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Buying on Web to avoid sales taxes could end soon
AP via Breitbart.com ^ | 01/12/09 | RACHEL METZ

Posted on 01/13/2009 8:21:46 AM PST by DFG

Shopping online can be a way to find bargains while steering clear of crowds—and sales taxes. But those tax breaks are starting to erode. With the recession pummeling states' budgets, their governments increasingly want to fill the gaps by collecting taxes on Internet sales, which are growing even as the economy shudders.

And that is sparking conflict with companies that do business online only and have enjoyed being able to offer sales-tax free shopping.

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: internet; internettax; salestax; shopping; tax
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1 posted on 01/13/2009 8:21:46 AM PST by DFG
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To: DFG
If your state has a sales tax, you can be pretty certain that, while the purchase may come to you tax free, the state still has a law on the books that you have to report these types of items for "use" taxes. Often, they are the same rate. This was an issue for catalog sales via mail long before the internet.

Not saying I agree with it, just saying the law is probably on the books.

2 posted on 01/13/2009 8:23:55 AM PST by IYAS9YAS (Hey Obama, why lawyer up when you can pony up? Show us your vault copy BC)
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To: DFG
Just another example of the further e-rosion of our civil liberties...
3 posted on 01/13/2009 8:24:25 AM PST by WayneS (Respect the 2nd Amendment; Repeal the 16th)
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To: DFG

It wouldn’t be government if they didn’t raise taxes to cover every single incompetent move on their part.


4 posted on 01/13/2009 8:26:16 AM PST by Psycho_Bunny (ALSO SPRACH ZEROTHUSTRA)
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To: DFG; BGHater
First, they lower my credit card limits and increase my rates due to "challenging economic conditions." Like taking Federal money is soooo challenging. Then, the States start sniffing around, trying to squeeze their citizens with taxes.

Is it just me or are these jokers going to strangle the U.S. economy, as it is, to death?

5 posted on 01/13/2009 8:26:25 AM PST by rabscuttle385 ("If this be treason, then make the most of it!" —Patrick Henry)
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To: DFG

This article makes the assumption that those of us who buy online are doing it solely to avoid paying sales taxes, and therefore are criminals.

I don’t buy online to avoid paying sales taxes. I buy online because I can find what I want that not available where I live. And yea, lost of times, those items are cheaper, even if I payed the sales taxes.


6 posted on 01/13/2009 8:28:17 AM PST by caver (Yes, I did crawl out of a hole in the ground.)
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To: IYAS9YAS

You must voluntarily file to pay the use tax in Illinois.

I will never volunteer to give money to any government. Screw them.


7 posted on 01/13/2009 8:29:20 AM PST by bfree (FBO)
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To: IYAS9YAS
There are two categories of people who actually file those use taxes - politicians who are worried about being caught and people who expect to run for office soon who are worried about being caught.
8 posted on 01/13/2009 8:32:26 AM PST by KarlInOhio (On 9/11 Israel mourned with us while the Palestinians danced in the streets. Who should we support?)
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To: DFG

The Empire Strikes Back. And it will get worse with the Democrats in power.


9 posted on 01/13/2009 8:33:23 AM PST by olddemocrat
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To: KarlInOhio
There are two categories of people who actually file those use taxes - politicians who are worried about being caught and people who expect to run for office soon who are worried about being caught.

Outside of a tax-commission employee (I used to work at a state tax agency), I've never heard of anyone doing it. I never did while I worked there. The employee who did actually caused the system to glitch, as it couldn't handle anything other than a null entry for that line. Tells you how effective the law was.

10 posted on 01/13/2009 8:39:22 AM PST by IYAS9YAS (Hey Obama, why lawyer up when you can pony up? Show us your vault copy BC)
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To: WayneS

Not really, it’s in the state’s best interest to protect the people and businesses who actually do business in the state. What they are doing is putting internet retailers on the same footing as brick and mortar stores.

Plenty of people go to their local store, check out the physical merchandise, then go online and order it.

The state is protecting their local workers and businessmen from unfair competitive advantage.


11 posted on 01/13/2009 8:44:26 AM PST by snowboarding conservative
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To: DFG

My state’s declining revenue and budget shortfall has been front page for the last several weeks as the state senate worked on its new budget proposal.

Almost all (95% or so) of the serious proposals and discussion to deal with this are centered on “new sources of revenue”.

There is almost no consideration of real budget cuts. The few that are proposed are ploys, simple postponements of expenditures, or in areas where they expect, or hope for, an injection of federal funds to replace the cut funds.


12 posted on 01/13/2009 8:44:33 AM PST by Iron Munro (Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself)
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To: DFG

Honestly I never shopped on line just to save sales taxes. I shop on line because it is convenient. They always have what I need and it saves numerous time which is much more important than saving a few dollars on sales tax. However, even though sales tax is not the reason for me shopping on line, I do know that many people do shop on line for that specific reason and for that, I don’t think that they should charge sales taxes on line.


13 posted on 01/13/2009 8:44:47 AM PST by napscoordinator
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To: IYAS9YAS

Just bought a $700 TV on line. Paid 6% PA sales tax to the company in North Carolina. I guess it’s up to that company in NC to pay PA?


14 posted on 01/13/2009 8:47:01 AM PST by AGreatPer (Obama is not my president until we see his birth certificate. A real one.)
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To: snowboarding conservative
Thanks for the lecture.

BUT:

e-rosion

(on line purchases)

e-bay

It was a joke, Get it?

Or maybe I just need some time off. Sheesh.

15 posted on 01/13/2009 8:47:39 AM PST by WayneS (Respect the 2nd Amendment; Repeal the 16th)
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To: IYAS9YAS

Here in New York, we get charged “use tax” based upon our income. They just assume you are buying stuff on the internet! My first tax year here as a partial year resident (sept-dec ONLY) they tacked on $45 for use tax and took most of my $75 refund I was expecting.


16 posted on 01/13/2009 8:48:44 AM PST by RebelTXRose
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To: DFG

I work for an online retailer, and we collect sales tax when we sell/deliver to someone in our state. But that’s even a nightmare because in our state, there are 60 something counties and not all counties have the same sales tax rate.

I can’t imagine the amount of hassle it would be to do this on a national scale.

Who would the money be sent to? How would the money be distributed if it was sent to a federal agency?


17 posted on 01/13/2009 8:49:08 AM PST by Dawn531
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To: Iron Munro

What state do you live in?


18 posted on 01/13/2009 8:49:26 AM PST by Eva (CHANGE- the post modern euphemism for Marxist revolution.)
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To: IYAS9YAS

To go into any form of retail business in California, you need to get a resale license and business license(s)..

Given that, the state requires periodic reports on sales, and payment of tax receipts to the state. The bigger you are, the more often you have to feed the vultures.

Sales taxs are bureaucratic, anti-business, anti-human, bottomless pit cesspools that need to be stopped ...

The initiative process is the way to do it.

Good luck!!!!


19 posted on 01/13/2009 8:51:09 AM PST by OldNavyVet (Character counts)
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To: snowboarding conservative

People like you always find an excuse for adding taxes. And yet you label yourself as a conservative.

You can argue yourself til you’re blue in the face.

My argument: no new taxes and cut taxes.

Besides, you can construe competition to be unfair in so many different ways. It doesn’t fly that this is unfair competition. Let people buy where they want and keep gov’t out of it.


20 posted on 01/13/2009 8:51:27 AM PST by AlmaKing
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