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I mean, taxing payroll is just as stupid. You tax net income, because it's normalized across businesses. Taxing payroll or revenue is just economic nonsense.

by darawk 7y ago

gamblor956 7y ago
Net income isn't normalized across businesses. Most businesses aim for net income. Most startups don't even try, even if they've raised hundreds of millions of dollars and occupy fancy offices. (It's also very easy for IP-based businesses to shift where income is generated.) And that's the basic reasoning behind SF's gross proceeds tax. It's a uniquely SV tax that only works because so many unicorns built their house of cards out of claiming revenue for things no other business would claim as revenue.
- darawk 7y ago
  > Net income isn't normalized across businesses. > Most businesses aim for net income. Most startups don't even try, even if they've raised hundreds of millions of dollars and occupy fancy offices. (It's also very easy for IP-based businesses to shift where income is generated.) Why would you want to tax a startup that isn't making any money? The whole point of government taxation is to generate revenue from profitable business activity occurring there. Taxing businesses that aren't even making money is ridiculous. And sure, you can shift where profits are generated. But you can also just not be in SF. Which is exactly what's happening.
  - huac 7y ago
    how much tax should Amazon pay?
- xyzzyz 7y ago
  Net income isn't normalized across businesses. Yes, it would be great if we could have some kind of Generally Accepted Accounting Practices that would specify what counts as net income and what doesn't.
- toast0 7y ago
  Sure, a net income tax doesn't tax the VC fueled companied sending people $2 for $1. But it would tax the owners of the fancy office they're renting for an absurd amount. And it would tax the catering service that's coming in 3x a day. And it may tax the office supply firm that's selling them the fancy chairs (maybe, not sure if office supply warehouses are in SF or on the peninsula).

I mean, taxing payroll is just as stupid. You tax net income, because it's normalized across businesses. Taxing payroll or revenue is just economic nonsense.

by darawk 7y ago

I mean, taxing payroll is just as stupid. You tax net income, because it's normalized across businesses. Taxing payroll or revenue is just economic nonsense.

gamblor956 7y ago

Net income isn't normalized across businesses. Most businesses aim for net income. Most startups don't even try, even if they've raised hundreds of millions of dollars and occupy fancy offices. (It's also very easy for IP-based businesses to shift where income is generated.) And that's the basic reasoning behind SF's gross proceeds tax. It's a uniquely SV tax that only works because so many unicorns built their house of cards out of claiming revenue for things no other business would claim as revenue.

darawk 7y ago
> Net income isn't normalized across businesses. > Most businesses aim for net income. Most startups don't even try, even if they've raised hundreds of millions of dollars and occupy fancy offices. (It's also very easy for IP-based businesses to shift where income is generated.) Why would you want to tax a startup that isn't making any money? The whole point of government taxation is to generate revenue from profitable business activity occurring there. Taxing businesses that aren't even making money is ridiculous. And sure, you can shift where profits are generated. But you can also just not be in SF. Which is exactly what's happening.
- huac 7y ago
  how much tax should Amazon pay?
xyzzyz 7y ago
Net income isn't normalized across businesses. Yes, it would be great if we could have some kind of Generally Accepted Accounting Practices that would specify what counts as net income and what doesn't.
toast0 7y ago
Sure, a net income tax doesn't tax the VC fueled companied sending people $2 for $1. But it would tax the owners of the fancy office they're renting for an absurd amount. And it would tax the catering service that's coming in 3x a day. And it may tax the office supply firm that's selling them the fancy chairs (maybe, not sure if office supply warehouses are in SF or on the peninsula).