Taxing Shipboard Credits

[Jersey42]

I recently ordered shipboard credits as an onboard gift through the HAL website. Sales tax was added to the credits. Does anyone know why shipboard credits are taxable items? I have never seen this when buying gift cards or gift certificates to restaurants and stores on land.

 

I have not asked HAL, and it is too late now, but I am curious.

[m steve]

the purchase was made in Seattle and they add tax to any sale.

[Johanna7]

As there is no sales tax on board ships that I am aware of, wouldn't it be better to just give the person cash? At least they have not found a way to tax that yet - have they?

 

All this tax is just ridiculous. We in Ontario pay tax on our insurance and next July it will go from 8% Ontario sales tax to the harmonized 13% GST & PST combined tax. No wonder so many Canadians book with US agencies who do not charge all those taxes.

[GayleArc]

My undaerstanding it that it is Florida tax. If you tell them to deliver it at sea you will not pay any tax. Did that with my soda and cocktail cards in Nov. Requested delivery at sea and to my surprise they were in our stateroom when we boarded in FLL.Did not pay any tax.