Chicago Residents File Complaint Against City's Internet Amusement Tax
Six Chicago residents have filed a complaint against the city's amusement tax, which was recently interpreted to include Internet-based streaming services for audio, video and gaming including Netflix, Spotify and XBox Live, the filing said. Chicago’s comptroller ruled in June…
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that the charges paid for accessing these streaming services would attract a 9 percent amusement tax starting Sept. 1. The complaint, filed Sept. 9, alleges the comptroller acted beyond his authority in applying the amusement tax to activities it wasn’t originally intended for. According to the complaint, new taxes can’t be imposed without a city council vote, so the tax on streaming platforms is legally invalid.