Cell phone surprise

Time to upgrade your cell phone? Think you've found a great deal on a discounted phone by renewing your plan for another two years? Well, be aware that in California, you will pay sales tax on the FULL RETAIL VALUE of the phone, not the discount price.

Even though the tax code states that sales tax is based on "the gross receipts of any retailer from the sale of all tangible personal property sold at retail -- in other words, the amount the retailer received for the product -- Regulation 1585 says that when you get a discounted price by signing up for a service plan, then sales tax is based on the non-discounted price.

For heavens's sake, nobody walks in to the Verizon store and pays full price for a phone without getting a plan, and everyone knows it. The phones are priced accordingly.  Some people have even reported paying more in taxes than they did for the phone.

The state, however, argues thusly: if you were to go in and purchase a data plan without buying a phone, they would not discount the monthly rate for the plan, which "proves" that the plan does not subsidize the cost of the phone. But you pay tax on the plan as well, so this is totally bullshit. According to SFGate, the state rakes in over $181 million annually on this little gambit.

See also:  http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Beware-California-s-hidden-cell-phone-tax-2349249.php

How the heck can the state be going broke?

How to get a building permit in Monterey

Today's lesson in Monterey government: Building Permits.

If you're doing any sort of renovation project, or replacing any major systems like the furnace or roof, you're going to need a building permit. A permit is required for pretty much anything you might need to do, which I suppose is the same everywhere. You can have your contractor pull the permit for you, or, as the homeowner, you can do it yourself.

I'm in need of a furnace replacement permit, and my contractor wants $90 per hour for his time to pull the permit, so I decided it might be interesting to do it myself. Here's what I learned.

Lawbreaker

Oh dear, I think I might have broken the law in Carmel. I didn't know....honestly.  When a normal, everyday activity is against the law, how is one supposed to know? It wasn't well publicized, there weren't any warnings in the hotel, no signs on the street anywhere,  nobody said anything when I went out.  Ignorance of the law is no excuse, so... I did it. I wore high heels on the street.

According to Carmel-By-The-Sea Municipal Code 8.44.020, you must obtain a permit to wear heels more than two inches in height and less than one square inch of bearing surface. Should've gone with the wedges instead.

Prop 8 is a goner

DOMA is dead.

Congratulations to all the happy couples in Monterey and throughout the state who are now able to wed.

Monterey County has not updated its website to address this specifically. The ruling came down too late on Friday for any licenses to be issued anyway since the office closes at 4:30.

Edited to add: Monterey County has started issuing licenses to same sex couples as of Monday, and weddings are happening. (Source: Monterey Herald)