In an unexpected turn of events, Burning Man’s official ticket resale platform—STEP (Secure Ticket Exchange Program)—has come under scrutiny after buyers were inadvertently charged the Nevada Live Entertainment Tax (LET) twice. The glitch, caused by a backend miscalculation from the resale partner platform Tixel, left many ticket holders feeling overcharged and under-informed.
The issue has since been acknowledged, and refunds are being issued to affected buyers. Still, the incident has ignited discussions about ticketing transparency, event pricing, and the responsibilities of large-scale event organizers.
What Went Wrong: Double Taxation on Burning Man Tickets
Burning Man tickets are expensive to begin with, but this year’s resale process introduced a surprising—and costly—complication. Buyers using STEP discovered an unexpected 9% LET fee added during checkout. What made this particularly frustrating is that the original face value of Burning Man tickets already includes this entertainment tax, meaning buyers were paying it again unknowingly.
The cause? Tixel, the platform handling STEP transactions, applied the tax a second time during the resale phase. This led to a wave of complaints across Reddit and social media, with users questioning whether the extra charge was even legal.
Burning Man organizers quickly issued a statement confirming that the duplicate tax was a mistake and that Tixel was actively working to reverse the charges and issue refunds. However, the damage had been done—especially in a community that prides itself on radical transparency and fairness.
Community Concerns: Trust and Transparency at Stake
The Burning Man community is no stranger to voicing concerns when things go awry. This latest issue struck a nerve, as it follows recent discussions about the increasing commercialization of the event and rising ticket prices that some feel contradict the gathering’s core values.
On Reddit and Facebook groups, users shared screenshots, voiced frustrations, and called for clearer communication from the organizers. Some even questioned whether Burning Man was beginning to drift away from its principles of decommodification and communal effort.
In an event built on values like participation and inclusion, even administrative errors can feel like ethical breaches to long-standing Burners. While Burning Man Project has promised greater clarity in future transactions, the misstep may have already eroded a bit of trust among its most loyal followers.
What’s Next: Refunding, Rebuilding, and Reassuring the Base
According to the official statement, refunds are already being processed for those affected by the duplicate tax. For many, the swift response is appreciated, but others are calling for more than just reimbursement—they want long-term changes to ensure transparency and prevent similar issues from recurring.
Some community members have proposed a public audit of STEP operations or a clearer, FAQ-style breakdown of fees on all ticketing pages. These recommendations, if implemented, could reinforce confidence and uphold Burning Man’s ethos of accountability and openness.
As Burning Man 2025 approaches, the pressure is on for organizers to rebuild trust, streamline their platforms, and ensure that every step—especially the STEP—is as ethical and transparent as the principles the event stands for.