Lumber tax a knot for retailers (Sneaky New CA Tax)

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 1/11/13 | Heather Somerville

[ProtectOurFreedom]

California's new 1% lumber tax has cost lumber yards thousands of dollars...raising the ire of retailers struggling to bounce back from the housing slump.

...the new law because it is full of contradictions, hidden costs and ambiguities. The tax applies to lumber and products that are at least 10% wood, although the rules are murky and lumber yards have varied interpretations of what should be taxed. The list of exclusions and caveats is numerous. Doors and moldings are not taxed, but wood shingles are. Fencing is taxed, unless the fence is made from remanufactured wood. Firewood is not taxed, although all sizes and types of lumber are.

The state passed the bill last year in a last-minute rush that allowed for little public comment; with a two-thirds majority to pass the law, there was no need to put it to voters, and most customers and contractors didn't know about the tax until Jan. 1.

...some store owners are making their own rules. Brian Ettlin, GM of Economy Lumber, is asking other stores for advice. Ettlin isn't getting much help from the Board of Equalization. "It's hugely unorganized," said George Runner, board member representing District 2. "...we know what is being taxed."

The tax affects 200,000 contractors and stores. The tax comes on top of the quarter-percent sales tax increase voters approved with Proposition 30

...retailers have to spend an average of $4,500 to upgrade their computers -- Executive Director Ken Dunham heard of one business spending $40,000. The state will reimburse retailers $250 for the upgrades, an offer stores have scoffed at. The Board of Equalization has requested $995,000 from the state to cover the cost of collecting the tax and wants to hire four new employees.

[Bikkuri]

Any idea when Part 2 will be on DvD or BR?
Pretty much only 1 way to see it on this side of the pond :p

[SledgeCS]

I am firmly convinced that if any government agency decided that they needed to create a law on how to boil water on the stove they would be unable to keep said law under 100 pages in length.
It would probably need detail exactly the type of pan to use and variations of pan usage depending on the stove, gas (Natural Gas or Propane), electric (Direct of Inductive) and lets not forget about the solar method to keep the tree huggers happy.
The law would have to include the proper degree that the water would need to obtain to meet the government definition of boiling, it would have to include elevation, specific gravity, and most likely other details that only a government agency could deem important.
The law would also to detail the amount of taxes to charge to offset the climate change damage done by boiling the water. This would include the proper amount of taxes depending on the power source utilized and the green house tax needed to offset the release of the water vapor from the boiling water as water vapor does more damage to the environment than carbon dioxide.
And lastly the law would have to detail the vast amount of regulations pertaining to safety, proper disposal and clean up methods.

Common persons method:
1. Put desired amount of water in a pan.
2. Put pan on stove top and turn on the burner.
3. Do not watch pan as this will prevent water from boiling.
4. Water is bolling when a large amount of bubbles rising to the surface. This is what people refer to as a "rolling boil."
5. Use the now boiling water for what it was being boiled for.

I was going to use a /SARC tag but with all of the laws and regulations being forced upon us today, I am sure some politician is working on this.

[Chode]

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[Bikkuri]

Sadly, I have no credit/debit card (actually I prefer not to have them), so my ability is limited to online or a local store/dvd rental.. I don’t think it will show up in a theater nor a dvd rental here... :p

Thank you for the effort though :)

[Chode]

one of the sellers is Walmart and Barnes and Nobel is another... release date is 2/19/13

do wither of them have outlets in Japan?

[ThomasThomas]

Are wood shingles still sold in California?

[Bikkuri]

Sadly no. There is a possibility that Costco may have it... but I highly doubt it, they carry very little in the book/dvd dept.... and what they do have is usually toddler ‘toons.

[freds6girlies]

They are. Mostly for house siding or decorative purposes. Not for roofing so much any more. Especially in fire prone areas they discourage wood roofing. At least in N. Cal.

[Smokin' Joe]

The tax applies to lumber and products that are at least 10% wood,

Hmmmm... Undigestible cellulose. AKA "fiber".

Does the tax include paper, too?

Lots of possible "unintended consequences" there.