Thursday, January 05, 2006

1099's for your MMO Trades?

Terra Nova: The Taxman Cometh?

"It's official: The IRS has its eyes on your virtual gold.

Well, sort of official, anyway. And maybe more like just the corner of one eye. But as Yours Truly reports in the latest issue of Legal Affairs magazine, IRS advisers specializing in the arcane field of barter income recently offered the opinion that any trade of one virtual item for another--gold pieces for thick leather, uber drops for plat--could very well constitute a taxable, income-generating exchange according to the IRS's rules on barter.

I repeat: Not dollars for dragon scales. Not sterling for staves. Every blessed, innocent, RP-consistent trade of one virtual good for another, so long as each good has a determinable fair-market value (and name one that doesn't these days).

..."

This just made me sigh and shake my head...


Okay after reading the entire article, it's not as bad as it sounds... But it wouldn't surprise me, that's the sad thing.

If you're interested, make sure you read the above referenced article, Dragon Slayers or Tax Evaders? It's a pretty interesting and funny read...

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