Request for toggle to show prices inclusive of tax

[FilthyCasual]

Some regions currently charge tax on digital goods. Some do not. This is not a post on whether such tax is justified. This post is about the way steam displays prices. In the case where a region adds tax to the price, steam shows the before tax price, and then adds and displays the tax at checkout

For sake of efficiency, could we have the option to see prices inclusive of tax in our region? Perhaps we could make this adjustment in settings if we so wish? Not only is it efficient, but it also would bring steam in line with various regions that already incorporate this policy, such as much of the EU (though this would be greatly appreciated in the Americas too, I am sure!)

EDIT I am simply requesting that, where legal, it would be considered that customers be allowed to change store settings to show price inclusive of tax. If this isn't possible, no harm done

[Tito Shivan]

Steam in this regard works like every other business in said region and that way of operating can happen because legal reasons. Steam is in line with how these regions operate in regards sales tax.

It may be mandatory to not add sales tax at the price tag but to add them at the checkout line.
Then there's the fact of sales taxes changing state to state or even within counties in the same state. Which makes adding it at the price tag (without proper knowledge of where to bill that sale) prone to errors (And pricing errors are one thing consumer protection agencies look after) and misleading for customers.

As an european who's travelled to the US I know first hand how annoying it can be to have sales tax added at the checkout line. But the other way around is also annoying for people who are used to the former method.

[Quibus Maximus]

All prices I see are including taxes.

[kitt]

Originally posted by Tito Shivan:

As an european who's travelled to the US I know first hand how annoying it can be to have sales tax added at the checkout line. But the other way around is also annoying for people who are used to the former method.

now explain to me how someone could find it annoying to see the full price on the Store shelves instead running around with a Calculator?

[FilthyCasual]

Originally posted by Tito Shivan:

Steam in this regard works like every other business in said region and that way of operating can happen because legal reasons. Steam is in line with how these regions operate in regards sales tax.

It may be mandatory to not add sales tax at the price tag but to add them at the checkout line.
Then there's the fact of sales taxes changing state to state or even within counties in the same state. Which makes adding it at the price tag (without proper knowledge of where to bill that sale) prone to errors (And pricing errors are one thing consumer protection agencies look after) and misleading for customers.

As an european who's travelled to the US I know first hand how annoying it can be to have sales tax added at the checkout line. But the other way around is also annoying for people who are used to the former method.

I am not in the USA. At any rate, I realize that some regions require tax to be added at the checkout. That is not the case for my region.
Regarding confusion of customers, that is why I requested a TOGGLE method. That way steam could just default to whatever is customary in a region, but customers could specifically toggle how they want to view prices, if they want something different from the regional norm. For example, it is perfectly legal, though not always customary, to display the price with tax included in my region. You just say its 'tax included'.

[FilthyCasual]

Originally posted by Quibus Maximus:

All prices I see are including taxes.

Depends on region

[wuddih]

Originally posted by FilthyCasual:

Originally posted by Quibus Maximus:

All prices I see are including taxes.

Depends on region

Only US, rest is inclusive
https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/finance/taxfaq#CurrentRates

I think you may confuse the tax calculation at checkout as something else, and this is something that is also required to do.

[FilthyCasual]

Originally posted by wuddih:

Originally posted by FilthyCasual:

Depends on region

Only US, rest is inclusive
https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/finance/taxfaq#CurrentRates

I think you may confuse the tax calculation at checkout as something else, and this is something that is also required to do.

And therein lies the problem. You linked something relating to *countries*. I live in Canada. Canada does NOT require this tax. Problem is, some provinces do. Hence the problem
And no, I am not confusing it. At checkout, 'Province Tax' is added

Perhaps the issue is that steam does not have policies for provincial rules. If not, I would appreciate it if steam updated prices to reflect provincial regulations

[Nx Machina]

Originally posted by FilthyCasual:

Perhaps the issue is that steam does not have policies for provincial rules. If not, I would appreciate it if steam updated prices to reflect provincial regulations

I think you answered your own question - Valve obviously does not have policies with regards to "provincial rules" as it needs to comply with "consumer law" in Canada as a whole. Valve cannot add a policy to satisfy your requirement if it is not breaking consumer law.

Contact your local agency, explain the position and their answer will determine whether Valve needs to add what you require.

[wuddih]

Originally posted by FilthyCasual:

Originally posted by wuddih:

Only US, rest is inclusive
https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/finance/taxfaq#CurrentRates

I think you may confuse the tax calculation at checkout as something else, and this is something that is also required to do.

And therein lies the problem. You linked something relating to *countries*. I live in Canada. Canada does NOT require this tax. Problem is, some provinces do. Hence the problem
And no, I am not confusing it. At checkout, 'Province Tax' is added

Perhaps the issue is that steam does not have policies for provincial rules. If not, I would appreciate it if steam updated prices to reflect provincial regulations

Well, I thought every sane country is on that inclusive list.
So you have the same bullcrap as the states? Drive a few miles, other tax rates?That's sad. But now I recall LTT scrapyard wars and them being over budget because forgot about tax. Oh Canada...

Can normal stores include it on price tags?
If not, then I guess it is the same as the states. The prices have to be without tax and the rest is done at checkout.

[FilthyCasual]

Originally posted by wuddih:

Originally posted by FilthyCasual:

And therein lies the problem. You linked something relating to *countries*. I live in Canada. Canada does NOT require this tax. Problem is, some provinces do. Hence the problem
And no, I am not confusing it. At checkout, 'Province Tax' is added

Perhaps the issue is that steam does not have policies for provincial rules. If not, I would appreciate it if steam updated prices to reflect provincial regulations

Well, I thought every sane country is on that inclusive list.
So you have the same bullcrap as the states? Drive a few miles, other tax rates?That's sad. But now I recall LTT scrapyard wars and them being over budget because forgot about tax. Oh Canada...

Can normal stores include it on price tags?
If not, then I guess it is the same as the states. The prices have to be without tax and the rest is done at checkout.

I am not sure on the regs as I am not a lawyer; this thread was simply to politely ask steam that if its legally possible, I would appreciated the tax included option. If it isn't, no harm done. I know I have seen stores with tax included on their price tags; its just not very often

[Tito Shivan]

Originally posted by kitt:

now explain to me how someone could find it annoying to see the full price on the Store shelves instead running around with a Calculator?

Habit. It's also a conceptual thing as people can tell apart price from taxes (Here in the EU you have to run around with a calculator to do the other way around and guess how much of what you pay is VAT)
It's a cultural thing at ist core.

Originally posted by FilthyCasual:

And therein lies the problem. You linked something relating to *countries*. I live in Canada. Canada does NOT require this tax. Problem is, some provinces do.

And Steam cannot tell which Canada province are you buying from until you provide them with your invoice data. Hence why taxes are shown at checkout for your region.

Originally posted by FilthyCasual:

Regarding confusion of customers, that is why I requested a TOGGLE method.

The thing is pricing is a VERY touchy subject, legally speaking. A toggle method could pretty much show misleading prices to customers, and that's a thing stores are REALLY careful not to do. It's the kind of things that can lead to a lawsuit.

[FilthyCasual]

Originally posted by Tito Shivan:

Originally posted by kitt:

now explain to me how someone could find it annoying to see the full price on the Store shelves instead running around with a Calculator?

Habit. It's also a conceptual thing as people can tell apart price from taxes (Here in the EU you have to run around with a calculator to do the other way around and guess how much of what you pay is VAT)
It's a cultural thing at ist core.

Originally posted by FilthyCasual:

And therein lies the problem. You linked something relating to *countries*. I live in Canada. Canada does NOT require this tax. Problem is, some provinces do.

And Steam cannot tell which Canada province are you buying from until you provide them with your invoice data. Hence why taxes are shown at checkout for your region.

Originally posted by FilthyCasual:

Regarding confusion of customers, that is why I requested a TOGGLE method.

The thing is pricing is a VERY touchy subject, legally speaking. A toggle method could pretty much show misleading prices to customers, and that's a thing stores are REALLY careful not to do. It's the kind of things that can lead to a lawsuit.

Alright. Thanks for taking the time to read and explain. Wouldnt want any lawsuits against steam/valve.

Hopefully in the future tax law gets a bit more streamlined