European VAT tax goes into effect

A news item on Sony Online's official sites for EverQuest, PlanetSide, and Star Wars Galaxies has a reminder that a value-added tax has gone into effect that will be added on top of its subscription fees ($12.95 to $14.99 per month, depending on the game) for those who live in European Union countries. Recent changes in EU tax laws require that taxes be applied for downloadable games and online services at the point of consumption, that is, in the country where subscribers reside. The 17.5 percent tax will be applied to residents of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.