General

Nintendo

Lying where you live so you can save tax on the eShop

I live in Ontario, where there is a 13% sales tax in the eShop.
But I have my 3DS saying that I live in Alberta when I am buying a game on the eShop so I only get taxed 5%.
[i]For the Mii game (and other games that use location) I have that I live in Ontario.[/i]

[b]Do you guys do it?[/b]
This isn't my first time doing this but a friend saw me do this when I was buying the new Kirby game and made a big deal that I was lying.
Has anyone ever got in trouble for doing this?

May 8, 2014

7 Comments • Newest first

Frostilyte

[quote=strenling]There shouldn't be a tax on the E-shop. There's no government to give the money to with virtual merchandising. It's just more money going directly to Nintendo's pocket.[/quote]

The Canadian government recently (2014) made it a law that all businesses located in Canada have to pay taxes for their online sales. Hence the sales tax for an online purchase. I believe the B.C. Nintendo office pays the government for the Canadian eshop sales.

OT: I'm from Ontario as well and I just suck it up and pay the 13%. I limit my eshop purchases to games that can't be bought off the shelf though, so I don't get destroyed on the taxes as badly that way.

Reply May 9, 2014
DolceNGabbana

[quote=strenling]There shouldn't be a tax on the E-shop. There's no government to give the money to with virtual merchandising. It's just more money going directly to Nintendo's pocket.[/quote]

If the company raises a tax invoice (which it should, as that's the only way to show the Value Added Tax (or some other tax), that tax is still payable to the government, as it's simply collecting it from you and paying it to the government.

Reply May 8, 2014
cookies21

unless you use a credit card

Reply May 8, 2014
strenling

There shouldn't be a tax on the E-shop. There's no government to give the money to with virtual merchandising. It's just more money going directly to Nintendo's pocket.

Reply May 8, 2014
Sanic

In Georgia we don't get taxed either.

Reply May 8, 2014
Ohwellz

Here in cali we get no %tax in the eShop o.o

Reply May 8, 2014
Shir

Welp, I really do live in Alberta, so yes. Yes, I do. And so do all my other friends.

Reply May 8, 2014