Tim Walker’s GST

The New Zealand Government wants to put an end to tax-free trading online.

Hitherto Kiwis have been able to purchase goods from the Internet cheaper than they would in store for the primary reason that they were shirking Goods and Services Tax.

That’s fifteen percent these online fiends have been getting off their purchase prices for nothing more than sitting in front of their little magic boxes and avoiding contact with the outside world while, like an idiot, here’s me still frequenting the physicality of shops, paying fifteen percent extra and, heaven forbid, dealing with real people.

I found it comical to see the reaction of one young man who in fact looked as though he hadn’t left the safety of his computer screen in months; on hearing that GST was going to be added to online purchases he responded along the lines of: “…why are we being punished for not buying domestically?”

Oi, dickhead, you’re not being punished – although now I consider it, you just implied that you were spending your money at online businesses abroad where you would previously have been supporting your local suppliers so perhaps you ought to be but no, you’re not being punished as such – you are simply going to be brought back to Earth like the rest of us old-schoolers where you will be required to pay tax on your series of banal purchases which in fairness you wouldn’t have bothered buying if you had no Internet connection anyway; really your behaviour is indicative of someone with too much money on their hands to begin with thus minor taxation will surely not be a bad thing.

The majority of these online purchasers appear to be living the New Zealand dream – working jobs they don’t like then squandering their money buying shit they don’t need.

I for one am pleased that taxation will eventually be introduced to online trading in New Zealand; it might just take a while to set up.

 

 

Article by Tim Walker

Edited by Ben Al Per Chaser

Photography by Jay S Tay

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