Sales Tax

[Jim Frame]

I note that the Governor's proposed budget revisions include broadening the scope of sales tax to "appliance and furniture repair, vehicle repair, golf, and veterinarian services" starting in February. With the possible exception of golf, all of these industries are regulated by the same one that covers land surveyors: the Department of Consumer Affairs. Remember when the department decided that a written contract was necessary? I think that was all about auto repairs, and as a profession regulated by the same agency we just came along for the ride (pun intended). All of which begs the question: How long will it be before we'll have to start charging our clients sales tax, like they do now in Texas?

[goodgps]

Holy cow,
That is a scary thought. I think it may be time to ressurect the "don't tread on me" flags.

We pay tax on money earned, we pay tax on money spent. We pay tax on money we give to others (payroll)(gift. etc) We pay tax for employing people, we pay tax for using machines. We pay tax for people that we may layoff.

We probably pay a tax to finance a group Who figures out more taxes for us to pay.

If we collect a tax from our clients, will it cost us a tax for some schmuck to sit in a government office to make sure we've collected enough tax ?

Please enough already. !!!

[bruce hall]

you try to sit, cause I'm the taxman, yea, the taxman yea!

and by the way, I don't think there is anything that remotely exists called a "temporary tax". I think that was the idea with the income tax a looooong time ago. But maybe that's just bad data on my part.

[PLS7393]

All the more reason to charge what we are worth!
In other words, you might want to consider your current rates and a slow raise will put you better off when this happens.

Remember, charge what you are worth, "then double the estimate". That quote was mentioned in a couple seminars I partaked in over the past few years.

[goodgps]

Keith, I've heard that statement too. When I tried it, we had no new jobs til i resumed my low-balling. The trouble is competing with the "garage guys".
Some of those guys are created by the current economy.
My company was created that way when i needed to feed my family.
been tring to feedem for 17 years now.

I've really been pressured for the "credit card" thing lately.
people dont have money for a survey and want to defer the cost. i cant blame them, but C/C processing cost a bit of money too and the fees don't stop just because there are no credit card clients.

Uncle Sam was exspensive enough, but now we have his cousins Freddy and Fanny

"goodman"

[Jim Frame]

I agree with goodgps: the ongoing cost of maintaining a credit card merchant account doesn't make sense for most surveyors. However, PayPal is a viable alternative. The per-payment cost to the vendor is significant but not outrageous, and there are no maintenance fees, so it's a reasonable way to handle the occasional client who wants to pay for surveying services with a credit card. I've only had one client request PayPal, and I was happy to accommodate her.

[Gromatici]

Don't forget the death tax. Your not going to die on us without paying up!

Paypal is great idea!

[goodgps]

The paypal account sounds like a great alternative.

I will check it out to see if it is viable

[PLS7393]

The paypal account sounds like a great alternative.

I will check it out to see if it is viable

Pay a pal? I am available if you insist. I take cash and checks please, heheheee!

[goodgps]

Its so bad out here, Keith, I'm afraid that even my cash would bounce
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