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Dredwulf60
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Joined: 07 Jan 2016
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 Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 11:47 am Post subject: Taxes |
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The Empire is a government.
Governments collect taxes.
Has anyone thought about how taxation affects player characters in your game?
Revenue is collected from things like starship permits, bounty fees and the like.
Do you have anything like a sales tax? Do characters who own property pay any kind of property tax?
Also, how does your finance system work; do your characters have their funds electronically or as a physical currency?
In my galaxy, I try to keep things old school in that most currency is physical. You can go to a banking institution and give them your physical currency then travel to the other side of the galaxy and attend another branch to withdraw physical currency....and pay a small percentage for the luxury.
Or you can cart your spacers chests full of physical currency and risk piracy on the way.
I imagine the empire would perhaps tax the financial transaction...? |
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CRMcNeill
Director of Engineering
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Location: Redding System, California Sector, on the I-5 Hyperspace Route.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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One possible option...
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garhkal
Sovereign Protector
Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 14212
Location: Reynoldsburg, Columbus, Ohio.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: Taxes |
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| Dredwulf60 wrote: | The Empire is a government.
Governments collect taxes.
Has anyone thought about how taxation affects player characters in your game?
Revenue is collected from things like starship permits, bounty fees and the like. |
Yes i have. Some systems charge say a 2% tax on imported goods, others 3-5%. Some charge for exported goods too. For permits, its a flat 5% tax (10% if in a rush).
| Dredwulf60 wrote: | | Do you have anything like a sales tax? Do characters who own property pay any kind of property tax? |
Sales tax, yes. 5% is the average on most regular planets, shifting to 10% for deep imperial ones, and nothing to 5% for fringer. Properties are different as the base cost includes property tax, but that's not a yearly thing (like here on earth). And generally, most groups have just rented, not purchased.
| Dredwulf60 wrote: |
Also, how does your finance system work; do your characters have their funds electronically or as a physical currency? |
Most have an even mix of cred sticks/cards, and physical credits..
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CRMcNeill
Director of Engineering
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Location: Redding System, California Sector, on the I-5 Hyperspace Route.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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Some thoughts from the RAW...
On page 60 of Tramp Freighters, it is mentioned that the Empire taxes the planet Yelsain in the form of a 20% tariff on all incoming and outgoing trade items. This is because the well-armed and extremely anti-Empire locals have refused to pay taxes, and the Empire has decided that taking a cut from imports and exports is more cost-effective than trying to suppress a well-armed and fearless populace.
The Star Galleon Emperor's Will, featured in the final mission of The Far Orbit Project, is assigned to the Imperial Taxation Bureau, with the cargo of precious metals, minerals and spice being tax revenue. Considering the Star Galleon is basically a space-going armored car, it makes sense...
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.
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Bren
Vice Admiral
Joined: 19 Aug 2010
Posts: 3868
Location: Maryland, USA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:52 am Post subject: Re: Taxes |
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| Dredwulf60 wrote: | | Do you have anything like a sales tax? |
Probably, but it sensibly is already included in the price like the price of a movie ticket or things purchased in Europe with VAT. Tacking on an additional 7 3/4 percent sales tax is a bookkeeping exercise that I happily avoid.
| Quote: | | Also, how does your finance system work; do your characters have their funds electronically or as a physical currency? |
1. Credit sticks or cards in two flavors (one that requires some type of authentication and one that does not).
2. Credit vouchers - these are similar to a real world gift card and typically are only valid for or at some participating company. Usually these were used either to pay for a stay at a hotel or a trip on a galactic luxury liner or for the purchase of items at a particular place of business.
3. Physical cash in the form of coins of various denominations.
4. Electronic funds transfers can only be done from one participating bank to another. Such a transfer requires some agreed form of authentication.*
* Green Squad, the current group of PCs, captured and ransomed the Moff in the adventure, "Tests of the Godking." As a result they needed a numbered bank account with a bank that was effectively a Star Wars version of an off-shore or old style Swiss Bank. They found one at the Fifth-Third Syndicate Bank of Palanhi in the Fakir Sector; Manager: Abdigera Whitbro-human (m). Accessing Account Number: FT999RHG001 requires a retinal scan from one of the three original PCs. |
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Tupteq
Commander
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Posts: 285
Location: Rzeszów, Poland
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| Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 8:21 am Post subject: Re: Taxes |
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Until recently I didn't pay much attention to taxes. I assumed they are included in items' prices or paid by other side of transaction. But currently I'm GMing a campaign in TFA times and First Order collects Tribute for Restoration of the Empire (5%) from most of transactions, which makes my players really mad 
They recently received 1000c of insurance (gross), but they saw only 950c (net).
Also, import/export fees often come into play because my players often work as smugglers.
About currency - I'm assuming credits work just like cash, without making problems with getting change etc. I don't have much of experience with banking system so far (my players don't trust anyone). |
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Dredwulf60
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| Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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As a follow-up;
Is there a need for money-laundering under the Empire? |
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CRMcNeill
Director of Engineering
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Location: Redding System, California Sector, on the I-5 Hyperspace Route.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Dredwulf60 wrote: | As a follow-up;
Is there a need for money-laundering under the Empire? |
Depends how fungible the monetary equivalent is. Obviously, any sort of coinage or credit is going to be more difficult to conceal than some sort of gem or precious metal.
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.
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garhkal
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Joined: 17 Jul 2005
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Location: Reynoldsburg, Columbus, Ohio.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 2:48 pm Post subject: Re: Taxes |
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| Bren wrote: |
* Green Squad, the current group of PCs, captured and ransomed the Moff in the adventure, "Tests of the Godking." As a result they needed a numbered bank account with a bank that was effectively a Star Wars version of an off-shore or old style Swiss Bank. They found one at the Fifth-Third Syndicate Bank of Palanhi in the Fakir Sector; Manager: Abdigera Whitbro-human (m). Accessing Account Number: FT999RHG001 requires a retinal scan from one of the three original PCs. |
That would suck if the group gets newer players in and all three of the originals die off, without updating that scan to include the newer folk..
| Tugtep wrote: | | They recently received 1000c of insurance (gross), but they saw only 950c (net). |
That makes me wonder about the added impact OF is insurance (life/health/vehicular/ship) required?
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Dredwulf60
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| Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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| CRMcNeill wrote: | | Dredwulf60 wrote: | As a follow-up;
Is there a need for money-laundering under the Empire? |
Depends how fungible the monetary equivalent is. Obviously, any sort of coinage or credit is going to be more difficult to conceal than some sort of gem or precious metal. |
This is what got me thinking about taxes in the first place.
Watching shows like Breaking Bad and Ozark (and others) shows how important it is to launder large sums of money otherwise the government can get you for tax evasion, especially if you can't show (or fake) that you acquired the money by legitimate means.
This seems to be a more modern effect.
In a fantasy game, you don't need to launder loot. Sure the tax man might take a share when you settle down to buy a keep or collect a toll, but he is never going to ask where it came from. Because the answer is, "I found it in a hole in the ground and killed a monster for it."
Star Wars is in a kind of grey area. I think there would be so many ways to accumulate wealth especially on the outer rim that the Empire couldn't track how much money you should have vs if you are concealing any of it.
It might be a bit different as you get more corewards.
That's why I'm thinking that financial institutions would be a prime tax collection medium; and player character adventurers might just avoid a lot of it by carrying their valuables in hard commodities....subject to import/export tariffs and the like.
But it is hard for me to envision a need for money laundering unless you are involved in the Empire's banking system. |
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CRMcNeill
Director of Engineering
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Location: Redding System, California Sector, on the I-5 Hyperspace Route.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like a service the Hutts might provide, complete with impeccable documentation.
For a fee, of course.
It's been a while since I read GG11: Criminal Organizations. Anything there?
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.
The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index
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Raven Redstar
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| Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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Pretty sure that GG11 only dips into counterfeiting rather than laundering money.
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garhkal
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| Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 11:35 pm Post subject: |
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And i doubt there'd be enough on that subject alone to make a new fan supplement.
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Dredwulf60
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| Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 1:17 am Post subject: |
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| Raven Redstar wrote: | | Pretty sure that GG11 only dips into counterfeiting rather than laundering money. |
GG11 does make a few references in passing to credit laundering; so apparently it does go on...but gives nothing concrete.
p.25 for instance; the sidebar on Kailio Entertainments:
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Kailio Entertainments is a Hutt-owned
operation working through a variety of legitimate
business fronts deep within the
Core Worlds. Its goal is the eventual monopoly
of manufacture, distribution and
control of the galaxy's major entertainment
markets (both live and holographic in nature).
While moving toward controlling additional
entertainment outlets, Kailio is the
major corporate distributor for one of the
galaxy's largest holoporn industries.
Kailio likewise serves as a front for credit
laundering activities, extending into the trillions
of credits each year. Ironically, Kailio
is presently one of the largest contributors
to the fine arts and artistic relief organizations'
throughout the galaxy. It routinely
sponsors entertainment-oriented scholarships
to major universities, and a host of
grants and fellowships to stimulate artistic
endeavors, extending even to worlds controlled
by the Alliance. In so doing, it maintains
a public facade directly opposite its
seedier origins. |
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FVBonura
Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 24 Nov 2005
Posts: 137
Location: Central PA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2024 11:23 am Post subject: Re: Taxes |
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| Dredwulf60 wrote: | Do you have anything like a sales tax? Do characters who own property pay any kind of property tax?
Also, how does your finance system work; do your characters have their funds electronically or as a physical currency? |
I assume wherever there is Holonet access there is also a sales tax is built in to the published prices of products for the ease of play. Some planets levy additional taxes which I collect at the time of transaction.
Again in areas where the Holonet is functioning, electronic transfer is possible, otherwise credit sticks must be physically exchanged. Places like the Hapes Star Cluster and Hutt space have their own currencies that require an exchange rate and many moneychangers charge an additional 10%+ for conversions.
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