Ax the Tech Tax coalition planned

Other states have repealed this 'hard to administer' tax

KATIE ARCIERI Staff Writer

Published 12/16/07

State technology leaders are joining thousands of business owners and associations across Maryland to repeal a sales tax on the computer services industry that was passed during the legislature's special session.

Paul W. Gillespie - The Capital Rich Stewart, owner of Datacare Inc., a computer firm in Annapolis, works on a computer. Mr. Stewart said he thinks the new 6 percent sales tax on computer services will create an \

The Ax the Tech Tax coalition fears it would place one of the state's main economic drivers in danger.

Officials from the Tech Council of Maryland and the Annapolis-based Maryland Chamber of Commerce have been coordinating the coalition over the past couple of weeks. They said business owners will be hurt by the tax along with any consumer who hits a computer key.

And now they even have the backing of state...

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MD Computer Services Tax - January 7, 2008

Has anyone thought about what this will do to ALL Maryland businesses? Not just computer/IT companies? They have just put ALL Maryland businesses at a 6% disadvantage to a similar business located in say Virginia who isn't required to pay this tax to get IT support. Last I heard IT was pretty important to our economy. It's unbelieveable the lack of thought and planning that has gone into this awful tax.

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David E. - Rockville, MD - Karma: Bad

Computer Services Tax - December 16, 2007

This is what happens when our leaders decide to rush through a massive money grab outside of the normal legislative process. Did anyone in the Administration or legislature research this for economic impacts and whether the tax is administrable? I mean neighboring states tried this and failed. Moreover who in their right mind raises these large amounts oof taxes on individuas and businesses (and cuts zero spending) on the cusp of what is a rather nasty recession? The arrogant and uninformed. Time to take names and remember who did it to us.

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David F. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad