Chicago introduces 9% "Cloud Tax" for PlayStation Plus/Now Users

[Mavrick]

Looks like anyone living in Chicago will start paying 9% more for Plus and Now thanks to their brilliant "Cloud Tax".

Sony issued a warning to users in Chicago (thanks, USGamer), signalling Chicago's Amusement Tax begins on 14th November, and so will collect nine per cent more from PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now, among other PlayStation subscription services.

The Amusement Tax does not apply to sales of video games. So, if you're in Chicago and buy a game from the PlayStation Store, you don't have to pay extra. Rather, it applies only to rentals (considered streaming or temporary downloads), where the charges are subscription fees, per-event fees or otherwise, which is why Plus and Now are affected.

"The charges paid for such rentals may be subscription fees, per-event fees or otherwise," the law stipulates.

Chicago's Amusement Tax, which was designed to apply to live events but has been successfully extended to online services, is the first of its kind in America. Sony has joined companies such as Netflix and Spotify in collecting the tax, but a number of businesses are challenging it on a legal basis. Apple, for example, has lodged a complaint against the city of Chicago over it.

It's expected PC, Xbox and Nintendo customers will be similarly affected, pending any legal challenge.

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...Js-wavpRQm80Vc