It is a scam if you pay tax twice. Where I am the tax rate is 15%, if i get phone that is 0$ on contract and do not have to pay any sales tax.
where I am, the plans where you get phone subsidies cost around 20-25$ per month more so the government gets 72$-90$ in EXTRA tax revenue on these larger monthly bills over a 2 year contract. I would be paying tax twice if I paid 75$ tax upfront on a 0$ (500$ unsubsidized) and another 72$-90$ over 2 years in extra monthly tax.
As I said in my first response, if you do not pay tax on your monthly bill, than this does not really apply.
40$/month x24= $960 sales tax after 2 years is $144 (without free phone)
with free phone 60$/month x24 =1440 sales tax after 2 years is $216 (with free phone)
The extra tax is 72$ with the subsidized phone so if you pay 75$ tax upfront you are effectively paying tax twice which sounds like a scam to me.
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Some people have zero brains
