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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2001
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OP
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Will the duties be excessive this year? I always just download. Seems unfair amount of extra payment for just downloading.
Mal
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I don't think PG Music has any control over that. I'd direct the query to Parliament.
Jan - 12 Core AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
32GB DDR4
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Samsung m.2 SSD Boot drive,other SSD internal and USB drives.
MOTO 2
Ketron SD90
Aerophone AE-30, Yamaha WX-7
Yamaha RX-v381amp
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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For those of us who don’t know how this works, could you explain a bit? I thought that only physical items were taxed based on their value. We’ve had many discussions about what form of delivery could lessen the VAT. I thought downloading was not taxed.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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It used to be like that in Australia, Matt. These days, though, the government expects the same 10% goods and services tax to be paid on overseas purchases as we would if we bought locally. It now applies everywhere.
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2001
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OP
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Last year the extra was included but one of the ladies in the team kindly waved it for me. You guys must know that we in UK are suffering a dreadful Tory Government at present along with the crazy antics of the crazed Putin. I guess that goes for you guys too in USA and Canada.
I always make sure I get everything every year but this year may prove otherwise.
Mal
Mal
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I think those answers mean that my understanding was wrong, and if you buy a PG Music product that is downloaded, you still pay a large tax. Is that correct?
It’s a serious question because we have had discussions about software delivery on flash drives or by different types of compressed files (for the audiophile version that is 2 TB).
The whole point was twofold: avoid surplus USB drives year after year, and minimize the VAT.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 326
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OP
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Guess we'll know shortly Matt. Downloads should be VAT free, hopefully.
Mal
Mal
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I certainly hope the price is affordable, but I understand that the tax is legislated and not necessarily something that the seller can avoid.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I think those answers mean that my understanding was wrong, and if you buy a PG Music product that is downloaded, you still pay a large tax. Is that correct? That's correct. The tax is applied on the value of the goods or service supplied. Even if PGM didn't apply it, in principle HM Revenue & Customs can and should. If they do, they may well of course also fine, or could take legal action. It is, IMHO, a rather nasty iniquitous tax, because it gets applied at every transfer of transfer of value ... VAT registered businesses can claim it back when they buy and pretty much have to to remain competitive, so every transaction requires the business to be a tax refund claimant on a purchase and a tax collector on a sale. On a plus side for us in the UK, though, many people don't have to file a personal tax return for their earnings.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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We will get 20% VAT added and the dollar/pound exchange rate is awful so in real terms the upgrade will be more expensive this year
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I think I understand your concerns now.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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VAT registered businesses can claim it back when they buy and pretty much have to to remain competitive, so every transaction requires the business to be a tax refund claimant on a purchase and a tax collector on a sale.
Actually, we can't, not unless the seller has a UK VAT number. The US company should, however, allow us to provide them our GB VAT number, in which case it should be sold to us at the ex-VAT price and we enter it as "out of scope". If we sell it on, then we charge the VAT. It's a pain because a lot of sellers charge the VAT but don't allow us that option. Some sellers just ignore it completely and don't charge any VAT. The whole thing is a complete mess and ridiculously overcomplicated for both the seller and the (business) buyer. For personal, non-business customers, all US companies are supposed to charge UK VAT for digital products, at the time of payment. For physical products they don't, we pay it our end at customs. At least that's how it was last time I looked.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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VAT registered businesses can claim it back when they buy and pretty much have to to remain competitive, so every transaction requires the business to be a tax refund claimant on a purchase and a tax collector on a sale.
Actually, we can't, not unless the seller has a UK VAT number. The US company should, however, allow us to provide them our GB VAT number, in which case it should be sold to us at the ex-VAT price and we enter it as "out of scope". If we sell it on, then we charge the VAT. It's a pain because a lot of sellers charge the VAT but don't allow us that option. Some sellers just ignore it completely and don't charge any VAT. The whole thing is a complete mess and ridiculously overcomplicated for both the seller and the (business) buyer. For personal, non-business customers, all US companies are supposed to charge UK VAT for digital products, at the time of payment. For physical products they don't, we pay it our end at customs. At least that's how it was last time I looked. I didn't know about the non-UK sellers and VAT number stuff. Very messy and means that some imported stuff will be double-taxed at that 20% each time. I'd hoped that the UK would scrap VAT after we left the EU, along with a large number of other cumbersome EU regulation, but next to nothing has changed. Sigh.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Has anything changed in England as regards say buying a guitar from Thomanns, or are the charges greater since leaving the EU?
I think here in N Ireland its more or less the same price, though not 100% sure.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 185
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 185 |
Has anything changed in England as regards say buying a guitar from Thomanns, or are the charges greater since leaving the EU?
I think here in N Ireland its more or less the same price, though not 100% sure. I don't know how it works with NI since Brexit. Thomann have always charged the VAT for UK customers. I used to spend a hell of a lot of money with them (business customer) but when we first left EU I stopped buying because it was madness - I had no option but to pay the VAT twice. The good thing now is Thomann got on top of it all quite quickly. What they have done is great, they deal with everything from VAT to Duty to Shipping and include it all in the UK price, so that you can continue buying from them just like it was before Brexit. If you're VAT registered you can also claim back the VAT now because they have set up a UK registered office with a GB Vat number.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2011
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Apprentice
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I didn't know about the non-UK sellers and VAT number stuff. Very messy and means that some imported stuff will be double-taxed at that 20% each time.
I'd hoped that the UK would scrap VAT after we left the EU, along with a large number of other cumbersome EU regulation, but next to nothing has changed. Sigh.
Yes it really is a mess. I was very involved with all of this as a UK business. Accountants didn't know the answer, HMRC didn't know the answer - they all had their own ideas and opinions but no clarity or citable facts. It's become so complex that only few specialist "experts" really know - just about every regulation can be contradicted by another. I just learn little by little over time and it's still a complete mess.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I'd hoped that the UK would scrap VAT after we left the EU, along with a large number of other cumbersome EU regulation, but next to nothing has changed. Sigh.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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At one time PG gave us a code for an extra discount to neutralise the VAT. That was for a limited time and I've been paying VAT on extra styles discs so I can't see BIAB 2023 being subsidised.
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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
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Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
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Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
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