The frankly barking plan by the Los Angeles County taxmen to charge companies for satellites in outer space as "moveable property" has been shot down by state tax officials.

The State Board of Equalization (eh?) voted 5-0 in favour of barring any taxes involving property that isn't actually within our atmosphere. Which would seem to be a decision based on, well, commonsense.

If the plan had gone through, the taxmen would have sent Hughes Electronics a bill for several million pounds thanks to its eight satellites.

However, it dawned on the tax boys that allowing tax to be levied on goods that have never even entered its jurisdiction would be a nasty precedent to set. Which is just as well because the Martians were said to be worried about their unpaid back taxes. ®

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