Hello Readers,

The state Dept. of Revenue has requested amendments to the digital goods tax that passed last legislative session and went into effect July 2009.

This is the new law that applies sales tax to the sale of certain digital products and digital automated services.

There was confusion over services like cloud computing, data storage and advertising services that are clarified in this new bill, among other provisions.

Please review the attached bill and have your tax person take a look as well.  There is a public hearing scheduled for next Friday, January 22 in the House Finance Committee at 2 p.m.

If you want to know more about the legislature, legislative hearings and proposed legislation, go to www.leg.wa.gov.

WTIA maintains a bill tracking system on our website.  Check out a few of the proposals we are following:  http://capwiz.com/washingtontechnology/issues/bills/?type=ST

In addition to tax legislation WTIA is very involved with K-12 and higher education policy.  We are working to improve K-12 and promote more STEM graduates from our state's colleges and universities.  Both areas will see serious budget cuts this session that will impact math and science curriculum, STEM programs in middle and high schools and higher education capacity and financial aid.

Please contact us if you are concerned about the digital goods bill or any other topic of legislation in Olympia.  Lmcmurran@washingtontechnology.org is the best way to reach us.