Other iPhone Upgrade Program: Pay sales tax w/ Apple Gift Card credit?

[ac360]

I'm currently on the iPhone Upgrade Program, and I plan to upgrade to iPhone 12 Pro Max.

When pre-order begins, will I have the option to pay sales tax using credit in my Apple account? The credit came from redeemed Apple Gift Cards.

Thank you.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

I'm pretty sure the Apple Store doesn't offer the granularity of customers directing certain payments toward taxes.

If I go to the corner liquor store and I make a $10 purchase that has 9% sales tax, it's not like I can pay $10 on a credit card and pay an additional 90 cents for the sales tax. The merchant sees the transaction as a total of $10.90 and will eventually remit 90 cents to the state's tax board. But it won't be those 90 cents in currency.

Apple will simply require payment via a method accepted as a valid source.

In the same way, if you pay with a $10 bill, no one cares if you earned it from tips, allowance from your mom, or something you picked up off the street. It's still an accepted payment method.

Whether or not you legally acquired it is between you and legal authorities (tax agency, police, etc.) not something Apple really cares about assuming it's valid legal tender.

 

[4sallypat]

When I pre-oredered the 12 Pro (big mistake), using the Apple Card's 24 month option, I was taxed immediately, while the monthly was due in a month.

I paid for the Apple Card charge taxes immediately using my Apple Cash I had from using the card over the year ($100).

Made me feel like I the phone tax free !

 

[Shadowbech]

I believe iUP requires a credit card to be used first. After the initial then you an set it up to be taken off your bank.

 

[guicane]

In the US, can I join the iUP and get a sim-free phone? It seems I have to choose a contract with a network to do that?

 

[Dovahkiing]

If I go to the corner liquor store and I make a $10 purchase that has 9% sales tax, it's not like I can pay $10 on a credit card and pay an additional 90 cents for the sales tax.

Apologies if I’m misunderstanding your point; but, having worked at several retail stores in High School and College, any merchant can split your total bill across multiple payments forms. In your example, you absolutely could pay $10 on a credit card and hand the cashier a buck for the remainder.

 

[ac360]

I'm pretty sure the Apple Store doesn't offer the granularity of customers directing certain payments toward taxes.

If I go to the corner liquor store and I make a $10 purchase that has 9% sales tax, it's not like I can pay $10 on a credit card and pay an additional 90 cents for the sales tax. The merchant sees the transaction as a total of $10.90 and will eventually remit 90 cents to the state's tax board. But it won't be those 90 cents in currency.

Apple will simply require payment via a method accepted as a valid source.

In the same way, if you pay with a $10 bill, no one cares if you earned it from tips, allowance from your mom, or something you picked up off the street. It's still an accepted payment method.

Whether or not you legally acquired it is between you and legal authorities (tax agency, police, etc.) not something Apple really cares about assuming it's valid legal tender.

I'm not sure if you were or are on the iUP, but you're not on point.

When one orders an iPhone through the iUP, sales tax will be due up front. Later, one will pay for the phone, sans the sales tax, by installment with Citizens One loan. The sales tax payment will be collected by Apple; the payments on installments be collected by Citizens One.

All I was asking for was clarification on payment options for the sales tax portion. As @Shadowbech explained concisely, a credit card payment is required.

 

[ac360]

In the US, can I join the iUP and get a sim-free phone? It seems I have to choose a contract with a network to do that?

No, you'll receive a phone with a SIM card in it. I had to leave the physical SIM inside in order to active the phone.

However, the phone one gets through the iUP is unlocked. One may switch carriers anytime.