Wbs Calls For Tax Deductible Broadband

unless the tax cut is in the region of about R800 per month it aint gonna help. just think. with an R800 a month tax break we could all enjoy free "broadband"

but i suppose the chances of that happening are about as good as my kitten giving birth to puppies. (i dont even own a kitten)

Broadband shouldn't be tax-deductible, it should be cheaper in the first place.

I've asked for tax to deductuble for certain telecoms and for particular types of users.

This is the 'Tips For Trevor site: http://www.treasury.gov.za/tipsfortrevor.htm
....Interestingly, for some reason, the above page keeps opening up on a MyADSL page with a MyADSL user logged in.....Does it also do this for anyone else? Which one of you has been hacking this govt site, huh huh?

worked for me debs

This is all well and good, but I simply don't see how this will actually end up as a benefit.

I've repeatedly called in techies to visit my home and do the 'Signal Strength' test for Wireless Broadband and unfortunately, the downward slope of the surrounding terrain doesn't give me enough signal strength for even basic cellphone use unless I stand pressed against the wall (ok, slight exageration, but not much). And this isn't way out of town, but merely between two prominent towers in JHB (Florida / Soweto).

The point is, as my name states, I'm a Gamer. I use the internet for playing online games (EQ, SWG, WOW, COH/COV) etc. I need low latency and enough cap for patches, new expansion downloads etc. Currently I intentionally restrict my monthly usuage to around 1Gb so that I can still play whenever I feel during the month. I HATE not being able to play when I choose to.

Is this what I'm going to get a Tax Deduction on? I've recently been thinking of taking an extended break from online games, which would mean I can save the small fortune I pay Telkom and in the process pay off credit / debt and buy a new laptop and maybe the PS3 when it comes out later this year. No Tax Deduction required for that and it will still help the economy without enriching iBurst / Sentech or anyone else. To me, this makes better sence, but then I don't have the choice to play anymore

If someone in power seriously wants to stimulate growth in our economy and spur the ICT Industry to become competitive in the global arena, please get the monthly ADSL line rentals abolished. The additional uptake will cover the 'lost revenue'. But this will be useless if Telkom et al. don't actually upgrade and maintain the local loop and make international access cheaper.

Just my annoyed two cents

I wonder if Mr Mtshali got the idea from this forum as we have discussed this issue previously.
I hope he is serious and that he didn't just e-mail the tips for trevor e-mail address like everyone else but actually contacted Mr Manuel or the department personally.

I am not that sceptical. I think there is a chance that Mr Manuel will do the right thing. (Here's hoping)

PS. IF you don't want to use that webform then the e-mail address is tipsfortrevor (at) treasury.gov.za

Whilst we appreciate the fact that a tax break on Telecommunications and Broadband would be a welcome addition, should Mr Mtshali not rather concentrate on rolling out a broadband product that is competitive on a global scale as opposed to cloning what is already offered in this country?

A lot more could be saved (and made) if prices were dropped and the products made more in line with their international counterparts.

Let's see, tax saving on R 600 monthly iBurst payment @ 18% tax bracket (unlikely any of us fall into that category, but this is hypothetical) would mean a right royal saving of R 108 per month.

WOW!

You took the words right out of my mouth

Debbie2 said:

Broadband shouldn't be tax-deductible, it should be cheaper in the first place.

Click to expand...

If they get the tax break right before cutting of telkom's profits on broadband, I'll eat my hat.

I say that we propose Trevor Manuel to be the minister of communications!!

Seriously, if the ministry of communication was run as efficiently as Trevor's ministry, I think the ICT sector in SA would be among the best in the world. But to our "luck", we got the toad that is Poison Ivy