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[PC Gamer] Australians will be charged 10 percent GST on Steam games from July

3K views 58 replies 33 participants last post by  akromatic 
#1 ·
Quote:
It's been a very real possibility for years now, but it's finally happening: Australians will be required to pay 10 percent GST on every Steam purchase from July this year. The report comes via Kotaku, following an email reportedly sent to developers by Valve.

"The VAT tax amount will be included in the advertised price of your product, just like VAT is currently treated in the EU," part of the email seen by Kotaku reads. "This means the customer will pay the price displayed on the storefront, and the tax will be separated out afterwards."
Steam has been one of the most expensive ways to buy games for us Australians for a while now. With the exception of the sales of course. This is just even more reason to avoid the steam store and their USD prices.

Source
 
#3 ·
I don't mind GST being introduced for international online storefronts offering services and sales to Australians. Local suppliers have to allow for it, so anybody supplying to Australia in volume like Steam does should be held to the same standard.

Really they have been charging the same (or in some cases more thanks to the USD conversion) as local retail sales so publishers and steam have been given a free ride on not paying tax and cashing in on the extra money via steam sales.
 
#4 ·
yet another way for the corrupted money grubbing aholes to shaft us
mad.gif
mad.gif
mad.gif
. Pretty sure they still want to give us an extra tax on ALL online orders as well
mad.gif
.

This is why I'll be using sites like G2A from now on, I'll take the small PayPal fee for a cheaper key over more expensive Steam prices with this stupid tax bs.
 
#5 ·
In Canada, often my friend and I sit around and wonder "what will they think of next?" We are rarely disappointed.

New taxes are being flung around like dung.
 
#6 ·
We've been paying GST in Australia for over 16 years. This is not a new tax, it's a new enforcement for overseas suppliers selling to Australia online.

Really there is no reason prices should go up at all, if they do it will be Valve and publishers taking us for even more of a ride than before.
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gunderman456 View Post

In Canada, often my friend and I sit around and wonder "what will they think of next?" We are rarely disappointed.

New taxes are being flung around like dung.
Unless i'm mistaken, this is just the normal tax on goods purchased applied to Steam products sold locally. As in, nothing new and hardly unexpected.

I mean, i hate VAT (or, rather, IVA in my case) as much as the next fellow, but it's just the nature of the beast.
 
#10 ·
Yes, the old rigged game, buy from Steam and save money since the game does not incur the markups necessary for a boxed copy and room on a store shelve. How did that work out?
 
#14 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evanlet View Post

New games start at around $100-120
Where are you shopping? Last AAA title I bought I think was BF1 and got it for $60 AUD from Target. I payed about the same for DOOM and bought Dishonored 2 for $36 AUD from EB. Past few years I've always found bricks and mortar stores to be much cheaper than steam.
 
#15 ·
#16 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjjc_93 View Post

We've been paying GST in Australia for over 16 years. This is not a new tax, it's a new enforcement for overseas suppliers selling to Australia online.

Really there is no reason prices should go up at all, if they do it will be Valve and publishers taking us for even more of a ride than before.
None of that GST money goes to Valve or publishers, it goes to your government.
 
#17 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by erocker View Post

None of that GST money goes to Valve or publishers, it goes to your government.
Yes, I am very aware.

I am making the point that Steam prices are similar or higher to that of retail stores already paying this tax. If publishers or Valve suggest that there is no room in their 'profits' to absorb the 10% of gst, that will be them taking us on a giant ride.
 
#18 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by PappaSmurfsHarem View Post

How much are the games in physical stores?
prices are around $99 for launch titles

still for PC there is barely anyone stocking anything except for WoW. at the end of the day physical copies just contains a redemption code for steam rather then a standalone game that is not tied to any DRM platform.
 
#19 ·
I'm not sure where you guys shop. JB Hifi, EB, Target, etc are always in a head lock for beating each other on launch prices (and always stock the PC copy). There's usually a good deal to be had if you take a quick shop around for the best price. DOOM in EB was $38 weeks after launch. BF1 launched at $60. These are not entirely rare occurrences.
 
#20 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by robbo2 View Post

Where are you shopping? Last AAA title I bought I think was BF1 and got it for $60 AUD from Target. I payed about the same for DOOM and bought Dishonored 2 for $36 AUD from EB. Past few years I've always found bricks and mortar stores to be much cheaper than steam.
Agreed, But with a good connection (nbn) steam is so convenient! Decide you want a game, go make lunch, come back and start playing game.
 
#23 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussiejuggalo View Post

yet another way for the corrupted money grubbing aholes to shaft us
mad.gif
mad.gif
mad.gif
. Pretty sure they still want to give us an extra tax on ALL online orders as well
mad.gif
.

This is why I'll be using sites like G2A from now on, I'll take the small PayPal fee for a cheaper key over more expensive Steam prices with this stupid tax bs.
Isn't tax a gov't thing? What does corporate have to do with it?
 
#24 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by starliner View Post

Isn't tax a gov't thing? What does corporate have to do with it?
It's really just about the problem with steam already ripping us off.
Apply a 10% tax to a $60 usd game, that should be $66usd to us right? well no, because they already sell that $60 USD game for $80 usd to us.. if they dont eat the tax, suddenly we're paying $88 USD, well more likely 89.95 just because. Ultimately we could be paying $115-$120Aud~ for $60 USD games, which is pretty well unacceptable.

This tax isnt even an unreasonable one, GST is an integral part of how our economy works. Applying it to online services may well be necessary going forward with the digital economy getting larger. Australians need to be directing their anger at distributors.

And yes, steam does charge us in US Dollars.
 
#25 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by dragneel View Post

It's really just about the problem with steam already ripping us off.
Apply a 10% tax to a $60 usd game, that should be $66usd to us right? well no, because they already sell that $60 USD game for $80 usd to us.. if they dont eat the tax, suddenly we're paying $88 USD, well more likely 89.95 just because. Ultimately we could be paying $115-$120Aud~ for $60 USD games, which is pretty well unacceptable.

This tax isnt even an unreasonable one, GST is an integral part of how our economy works. Applying it to online services may well be necessary going forward with the digital economy getting larger. Australians need to be directing their anger at distributors.

And yes, steam does charge us in US Dollars.
So it's weird they are applying it now? I would assume any kind of tax would have to be applied, not applied whenever they want?
 
#26 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by dragneel View Post

It's really just about the problem with steam already ripping us off.
Apply a 10% tax to a $60 usd game, that should be $66usd to us right? well no, because they already sell that $60 USD game for $80 usd to us.. if they dont eat the tax, suddenly we're paying $88 USD, well more likely 89.95 just because. Ultimately we could be paying $115-$120Aud~ for $60 USD games, which is pretty well unacceptable.

This tax isnt even an unreasonable one, GST is an integral part of how our economy works. Applying it to online services may well be necessary going forward with the digital economy getting larger. Australians need to be directing their anger at distributors.

And yes, steam does charge us in US Dollars.
If you think it's unacceptable but you can't find a reasonable alternative, it's not the distributors' fault.
 
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