Maryland Creative Tax - HB448

Hi all -

I just wanted to do my part to spread the word about a local issue that is causing quite a stir in the advertising and creative community. Recently, House Bill 448 was introduced in the Maryland General Assembly. If passed, HB 448 would alter the definition of “taxable service” under the sales and use tax to impose the 5% tax on thirty-one (31) new services (many are already taxed) bringing the total forty-three (43) services, including:

• Public Relations
• Business Consulting
• Art Services
• Photographic Services
• Direct Mail Services

So I'm sure you're asking yourself at this point, "what does it all mean?" Basically, it has several undesirable effects on the creative community, including:

• Increase the cost of creative services in Maryland.
• Reduce supplier sales as a result of increased cost.
• Decrease employment as a result of reduced supplier sales.
• Cost thousands of creative professionals their jobs.

For me, the worst part is that this makes hiring an in-house agency or design team even more attractive for clients. Yikes. So, please visit the Web site below to learn more, and by all means, GET INVOLVED. We have to stop this now, before the General Assembly unleashes it.

http://www.fightthecreativetax.com/

Garret