Sales taxes...
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Salisbury Maryland
Sales taxes...
I gather they vary around the country ..and globe, but little did I know how much 'till I read a report about VW in the Detroit News online:
"..Sales were boosted in the 4th quarter of 2006 as car buyers stepped into the market early to avoid paying an increase in car sales tax which took effect on January 1. Sales tax on cars in Germany is now an eye-popping 19 percent."
I'm pretty sure the lady behind the counter at the DMV recalculated her retirement when I paid my 5% ..but add this to a few more reasons to having been fortunate to have been born here.
"..Sales were boosted in the 4th quarter of 2006 as car buyers stepped into the market early to avoid paying an increase in car sales tax which took effect on January 1. Sales tax on cars in Germany is now an eye-popping 19 percent."
I'm pretty sure the lady behind the counter at the DMV recalculated her retirement when I paid my 5% ..but add this to a few more reasons to having been fortunate to have been born here.
Poseur
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From: Santa Barbara, CA
There used to be a bumper sticker going around in Germany years ago that told the tale well. Roughly translated, it said, "Own the road? Of course I do. I pay enough taxes for it!"
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,644
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From: NJ
and the top income tax rate is somewhere around 50%. It was 52% I think when I lived there a few years back.......
Sales tax across Europe is in the 15%-20% range on all (most) goods not just luxuries....
Sales tax across Europe is in the 15%-20% range on all (most) goods not just luxuries....
Race Car
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Chicagoland
Originally Posted by Alan Smithee
I'd gladly pay more in car sales tax/registration to have Germany's higher driver education standards, Autobahns, and 'toll roads' like the Nurburgring...
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Chicago
Originally Posted by Nine9Sixer
yea, but we pay $50k a year for private college tuition in the US, where it's free there. that adds up.
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Race Car
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Chicagoland
Originally Posted by Nine9Sixer
yea, but we pay $50k a year for private college tuition in the US, where it's free there. that adds up.
Oh yeah, and after he or she graduates, you still keep on paying. NOTHING is free...only the avenue of payment changes.
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Poseur
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From: Santa Barbara, CA
I wouldn't mind taking my car back for summer vacations, but never to live permanently.
As far as colleges, the interesting thing about Europe is that they don't have great colleges or universities. The exceptions are the obvious,--Cambridge and Oxford. Most Germans leave the country for advanced education,--and come to America.
As far as colleges, the interesting thing about Europe is that they don't have great colleges or universities. The exceptions are the obvious,--Cambridge and Oxford. Most Germans leave the country for advanced education,--and come to America.
Not to mention - hard to believe.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: NYC & CT
my collleagues with kids tell me that most good private universities in the us today approach $50k a year. and yes, i chose private and will likely encourage my kids to go private cuz i think it's a better overall experience (have no kids currently). in europe (definitely france), the best schools are public and the private schools are for those who couldn't make it into public universities. and yes public education there is not free b/c of taxes, but that's my point, it does tend to equal out, somewhat. i have friends in paris who work in law and finance and they do pretty damn well, almost comparable to the us. friends in london do better than we do here in nyc. even if you're not in some high-income job, the pay's not great there but you get no-cost health benefits (may not last too much longer) and a decent standard of living in terms of hours, etc. what europeans pay for ultimately in terms of taxes is a safety net. if you get sick and/or lose your job, you won't go homeless there. in the states, it's possible to be making half a mil a year, be leveraged with debt, lose your job, and be totally screwed. anyway, my point, especially from the perspective of tax-averse americans, we often think europeans get screwed by taxes. i don't think that's necessarily true. not today and (sorry to use such an overused term) in such an increasing global society with the same companies doing business in all the major countries.
Race Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,159
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From: Chicagoland
Originally Posted by Nine9Sixer
my collleagues with kids tell me that most good private universities in the us today approach $50k a year. and yes, i chose private and will likely encourage my kids to go private cuz i think it's a better overall experience (have no kids currently). in europe (definitely france), the best schools are public and the private schools are for those who couldn't make it into public universities. and yes public education there is not free b/c of taxes, but that's my point, it does tend to equal out, somewhat. i have friends in paris who work in law and finance and they do pretty damn well, almost comparable to the us. friends in london do better than we do here in nyc. even if you're not in some high-income job, the pay's not great there but you get no-cost health benefits (may not last too much longer) and a decent standard of living in terms of hours, etc. what europeans pay for ultimately in terms of taxes is a safety net. if you get sick and/or lose your job, you won't go homeless there. in the states, it's possible to be making half a mil a year, be leveraged with debt, lose your job, and be totally screwed. anyway, my point, especially from the perspective of tax-averse americans, we often think europeans get screwed by taxes. i don't think that's necessarily true. not today and (sorry to use such an overused term) in such an increasing global society with the same companies doing business in all the major countries.
Secondly, you get no better education at a Private School than a good public one. I have one in each right now. You get out of it what you put into it, just like everything else in life.
What if you do not have kids?Is it fair to be forced to pay for the education (or indoctrination) of someone else.?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
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1999Porsche911, icruze, you guys are so right
I love this board, the level of discourse is so much higher than some of the other places!
I love it when people talk about "FREE", education and "FREE" health care...you've got to hand it to the Euros, they hide all of their VAT taxes in the purchase price of everything, a real stealth tax regime.
MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO OWN A Pcar, know full well that there is NO FREE LUNCH! It is somewhat surprising to me that occasionally we get people on this board who are shocked at that notion. Must be inherited I guess!
I love it when people talk about "FREE", education and "FREE" health care...you've got to hand it to the Euros, they hide all of their VAT taxes in the purchase price of everything, a real stealth tax regime.
MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO OWN A Pcar, know full well that there is NO FREE LUNCH! It is somewhat surprising to me that occasionally we get people on this board who are shocked at that notion. Must be inherited I guess!