The UK government is reportedly considering a proposal to expand the existing BBC license fee so it also covers video streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon, Disney+ and YouTube, according to The Independent. Currently the £180 (~$239) annual fee applies to anyone watching live or on-demand TV content, but streaming via phones or computers can let viewers avoid it. An unnamed source said officials view this as an unfair loophole that lets people watch television-like content without paying.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-15
Cox Automotive's new report shows electric vehicles captured 6.1% of the US auto market, their best share since the third quarter of 2025, marking three consecutive quarters of growth after sales fell when federal tax credits expired last year. Toyota, Rivian and Subaru led gains, with Toyota bZ and Lexus RZ sales roughly doubling after refreshed models added Tesla-style charging ports, bigger batteries and faster charging. Tesla's sales fell 20% year-over-year but it still sold more than half of all EVs in the quarter.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-14
The Netherlands' Tax and Customs Administration has cancelled its planned rollout of Microsoft 365 on the public cloud after about 5,000 employees had already migrated. The government paused the project in July following a June recommendation from the Dutch Advisory Council on ICT Assessment, and State Secretary Eelco Eerenberg has now outlined a replacement plan moving mail and calendar functions on-premises in 2027, followed by European open-source tools for storage and collaboration in 2027-2028.
news.slashdot.org
· 2026-10-14
The Netherlands' Tax and Customs Administration has cancelled its planned migration to Microsoft 365, after roughly 5,000 employees had already switched over. The move follows a June recommendation from the Dutch Advisory Council on ICT Assessment to reverse the public-cloud rollout and a July pause of the plan, though officials have not specified what system will replace it.
zdnet.com
· 2026-10-13
Leaked records indicate associates of Roman Abramovich, working with trust administrator Meritservus, moved assets into a British Virgin Islands parent company of Amiscan to keep them out of public disclosure requirements. The paperwork was reportedly backdated by three years to make the transfer appear to have taken place in 2003 rather than when it actually occurred.
bbc.com
· 2026-10-12
A year-long Senate investigation found that AI data center developers have often exaggerated the community benefits of their projects while obscuring key figures. Companies reportedly tout construction job counts but withhold permanent staffing numbers, with some disclosing ratios as low as one permanent job per megawatt of capacity. The probe also examined sales-tax exemptions on computer equipment, which investigators say are more lucrative to companies than the property-tax breaks that typically draw public scrutiny.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-10-10
Oxide Computer announced a $445 million Series D funding round, saying the company recently became profitable enough to pay income tax on its ordinary hardware sales operations. The company says demand for its systems now exceeds supply, creating a large order backlog that requires significant upfront cash for components and manufacturing before products reach customers.
oxide.computer
· 2026-10-09
The European Commission is reportedly revising its digital tax proposal so that it applies to all large corporations with revenue above €100 million, rather than singling out digital services providers like Apple, Google and Meta. According to the Financial Times, officials hope this broader approach will raise similar tax revenue while avoiding the appearance of targeting US tech firms specifically. The exact levy amount has not been set, with the EU first seeking agreement among its 27 member states on the broader principle.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-10-07
California's SB 1406, which took effect September 30, 2026, closes a loophole that let wealthy residents register vehicles to out-of-state shell companies—often Montana LLCs—to avoid paying California sales and use tax. The law expands the 'California-ness' test, previously applied only to corporations and LLCs, to also cover partnerships and limited partnerships used to shield vehicle ownership from taxation.
thedrive.com
· 2026-10-06
Wired reports that starting in 2027, more than 100 data center projects in rural areas could become eligible for expanded Opportunity Zone tax benefits. These projects are at various stages of development, with the potential to benefit from new federal incentives aimed at boosting rural economic activity. The research was conducted by Searchlight Institute, which identified these facilities within a conservative database of fewer than 700 projects.
news.slashdot.org
· 2026-10-05
Amazon UK has reduced the Nintendo Switch 2's price by 15%, lowering it to a record £354.99. Other retailers like Argos, John Lewis, and Smyths Toys have matched this discount, making it the lowest price since the console's launch. The price cut comes amid ongoing component shortages and recent MSRP increases to £419.99.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-10-05
Starting January 1, data center projects built on qualifying rural land tracts will become eligible for corporate tax incentives under an expanded federal opportunity zone program created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Ways and Means Committee chair Jason Smith said the changes could lower financial barriers for large, capital-intensive projects including hyperscale data centers. The opportunity zone program, first created during the first Trump administration, was broadened last year specifically to draw more investment into rural communities.
wired.com
· 2026-10-04
GoKawiil