4Ht2YA https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V9jlo4Ht2YA At the end, an east side Bellevue woman snobbishly complains about 425 containing Renton.
  - skookumchuck 8y ago
    Looking back on Almost Live, its local humor is an unintentional treasure of what Seattle was like in the 90's.
  - techsupporter 8y ago
    Or this one ("Cops in Redmond"): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pxGDSucCEI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pxGDSucCEI > And if you cannot afford a lawyer...well, uh, what are you doing living in Redmond? Maybe you meant Renton? They do sound similar, Redmond, Renton... Also, Pat Cashman is a treasure. "Did you have to dial a one...before?"
    - seanmcdirmid 8y ago
      Ya, and the communities are so different. The only time an east sider will intentionally go to Renton is if they need to go to IKEA (unless they work for Boeing or Wizards of the Coast).
- cjarrett 8y ago
  Correct. I live in Renton, which is very far and terrible drive to redmond 6:15-10 am and from redmond 2pm-6:30pm. They might have a marketing area, but I haven't seen it in the downtown area.

by hbosch 8y ago

almost_usual 8y ago

>Isn't the general argument that state taxes mean almost nothing to businesses like Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, et al (in Washington State) but are actually a huge pain in the ass for small/mid-size businesses? "The bill proposes increasing the state business and occupation tax by 20 percent on about 40 categories of technical services, such as telecom, engineering, medical and finance. And by 33 percent on tech firms with more than $25 billion in annual revenue. But here’s where this goes off the charts, into politically unheard-of territory. It mandates a top rate, a whopping 67 percent business tax increase, for those “advanced computing businesses” with “worldwide gross revenue of more than one hundred billion dollars” per year." Not sure if you read more than the headline but I don't think this bill targets small/mid-size businesses.

anth_anm 8y ago
That's true, but what is the rate now? If it's going from 3% to 5% that's not as bad as 10 to 17 or whatever.
- linuxhiker 8y ago
  The B&0 tax is off the top based on gross revenue generated in Washington state. For my small company, 5% would put me out of business. I don't recall the exact rate we pay but it's nowhere near five.

chihuahua 8y ago

Most of the Microsoft main campus is in Redmond, not Renton. They have some buildings in Bellevue and Seattle. But as far as I know, Microsoft has no office space at all in Renton.

seanmcdirmid 8y ago
Reminds me of this classic Almost Live segment about the 425 area code switch over: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V9jlo4Ht2YA https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V9jlo4Ht2YA At the end, an east side Bellevue woman snobbishly complains about 425 containing Renton.
- skookumchuck 8y ago
  Looking back on Almost Live, its local humor is an unintentional treasure of what Seattle was like in the 90's.
- techsupporter 8y ago
  Or this one ("Cops in Redmond"): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pxGDSucCEI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pxGDSucCEI > And if you cannot afford a lawyer...well, uh, what are you doing living in Redmond? Maybe you meant Renton? They do sound similar, Redmond, Renton... Also, Pat Cashman is a treasure. "Did you have to dial a one...before?"
  - seanmcdirmid 8y ago
    Ya, and the communities are so different. The only time an east sider will intentionally go to Renton is if they need to go to IKEA (unless they work for Boeing or Wizards of the Coast).
cjarrett 8y ago
Correct. I live in Renton, which is very far and terrible drive to redmond 6:15-10 am and from redmond 2pm-6:30pm. They might have a marketing area, but I haven't seen it in the downtown area.