Different ( US state ) sales tax being collected on purchases as of 01March2021

[Starseer]

So has Steam/Valve changed its (US states) sales tax collection policy?

Until today, Steam/Valve was charging my state's correct sales tax on purchases I made here,
but two purchases I just made today (01March2021),
I see Steam/Valve has elected to charge an additional 2-3 cents more on the dollar
(one of them, what last month cost $3.17, now costs $3.23, even though the price of the item on the website is the same price it's been for several months).

I haven't seen any mention of this change in legal documentation presented to us, the customers,
and my state's Dept of Revenue concurred my state's sales tax rate has not changed.

So tell us, Steam/Valve, what is the extra tax being collected for now?
Is this a trans-state thing recently implemented?
A new federal tax collection?
A VAT tax?

Surely Steam/Valve would have mentioned this information to its applicable customers.
This can add up over time.
We, the customers, would just like some clarity on the issue.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Contact support. No one on the forums can assist with this.

[Chompman]

Check if your city or county has increased a tax rate somewhere as they can charge additional taxes also if they are able to at times.

[Abs]

Very interesting, if your numbers are correct and your sales tax as you said have not changed.

When I get some free time I'll go through my past purchases and verify against my states sales tax. And let ya know if it doesn't add up. I'd never notice a few extra cents like 98% of the rest of us. But as you pointed out if true over the community as a whole would be huge.

[nullable]

Well what state/city? I mean you not being aware of a change or increase doesn't mean one hasn't occurred. Chances are Valve is using a system to calculate sales taxes that a lot of other businesses are using (it's not something companies would be eager to develop from scratch). And that's probably pretty accurate most of the time.

And users not being up to date on tax changes isn't preposterous. See hundreds of posts where people where stupefied when sales taxes began to be collected as each state came online.

[Starseer]

FWIW, Pennsylvania.
It's been at 6% since the longest time. Even just a couple weeks ago here. Then suddenly March 1, 2021, they're (Steam/Valve) taking an extra few cents on the dollar, each dollar, on my transactions today.

I'm just asking for legit clarification.
Seeing as my State's Dept of Revenue was quick to respond back with a "no, it hasn't increased",
I'd just like a little transparency as to why today did Steam/Valve suddenly start collecting a few more cents on each dollar...

Contact Support?
Yeah, right.
Those automated FAQs are useless, and I can't find any direct link to posit the inquiry to Valve staff who might have this answer.

Last thing anybody wants is a scandal where our favorite game provider had suddenly decided to start illegally skimming a few cents here and there from thousands of players thinking nobody will miss it.
That's a felony in the US, and nobody wants that here.

If there's a new EULA explaining a tax increase, by all means, lets see it.
But don't just take it without legal justification.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Starseer:

Contact Support?
Yeah, right.
Those automated FAQs are useless, and I can't find any direct link to posit the inquiry to Valve staff who might have this answer.

Contact support at the bottom of this page... https://help.steampowered.com/en/accountdata

[Mad Scientist]

I see 6, 7, and 8% in PA which differs for cities/counties on a very basic search.

So instead of floating a conspiracy theory by suggestion, maybe do some basic research. As I mentioned, some are 7%, others are 8%. Same state, different counties and cities.

[Glimmer]

Is there some reason Valve thinks you're in Philly (E.G. using a card registered there)? The city assesses an additional 2% sales tax ontop of the 6% state sales tax, which would push a 2.99$ expenditure from 3.17$ to 3.23$

[Spawn of Totoro]

https://www.revenue.pa.gov/GeneralTaxInformation/Tax%20Types%20and%20Information/SUT/Pages/default.aspx

Do any of these apply?

"The Pennsylvania sales tax rate is 6 percent. By law, a 1 percent local tax is added to purchases made in Allegheny County, and 2 percent local tax is added to purchases made in Philadelphia."

If you live in either of those places and were only paying 6%, then Valve may have simply corrected the system for taxes.

An EULA has nothing to do with taxes and Valve is not required to notify people of tax increases in their area.

Also, what game are you getting your numbers from? It may be a correction of the amount that needed to be corrected, if it was actually taking less then 6%.

[Starseer]

Originally posted by Mr. Gentlebot:

I see 6, 7, and 8% in PA which differs for cities/counties on a very basic search.

So instead of floating a conspiracy theory by suggestion, maybe do some basic research. As I mentioned, some are 7%, others are 8%. Same state, different counties and cities.

I'm not "floating a conspiracy" at all, that's not my intention. I just know what I've ALWAYS paid for these particular items, but suddenly today they decided to collect 5 and 6 cents more on each of them.

[Starseer]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

https://www.revenue.pa.gov/GeneralTaxInformation/Tax%20Types%20and%20Information/SUT/Pages/default.aspx

Do any of these apply?

"The Pennsylvania sales tax rate is 6 percent. By law, a 1 percent local tax is added to purchases made in Allegheny County, and 2 percent local tax is added to purchases made in Philadelphia."

If you live in either of those places and were only paying 6%, then Valve may have simply corrected the system for taxes.

An EULA has nothing to do with taxes and Valve is not required to notify people of tax increases in their area.

Also, what game are you getting your numbers from? It may be a correction of the amount that needed to be corrected, if it was actually taking less then 6%.

Neither of those should apply to me, I'm no where near Phillie or Pittsburgh.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

No one else in Penn state but one in Colorado...

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/3117025249784340798/

That's why I say to contact support.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by Starseer:

Neither of those should apply to me, I'm no where near Phillie or Pittsburgh.

Other possibilities were also stated as well as a question.

[Starseer]

I'm just saying it's odd: just on these 2 items so far, knowing what I've always paid for them for a year or better, now suddenly they want a few cents more here and there.

I'm just wondering if some geographically illiterate desk jockey suddenly decides my podunk little town probably halfway between Phillie and Pittsburgh, should for whatever reason, have to pay those extra few cents now every transaction,
despite State Revenue saying to the contrary,
and Steam/Valve could just as well pocket that difference themselves and no one would be none the wiser if someone didn't catch it and speak up asking, "ok, why now?"

[Starseer]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

Originally posted by Starseer:

Neither of those should apply to me, I'm no where near Phillie or Pittsburgh.

Other possibilities were also stated as well as a question.

Those transaction windows always pop up, every purchase, showing the cost, + tax, equalling final price. Always been 6% long as I can remember. Countless past purchases, the math adds up.