Posted on 04/22/2009 5:27:11 PM PDT by Comparative Advantage
If you're planning a major purchase via the Internet, you might want to do it quickly. Congress is expected to introduce a bill this week that would require Amazon.com, L.L. Bean, Cabela's and other online merchants to collect sales tax on all online purchases and return that money to the state in which the purchaser resides.
Online Sales Tax?Tony Avelar, AP12 photos Congress will soon introduce a bill requiring sales tax on all online purchases. To read the latest on credit card changes, click through our gallery.(Note: Please disable your pop-up blocker)
I was recently shopping for a TV for a relative, and found that I could save $70 by buying it online and having it shipped to her address. That savings was primarily in sales tax. And while my state requires taxpayers to claim all online purchases and pay the sales tax on them, it doesn't seem to be able to enforce the tax. This is good for bargain hunters, but terrible for local merchants.
For those used to buying $.99 iTunes or other more tangible items, this will be an immediate price hike. Californians, for example, will pay an extra 7.25%. We'll see when the bill is introduced it if also included local sales taxes, which can bump this up to 8% or more for many of us.
(Excerpt) Read more at walletpop.com ...
but but 95% of the American people are getting $3.57 back this year
taxes + shipping will destroy the golden goose.
I haven’t seen one in a long time that didn’t include sales tax.
My senator is ARLEN SPECTER, and never listens to me.
This is ridiculous. Net shopping is like catalog shopping—the cost of shipping and handling is made up for by the lack of sales tax. But no seller can compete if the customer has to pay BOTH.
Are congressmen stupid? (Don’t answer that...)
Thank goodness I make under $250,000 a year. None of my taxes will be raised... phew. /sarc/
The Commonwealth of VA already requires a sale tax. Would this be a national sales tax?
I think it’s more than just a state sales tax. If your county and city has a sales tax you’ll pay that too.
So what if the retailers relocate their offices and servers outside the US and tell the taxman to stuff it?
US Customs.
Only point to buying online is the savings. If we can’t do that, then Wal-Mart it is
Unless Wal-Mart is forced to unionize...
I am NOT spending money on anything. I am on a sales tax revolt.
That might work for digital products but it won't work for tangible physical items that have to be warehoused and shipped. You going to move that outside the US?
This bill is basically providing the necessary authorization for the Streamlined Sales Tax Initiative that governors (mostly dems) have been pushing for the last 8 years or so.
It still stinks and people should contact their representatives now and try to stop the bill from passing.
No, one of my main reasons is the variety of stuff available that local stores don't carry, even in big cities. Wal-Mart has a very limited selection compared to the whole internet.
Craiglist and other private sales. Also it is amazing to find out you really can live on less. Like back in college?
Hmm. I don’t think I’ve ever paid sales tax online.
This puts puts an enormous accounting burden on every single merchant who sells online. Every single State (that collects Sales Tax) has individual Sales Tax Laws, reporting and remittance requirements and forms to be filled out properly. Can you imagine trying to keep the records straight for 35 or more different State Sales Tax Reports??
This will be another difficult sell in the US Senate, but will probably fly through Nancy Pelosi’s House...
There is this amendment - no tax or duty on trade between the states.
Go after them on constitutional grounds, and make it an election issue.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.