I agree with @mark.  In most US states, everything has sales tax except raw food and printed materials (books, magazines).  I don't see why computers should get an exemption.

Ideally, the broader the tax base, the lower the VAT rate can become.

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On Thu, Sep 5, 2013 at 11:32 AM, Mark Mwangi <mwangy@gmail.com> wrote:
I do not buy the idea of tax subsidies for tech related matters. Food, healthcare, security yes because these are not primarily or rather should not be primarily profit oriented. Tellin me tech will improve all the above is like telling me everyone needs to eat so we take all our focus to growing potatoes. Technology firms should figure out how to turn a profit while paying taxes like everyone else. 

Granted I have benefited heavily from the exemption in the past but the supply and demand curves have stabilized. There is enough penetration in the industry for it to be self sustaining. 


On Thu, Sep 5, 2013 at 10:37 AM, Kivuva <Kivuva@transworldafrica.com> wrote:
I heard from a source that Servers are not Vat-table. Who has a copy of the new VAT law?

OT: Surely why tax books for students. Is somebody smoking something potent?

______________________
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On 4 September 2013 20:50, Stephen Wanjau <wanjaustev@gmail.com> wrote:
The VAT bill is now law - if my memory serves me right it was passed
while JKIA was burning and the unbecoming animal-human relationships
were flourishing in the country. Coincidence? No?

Accept and move on as per Wash is the good thing to do but the best is
to beat VAT 'digitally' if imports to an EA country and then to +254
for computing gear would prove cheaper.

0.5 cents worth.

Stephen

On Wed, Sep 4, 2013 at 3:51 PM, Edwin Onyango Owino <edowino@gmail.com> wrote:
> It is not as simple as that Mark. We have to look at the whole picture.
> Computer equipment was taxable in the 90s then the tax was reduced to 5%
> before being abolished altogether. Was the move beneficial? Absolutely, it
> removed entry barriers and allowed people who could not procure computers to
> do so to some extent and enabled some of us to hone our skills. There are
> smarter ways to raise revenue and this is certainly not one of them. What is
> worse is that this taxation regime is not going to give our budget deficit
> any significant dent.
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 4, 2013 at 1:20 PM, Mark Mwangi <mwangy@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> The Tax exempt status of ICT things was just an incentive to allow
>> investment. It was a holiday which is now over. Govt services cost money.
>> Where are they supposed to get it if not through taxes? Point is should be
>> we should raise hell when it is stolen or misused not complain about paying
>> it.
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Sep 4, 2013 at 12:38 PM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Boss, please Accept & Move on. No need for this debate here. It's OT :-)
>>>
>>> Just find out how to beat it digitally.
>>>
>>>
>>> On 4 September 2013 12:25, Patrick Mathenge <kabiroz@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> May be economists can shed light on this, but question is, can you in
>>>> the fullness of time grow an economy through over-taxing the citizens? Put
>>>> differently, what is economic growth with reference to the net earning of an
>>>> employee or net returns in business?
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Patrick Mathenge
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my BlackBerry®
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Adam Nelson <adam@varud.com>
>>>> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke
>>>> Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2013 12:16:32
>>>> To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke>
>>>> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke>
>>>> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] all ICT items are vatable
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Best regards,
>>> Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
>>> Nairobi,KE
>>> +254733744121/+254722743223
>>> "I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler."
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Regards,
>>
>> Mark Mwangi
>>
>> markmwangi.me.ke
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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Regards,

Mark Mwangi

markmwangi.me.ke





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