Property tax on camera gear

Rheinfels Castle sits watch over the town of St. Goar and is one of the largest castles of the middle Rhine, so if you are on a river cruise, rest assured, you won’t miss it.

Built in the 13th century to protect the St. Goar tax collectors. Is there any evidence that they maintained the waterway back in the 13th century? Be sure to cite your sources.

Wilt wrote in post #19375088
Rheinfels Castle sits watch over the town of St. Goar and is one of the largest castles of the middle Rhine, so if you are on a river cruise, rest assured, you won’t miss it.

Built in the 13th century to protect the St. Goar tax collectors. Is there any evidence that they maintained the waterway back in the 13th century? Be sure to cite your sources.

Do you have any evidence they collected taxes from the vessels on the river?
The links below don't mention collecting taxes, but suggest it was a strong fortress until the French Revolutionary wars.
https://en.wikipedia.o​rg/wiki/Rheinfels_Cast​le
https://www.romantisch​er-rhein.de/en/a-burgruine-rheinfels
https://exploringrworl​d.com …ounts-battles-explosions/
https://www.spottinghi​story.com …5/rheinfels-castle-ruins/

In any case, does what happened in the 1200's matter much now? The reply and links I gave are appropriate to ships and boats using today's infrastructure.

Wilt wrote in post #19375049
Purely rhetorical questions

• I'd like to know just how the taxes imposed on ships moving commerce on Rhine or Danube rivers imparted any 'value' to the cargo vessels?
  
• Today, what 'value' comes to the private owner of an automobile or boat or aircraft, from the 'in lieu' tax imposed? Gas tax pays for road maintenance, in theory. So where does the auto registration tax go? and what does a boat owner or aircraft owner get, as any 'benefit'?
  

"Just 'cuz the the robber baron controlling that part of the river could."
"Just 'cuz the state can make you pay."

Wilt wrote in post #19375049
Purely rhetorical questions

• I'd like to know just how the taxes imposed on ships moving commerce on Rhine or Danube rivers imparted any 'value' to the cargo vessels?
  
• Today, what 'value' comes to the private owner of an automobile or boat or aircraft, from the 'in lieu' tax imposed? Gas tax pays for road maintenance, in theory. So where does the auto registration tax go? and what does a boat owner or aircraft owner get, as any 'benefit'?
  

"Just 'cuz the the robber baron controlling that part of the river could."
"Just 'cuz the state can make you pay."

I could argue that registration of vehicles on the public roads is a public good, but the administration must be paid for in some way, and a direct levy on registration is a fair way to pay for it.

The same is true of management of air and water traffic...public goods paid for by registration fees by those who make use of them.

But there is no public good to "regulating" my inventory of picture frames.

RDKirk wrote in post #19375097
I could argue that registration of vehicles on the public roads is a public good, but the administration must be paid for in some way, and a direct levy on registration is a fair way to pay for it.

The same is true of management of air and water traffic...public goods paid for by registration fees by those who make use of them.

But there is no public good to "regulating" my inventory of picture frames.

It is my understanding that (in CA) business inventory is EXEMPT from inclusion in calculation of business property tax (when value exceeds $100k).
What gets taxed are computers, office furniture, cameras and other equipment for engaging in the business of photograph.
The business' vehicles fall under the License and Registration costs, so are not included again in business property tax.

I used 13th century Rhine as an example of historic taxes taken simply because they could take it from river traffic. Not at all trying to justify or discredit the necessity of funds used for maintenance reasons today, where the common good of society is a necessity even when the individual has doubts about his/her taxes paid.

There, it wasn’t so hard, was it?

There was taxation in the 13th century along the Rhine
https://www.medievalis​ts.net …pper-middle-rhine-valley/
https://www.medievalis​ts.net …ntary-monopoly-revisited/

"The Rhine River was the major commercial thoroughfare in Western Europe during this time, and Rhine customs and tolls were a major source of revenue for the Holy Roman Empire. "

Wilt wrote in post #19375106
There, it wasn’t so hard, was it?

There was taxation in the 13th century along the Rhine
https://www.medievalis​ts.net …pper-middle-rhine-valley/
https://www.medievalis​ts.net …ntary-monopoly-revisited/

"The Rhine River was the major commercial thoroughfare in Western Europe during this time, and Rhine customs and tolls were a major source of revenue for the Holy Roman Empire. "

So what does that have to do with the taxes in the USA today?

the discussion is currently about taxation, and some folks think all tax should net them some benefit. I presented historical example of a tax whose only benefit was the ability to proceed on a journey. Appicability? anywhere in the world. Why limit it to US, when we have an international list of participants on POTN.

Wilt wrote in post #19375115
the discussion is currently about taxation, and some folks think all tax should net them some benefit. I presented historical example of a tax whose only benefit was the ability to proceed on a journey. Appicability? anywhere in the world. Why limit it to US, when we have an international list of participants on POTN.

Mainly because the discussion has been about how different US states tax property?
But is is your prerogative to post it.

Wilt wrote in post #19375049
Purely rhetorical questions

• I'd like to know just how the taxes imposed on ships moving commerce on Rhine or Danube rivers imparted any 'value' to the cargo vessels?
  
• Today, what 'value' comes to the private owner of an automobile or boat or aircraft, from the 'in lieu' tax imposed? Gas tax pays for road maintenance, in theory. So where does the auto registration tax go? and what does a boat owner or aircraft owner get, as any 'benefit'?
  

"Just 'cuz the the robber baron controlling that part of the river could."
"Just 'cuz the state can make you pay."

The "value" of a tax isn't necessarily a benefit to the individual taxpayer. Some taxes make sense as a way to recoup a governmental unit's expense connected with the item taxed. For instance, with auto registration, heavier cars wear out roads faster than lighter ones. But some taxes, as you imply, are just money grabs.

Wilt wrote in post #19375103
It is my understanding that (in CA) business inventory is EXEMPT from inclusion in calculation of business property tax (when value exceeds $100k).

I've already pointed out that I'm in Texas. Inventory is taxed as personal property in Texas.

I'm not sure what your point is. My point is that the business personal property tax is just a money grab that has no justification as a support to the public good.

What exactly is your point? Something different from that?

RDKirk wrote in post #19375191
I've already pointed out that I'm in Texas. Inventory is taxed as personal property in Texas.

I'm not sure what your point is. My point is that the business personal property tax is just a money grab that has no justification as a support to the public good.

What exactly is your point? Something different from that?

I merely was pointing out what was included in calculaion of business property in CA.

I have no 'point'...I have cited examples where the 'tax' is merely a money grab. I have cited examples where the tax is a benefit to society. And I cited examples were the tax benefits the individual. All three profiles of 'taxation' (no benefit, indirect benefit, direct benefit) that exist and have existed in history and today.

The bottom line is it a tax that a small businessman needs to aware of, in a lot of case's a small business may not have any tax liability but simply failing to file the form can result in a monetary penalty and no one needs that sort of a problem.

As to what the state does with the money is not relevant, just be aware of the requirement and stay out of trouble.

There are a lot of mistakes businessman can make, but one of the most dangerous ones is running afoul of the tax collector.

Channel One wrote in post #19375362
As to what the state does with the money is not relevant, just be aware of the requirement and stay out of trouble.

That's good practical advice, but it doesn't cover everyone's concerns. What the state does is relevant if you care about fairness in tax laws. Is the state hitting small businesses and advantaging some other group of potential taxpayers, perhaps a group with more connections and more clout? Do its laws help or hurt the economy? Are they based on reality or on legislators' stereotypes about businesses? The more you learn, the more you may be driven to speak up at city-council meetings or write to your elected legislators.

Channel One wrote in post #19375362
The bottom line is it a tax that a small businessman needs to aware of, in a lot of case's a small business may not have any tax liability but simply failing to file the form can result in a monetary penalty and no one needs that sort of a problem.

As to what the state does with the money is not relevant, just be aware of the requirement and stay out of trouble.

There are a lot of mistakes businessman can make, but one of the most dangerous ones is running afoul of the tax collector.

Better advice would be to get yourself a tax accountant. The laws change way too often and keeping up with them is a full time job. A tax accountant does that as their business and is linked into all of the proper channels. Trying to navigate tax law yourself is liable to get you into bigger trouble. Plus, it's more complicated than trying to put THIS together, all of it... At one time..

OhLook wrote in post #19375404
That's good practical advice, but it doesn't cover everyone's concerns. What the state does is relevant if you care about fairness in tax laws. Is the state hitting small businesses and advantaging some other group of potential taxpayers, perhaps a group with more connections and more clout? Do its laws help or hurt the economy? Are they based on reality or on legislators' stereotypes about businesses? The more you learn, the more you may be driven to speak up at city-council meetings or write to your elected legislators.

And that's a topic best left for another forum..