Virtual Tax Help?
This is kind of interesting… If you don’t get enough personal finance in the real world, you can now get a reality check while playing in the virtual world known as Second Life. If you’re not familiar with Second Life, you’re not alone — I hadn’t heard of it myself until they did a story on it a few weeks ago on the Today Show. In short:
Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by a total of 4,779,631 people from around the globe.
So what does this all have to do with personal finance? Well, H&R Block has opened up a virtual tax office in Second Life where people can go get real world advice from avatars (inhabitants of Second Life) that are controlled by real-life tax pros. You’ll also be able to buy H&R Block’s new Tango tax product for 100 lindens (the local currency; Tango will go for $70 in real life).
Am I the only one that finds this sort of marketing to be a bit strange? I’m not necessarily questioning its effectiveness. It’s just sort of weird to think about how much has changed in the last few years to get us to this point.
[Source: BusinessWire]
Published on March 19th, 2007 - One Comment
Filed under: Taxes
email this article
- bookmark it
About the author: Nickel is the founder and editor-in-chief of this site. He's a thirty-something family man who has been writing about personal finance since 2005, and guess what? He's on Twitter!
Related articles...
» Avoid Overdraft Fees With a “Balance Buffer”» Tracking Allowance: Little Money Bags
» Dreamhost $97 Discount Code
» Weekend Roundup – Concept2 Edition
» To Gift or Not to Gift: Frugal Gift-Giving Strategies
» The Parallels Between Fitness and Finance
» Top Five Time-Wasting Activities
» Carnival of Personal Finance #85
Was this article useful? Please sign up to receive our content via e-mail:
Great deals...
Readers’ choice...
Recent articles...
- Effect of Foreclosure, Short Sale, and Bankruptcy on Your Credit Score
- DIY Garage Kayak Racks: Fast, Frugal, and Effective
- Lending Club $25 Bonus Reminder
- Coupons are a Waste?
- How to Save Money on Pet Care
- Best HSA Custodian?
- Considering a High Deductible Health Plan
- Pay Back the Homebuyer Tax Credit?
- How to Find a Good Deal
- How Much Does Your Debt Cost?
Recent comments...
- Gwen: Being a real estate broker certified to handle distressed properties I can tell you...
- Bruce: We offer a free Paypal calculator that works in reverse with your margin or...
- Valerie V.: Good information. A short sale vs. foreclosure involves more than just the credit...
- Jennifer: Hi, I used ”Credit Solution” to settle my debt and avoid bankruptcy. They managed...
- Merry: I have two questions. I have been making an extra regular mortgage payment in...
- iris bobi: I went to contract 4-2009 and going to close on my house either December...
- Tim Rosen: Pros and Cons: Pros: a.) A systematic discipline to save/invest on a regular basis, for a...
- Matt Jabs: @Tim: Thanks, I hope this article helps get even one person on the...
Most talked about...
- Dave Ramsey is Bad at Math
- $8,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit
- Dish Network Customer Service SUCKS
- How to Claim the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit
- $15,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit
- Reduced Credit Limits? Share Your Experience
- Would the "Fair Tax" Gut the Economy?
- Tax Stimulus Rebate Payments to Start Early
- Pay Off Mortgage Early? Or Invest?
- The Best Online Savings Accounts (Updated!)
- Life's Too Short to Drink Cheap Beer
- $7500 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit
Stumble It!
Digg It!
Tip It!
del.ico.us
Facebook
Actually, the IRS was looking into ways to tax the income people made from Second Life. There’s a large market for selling in-game components (swords, gold, etc.) in the real world for real cash.
All of that cash is taxable as income, so of course the IRS wants to get their hands on it.
Is this their way of getting into the game? Through H&R Block?
Comment by Clever Dude — Mar 19th 2007 @ 10:52 am