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SDAVE

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jun 16, 2007
3,574
601
Nowhere
Tax is killing me...anyway to not have Apple force me to pay Uncle Sam?
 

Osarkon

macrumors 68020
Aug 30, 2006
2,161
4
Wales
No I don't think so, tax on purchases is still valid even when you're a student. I don't understand why myself, seeing as we're supposed to be exempt. But that's the unfortunate truth.
 

siurpeeman

macrumors 603
Dec 2, 2006
6,318
23
the OC
you could buy it in a state that doesn't have sales tax like oregon. short of that, i can't think of a way.
 

roland.g

macrumors 604
Apr 11, 2005
7,414
3,153
I suppose you would like Apple to pay you to own one of their computers.
 

bruno9

macrumors newbie
Jan 31, 2007
3
0
at Home
Can you wait until August?

Dude:

From August 3-5, the following states offer complete or partial exemption from sales tax on purchases of computers, peripherals, and/or software:

  • Alabama
  • Georgia (also 02-Aug)
  • Missouri
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
Exemption amounts, qualifying purchases, and authorized retailers vary by state.
 

volvoben

macrumors 6502
Feb 7, 2007
262
0
nowhere fast
Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon do not have sales tax. there are sales tax free days in some states, but they usually have all sorts of restrictions (i think $1000 was the limit for one state).

So you'd either have to travel to one of those states, have your purchase shipped to someone in one of those states, or have it shipped to a state with no physical apple presence. I assume apple is like any other online retailer (amazon etc.) in that they only charge sales tax in states where they have a physical office or store etc.

Amazon often has rebates that are about equal to edu discounts btw.
 

CANEHDN

macrumors 6502a
Dec 12, 2005
855
0
Eagle Mountain, UT
Just because your a student doesn't mean your exempt from taxes. Apple has to pay taxes on the product so you're going to have to. Unless you are under Tax Exempt status.
 

jdechko

macrumors 601
Jul 1, 2004
4,230
325
Dude:

From August 3-5, the following states offer complete or partial exemption from sales tax on purchases of computers, peripherals, and/or software:

  • Alabama
  • Georgia (also 02-Aug)
  • Missouri
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
Exemption amounts, qualifying purchases, and authorized retailers vary by state.

For the '06 tax free holiday in GA, the limit on computers was $1500 for the entire purchase. And it's an all or nothing type thing (so it's not like the first $1500 would be tax free and you'd pay on the rest).

This is seriously your best bet, though.
 

Zeke

macrumors 6502a
Oct 5, 2002
507
1
Greenville, SC
Only way I've found is if your school has a store and carries Macs then they'll be at (or better) than Apple's education discount. If you then ship it out of the state it'll be tax free.
 

iToaster

macrumors 68000
May 3, 2007
1,742
0
In front of my MacBook Pro
Well, it looks like you'll either have to be tax exempt, or in one of those states. If you think about it, discounts will usually be good enough to alleviate sales tax ($2,725 for a 15" MBP in NY, I just take my dad and he gets a 10% discount, thus I pay ~$2,475). So either find a way to get tax exempt status, buy it from that one store, go to a state without taxes/tax free days, or realize that it isn't that big of a deal with the taxes.
 

Grimace

macrumors 68040
Feb 17, 2003
3,568
226
with Hamburglar.
I don't understand why myself, seeing as we're supposed to be exempt. But that's the unfortunate truth.

Non-profit organizations and charities are considered tax-exempt, not the individuals affiliated with them. School purchases (by the school) are tax-exempt.

Since Apple has a retail presence in almost every state, you have to pay sales tax, which sucks. There are some states with no sales tax in general (like NH) and there are also some tax-free days around August to spur back-to-school sales. Purchases are usually limited to $2500 per item and exclude "luxury goods" like jewelry.
 

andrewaclt

macrumors newbie
Jun 16, 2007
9
0
Dude:

From August 3-5, the following states offer complete or partial exemption from sales tax on purchases of computers, peripherals, and/or software:

  • Alabama
  • Georgia (also 02-Aug)
  • Missouri
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
Exemption amounts, qualifying purchases, and authorized retailers vary by state.

In North Carolina, the limit is $3,500 on any computer related product. It's when I plan on buying my first MBP. :)
 

dmaxdmax

macrumors 6502a
Oct 26, 2006
762
173
In North Carolina, the limit is $3,500 on any computer related product. It's when I plan on buying my first MBP. :)

Awesome! If purchased on-line is the tax charged (not charged in this case) on the date ordered or shipped? I'd hate to buy on the 3rd and get the CC billed on the 6th.

dMax
Davidson, NC
 

Detlev_73

macrumors 6502
Jul 20, 2004
279
0
Roswell, GA
For the '06 tax free holiday in GA, the limit on computers was $1500 for the entire purchase. And it's an all or nothing type thing (so it's not like the first $1500 would be tax free and you'd pay on the rest).

This is seriously your best bet, though.

Yes ma'am! This is THE most awesome thing since sliced bread. So if you live in any of these states, take advantage of it! It's awesome!!! New iMac here I come! :apple:
 

killerrobot

macrumors 68020
Jun 7, 2007
2,239
3
127.0.0.1
Tax is killing me...anyway to not have Apple force me to pay Uncle Sam?

You know, I don't know why none of us thought of this solution before--Hear me out.

Tax isn't your problem. Your problem is the cost of the computer.
If you don't have to pay for the computer, there are no taxes to be paid.;)
So you know...just..."gank"/"borrow permanently"/"five finger discount"... total tax problem solved.

It was staring us right in the eyes. Life could be so simple:rolleyes:
 

wako

macrumors 65816
Jun 6, 2005
1,404
1
You can always buy the notebook during the Holiday season. Many states have a period of time (usually one week or a weekend) where they dont charge sales tax. You have to look up your state though if you are even in the United States....
 

dmaxdmax

macrumors 6502a
Oct 26, 2006
762
173
For N.C. purchasers - The tax bulletin states that the tax holiday applies to internet based sales as long as the seller receives the CC number and the purchaser receives an order number during the appropriate period. It doesn't matter when the item ships of if it's on backorder etc.

Other states may differ.

I'm NOT a tax guy - don't place your trust in me.

http://www.dornc.com/taxes/sales/salestax_holiday.html
 

jdechko

macrumors 601
Jul 1, 2004
4,230
325
In North Carolina, the limit is $3,500 on any computer related product. It's when I plan on buying my first MBP. :)

I smell a road trip. Plus, my wife has family in NC, so the money spent getting there wouldn't be wasted and offset the amount that I would have saved in tax anyway, or something like that. I'll have to work out the details when I propose this idea to my wife.

Yes ma'am!
Not sure if this was directed solely at my, but I'm a guy. ;)
 
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