EU kills a plan that would have raised taxes on mobile phones by up to 14%
By Stefan Constantinescu on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 at 12:39 PM PST In Government
Recently proposed legislation in the EU that would have seen mobile phones reclassified as “multi-functional devices” and would have raised taxes by as much as 14% has been killed. Mobile phones shipping with TV receivers, would have received an increased tax of 14%, and mobile with GPS functionality would have become 3% more expensive. A Nokia (NYSE: NOK) spokesperson said “Nokia is very pleased that the Commission is taking this view and that the uncertainty surrounding the issue is now being removed.”
“We need more products and businesses free of tariffs, not less, and therefore today’s decision and the backing that was achieved is a very positive signal,” Swedish Trade Minister Ewa Bjorling said in a statement.
This doesn’t change the fact that a Nokia E71 is $300 on Amazon.com, yet in Finland the same device is 370 EUR or $518.63.
Where is that extra $220 going? Do you live in a country in the EU? What does a Nokia E71 cost you?
€299.- in Germany at amazon.de, tax and shipping included. I guess the US price doesn’t have taxes and shipping included?
If you order online, you do not pay tax, unless the warehouse the item shipped from is in the same state as you. Amazon also gives you free shipping if you order is above $50 usually, but I could be wrong on that. Still, 299 EUR in Germany is about $140 (84.71 EUR) more expensive than in the USA.
In Bulgaria the cheapest price online is $350.