[Discuss] Effort to repeal Mass Tax on Software Services

[mbr at arlsoft.com (MBR)]

I called my Rep. in the Mass. Legislature. He said he'd be willing to 
consider a bill to repeal this tax, but he could use help figuring out 
who else in the Legislature would support such a bill. I mentioned that, 
as a software engineer, I participate in some software-related mailing 
lists and forums. He suggested that I ask other Mass. residents on those 
forums to call their legislators and ask if they'd support repealing 
this tax. It's far more effective if one of their constituents calls 
than if someone outside their district calls.

If you want to make a difference, please do the following:

 1.

    Make two phone calls - one to your Mass. State Representative and
    one to your Mass. State Senator.

    You'll almost certainly be passed off to a legislative aide.

 2.

    Explain to the aide:

     1.

        this is urgent

     2.

        this tax will devastate an industry that's one of the primary
        reasons that the Massachusetts economy isn't the basket case
        that many other states are

     3.

        you need the aide to schedule some time for you to talk directly
        to your legislator

 3. When you talk to the legislator, don't assume the aide has conveyed
    much of anything you said. Explain directly to your legislator that:
     1.

        this tax will devastate an industry that's one of the primary
        reasons that the Massachusetts economy isn't the basket case
        that many other states are

     2.

        ask your legislator if he/she would be willing to support a bill
        to repeal this tax before it destroys the Massachusetts economy

I told my legislator I'd keep track of which legislators are willing to 
support a bill to repeal the tax and let him know. In order for me to do 
that, I'd like to ask any of you who call your legislator to email me 
the results of your phone call.

After you call your legislator, email me at: masstax at arlsoft.com 
<mailto:masstax at arlsoft.com>
In the body of the email, please provide the following information:

 1.

    The legislator's name and title - i.e. Senator or Representative

 2.

    Did you speak directly to that legislator?

 3.

    If you didn't speak directly to your legislator, what's the name and
    job title of the person you did speak with?

 4.

    Legislator's willingness to support repeal: 1) yes - will support
    repeal, 2) unwilling to commit, 3) no - will not support repeal

                Mark Rosenthal


On 8/1/2013 1:07 PM, Joseph Guarino wrote:
> Hello Everyone,
>
> Sadly, it is so expansively written because it is to apply to any IT
> firms engaged in any IT hardware or software services or implementation.
>   This open ended and expansive language can only mean it will be applied
> in this way.  At first it was labeled a "cloud tax" now it has morphed
> into any everything IT tax.  It is going to make our state less
> competitive and end up costing us jobs.  Remember only 3 other states
> are as out of touch to apply this short of poorly conceived tax.
>
> I'm not the only one taking this opinion -- in fact every other article
> I've found on the subject was equally alarmed and annoyed at this
> horrible idea.  Here are just a few of the Google results.
>
> http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2013/05/new_massachusetts_software_tax_plan_does.html
> http://www.telegram.com/article/20130729/NEWS/307309973/1116
> http://www.networkcomputing.com/next-generation-data-center/news/servers/massachusetts-tax-may-leak-into-the-clou/240151527
> http://ward.vandewege.net/blog/2013/07/i-object-to-the-new-massachusetts-tax-on-software-services/
> http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/07/05/taxpayer-group-moves-rein-software-tax/cqHzSqU0fpVWIAHimXtdJK/story.html
> http://www.informationweek.com/government/state-local/massachusetts-computer-services-tax-rile/240158584
> http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/07/17/tech-sector-powerless-stop-new-software-tax/eEJi5ankQ3zNz2AGr9qeTK/story.html
> http://www.necn.com/07/26/13/Uproar-follows-impending-Mass-software-t/landing_business.html?blockID=847691&feedID=11106
>     
>
> Thanks,
> Joseph Guarino
> A+,CISSP,LPIC,MCSE2000-03,PMP,Healthcare IT+
> Toastmasters ACS/CL
> Evolutionary IT - Best Practice IT(tm)
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