KFI:
The California Franchise Tax Board is seeking public comment on it’s proposal for computing taxes on commercial space transportation companies.
While the private spaceflight industry is still in its infancy, it has grand plans for the future. The people at the tax board say they’re ready to handle the space business once it really takes off.
The rules apply to any California company that generates at least half of the money it takes in from “space transportation.”
“Space transportation” is defined as “the movement of people or property 62 miles above the surface of the Earth.”
62 miles above the surface of the Earth is recognized around the world as the line that separates Earth from space.
The tax rules would apply to companies that use California as a launchpad, not to California companies launching out of Texas or Florida.
If you get too cold I’ll tax the heat, if you take a walk I’ll tax your feet.
if it moves, tax it!
So I guess they won’t be launching any spaceflights out of California any time soon. Cali’s loss and Florida and Texas’s gain. When are they going to tax stupidity in California?
Can they tax the Air Force for any of the rockets that they launch out of Vandenburg AFB?
If they are using a military base (Vandenburg) wouldn’t the Fed have something to say about this?
California didn’t get the memo, rocket launches are going in international waters. Liquid hydrogen and oxygen as fuel, the ocean surface is filled with it.
Here’s a good video on reusable rockets with ideas to save money on space travel in the future. If you’re into it, sit down with a cup of coffee and enjoy the speech impediment 🙂
@geoff the aardvark
Wouldn’t that be CA property tax?
Next they’ll want to track how many times a satellite flies directly over California and tax the mileage.
If they tax it, Move!
Private space flight is in its infancy. They are just trying to smother it in its crib.
Robert A. Heinlein and Ray Bradbury both residents of California couldn’t in their wildest imaginations even begin to realize how stupid Cal. has become since their deaths. PITY! California used to be a beautiful state, now a lot of it (not all) is turning into a third world shit hole. It’s no wonder that parts of Cal. want to secede from the rest of the state
Geoff, I strongly suspect Bradbury was one of them, while Heinlein definitely was not.
Tell California they better get very, very generous with government incentives or they’ll move somewhere else. Should end this nonsense in a day or so.
Today: “Hey. Let’s tax the snot out of this new industry.”
Tomorrow: “Why aren’t any companies in this new industry locating here?”
The salaries of all elected and appointed officials should be taxed at the 75% rate.
California is on the verge of having unhindered access to personal and cooperate bank accounts. I’m hearing some real horror stories about Levy Notices one day and the funds taken the next. Caused by poor accounting by the State Franchise Tax Board. The only thing thing any government does efficiently is collect your money.
@mike May 6, 2017 at 8:19 am
And if it doesn’t move, license it for regular inspections!
I hope the companies tell CA to go pound sand and either refuse to pay an unlawful tax or better yet, just move out of the shithole.
Dated 2 years ago, but damn!:
“Roughly 9,000 California companies moved their headquarters or diverted projects to out-of-state locations in the last seven years, and Dallas-Fort Worth has been a prime beneficiary of the Golden State’s “hostile” business environment.”
Ever seen an entire state commit suicide? You’re looking at it.