Posted on 02/05/2012 4:09:11 PM PST by Jean S
Letter, new form reminding taxpayers of their obligation
Wisconsin taxpayers could find themselves digging through more receipts than usual this tax season as the state Department of Revenue makes another effort to collect taxes on out-of-state purchases.
In a letter, the department is asking taxpayers to look through their records from 2007 to 2010 to find any taxes on out-of-state purchases that may have been overlooked and send in payments by Feb. 17.
"The real mission is to help make sure (taxpayers) understand tax law and to remind taxpayers about their responsibility to pay the use tax," said Jennifer Western, executive assistant at the Department of Revenue.
Western also said the goal of the annual letter is to gain more voluntary compliance when it comes to paying sales and use tax. This latest effort comes simultaneously with a modified state income tax return. The new form notes that taxpayers are required to pay tax in cases where sales taxes were not collected at the time of purchase from an online retailer.
When a consumer makes an online purchase but is not charged sales tax at the time, they owe a use tax because they will be using the product in Wisconsin. A report from the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates there will be about $62 million in uncollected use tax for 2012.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
As a responsible citizen of Wisconsin, I'll be cooperating fully, not.
Do they think we're really that stupid?
We're drowning in government.
/johnny
Ping to Wisconsin Freepers.
“Do they think we’re really that stupid?”
No, but the cost of the letters is probably more than made up for in the tiny bit of compliance they get. Where it gets nastier is what other states are starting to do - which is make you declare on your state income tax form that you have indeed paid all sales and use tax owed.
...then it will just be a matter of getting Amazon’s records and seeing just how honest a given taxpayer has been.
Not as easy to do here in Texas (LOL) as we don’t have an state income tax, and thus we don’t have a way to declare anything.
Just a friendly gesture for the state of Wisconsin in recommending an appropriate response to this.
BITE ME!!
Whereas an out of state purchase encounters none of these services. I could possibly see an argument made that if the item is purchased from a particular state, they can charge sales taxes on the item even if it is shipped out of state. No one wants to do that, because as soon as a state does it, online stores will flee it in droves in favor of a state that doesn't charge such taxes.
I wish state legislatures would pay even half as much attention to embezzlement by public employees through high benefits, high salaries and bonuses as they pay towards the ‘capture’ of taxes they feel they are owed. Job one should be the care of the people's money - then maybe you can start worrying about tax evaders.
Thanks Jean S.
I’d be glad to pay the sales tax if the state will pay my shipping.
Dear government: urge THIS
Jean S: “Do they think we’re really that stupid?”
Two thoughts...
1) Paying taxes that are due is the moral thing to do.
2) An unenforced tax that relies on voluntary compliance both penalizes the moral and encourages the dishonest.
What about those taxes on stuff I bought at garage sales? More taxes means more tax evasion and the black market.
I am sure the Wisconsin paupers will do it as a token to their Marxist overseers.
Are you for real? Would you mind explaining what is so moral about a “use tax”?
Explain. Is handing over your wallet to the robber the moral thing to do, or simply the prudent one?
It beats NYS’ method of ASSUMING you bought stuff on which you didn’t pay sales/use tax and just charge use tax based upon income....
We moved from NYS in 2010 and are filing for the last part of unemployment/severance pay and they want $68 use tax... we can’t get out of it...ARGHHH
I’m so glad this is the LAST year we have to file NYs tax!!!
...then it will just be a matter of getting Amazon’s records and seeing just how honest a given taxpayer has been.
Yes. I’m for real. I didn’t say the Wisconsin Use Tax itself is moral. I think use taxes are very bad law, because they aren’t enforceable, penalize those who comply because they believe in following the law (or fear getting caught), and reward those who choose not to pay and aren’t held to account for it.
As far as complying with the law, I give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s. In other words, I comply with use taxes even though I don’t agree with them, probably wouldn’t get caught if I ignored them, and would certainly vote to eliminate them.
Count yourself lucky if you only have to pay $68. I’ve heard worse horror stories from ex-Californicate residents who have moved to Texas or other non-income tax states.
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