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Online sales tax to be added to defense authorization bill [Goodbye Internet Sales]
The Daily Caller ^ | 12-06-2012 | Betsi Fores

Posted on 12/06/2012 11:10:02 AM PST by Red Badger

This may be the last Christmas of online shopping without paying sales tax.

A proposed online sales tax has been offered as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, much to the ire of opponents.

The Computer and Communications Industry Association, a group that opposes this move, says that an online sales tax will burden small businesses, “some of the most promising candidates for future economic growth.”

“This proposal, and other online sales tax collection proposals like it, would allow states to penalize the innovative e-commerce business model by targeting small online businesses as convenient sources (and collectors) of revenue,” said CCIA President and CEO Ed Black.

The Marketplace Fairness Act, and its House counterpart the Marketplace Equity Act, seek to clarify, and arguably overturn, a 1992 Supreme Court ruling that requires retailers to have a physical presence in a state in order to collect sales tax on goods.

“Severing the relationship between taxation and physical presence would be a fundamental transformation in how we consider taxes,” Black continued. “Such a significant step deserves more extensive consideration than attachment to the unrelated Defense Authorization bill.”

Still, a recent poll indicates that the majority of Americans support the idea, describing an online sales tax as “common sense”. They also feel that a tax for online purchases would encourage people to buy local and keep tax dollars in their community.

“Local retailers invest in their communities and play a significant role in the overall quality of life in the places we call home,” said Betsy Laird, senior vice president of global public policy for the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Collecting the tax across state lines however poses as a challenge for small businesses that sell their goods in multiple states.

“It is not the job of small businesses to collect taxes to provide tax revenue relief for state and local governments outside their jurisdiction,” Black said, suggesting that an online tax would protect existing businesses at the expense of consumers and growth.

Some Republicans are on board, with Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi as “the most overlooked tax loophole.”

“We are optimistic that once the Marketplace Fairness Act is brought for a vote, it will have enough support to pass,” said Illinois Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin’s spokeswoman, Christina Mulka.

Both Sens. Durbin and Enzi have offered the bill as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.

“Sen. Durbin is focused on working with his colleagues to try to get a vote on the bill before the end of this year, whether as a stand-alone bill or part of a larger piece of legislation,” Mulka said. “They are keeping all options on the table at this point.”

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/12/04/online-sales-tax-to-be-added-to-defense-authorization-bill/#ixzz2EIfvANTs


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: cybermonday; internet; salestax; tax
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1 posted on 12/06/2012 11:10:11 AM PST by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger
Doesn't matter to me.

Next year I am going so Galt the NSA will think I must have died.

2 posted on 12/06/2012 11:12:25 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum ("The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the state." - Cornelius Tacitus, Roman Senator)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Doesn't matter to me.

Matters to me.
Still good bulk ammo sales available on line...

3 posted on 12/06/2012 11:15:16 AM PST by grobdriver
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To: Red Badger
Still, a recent poll indicates that the majority of Americans support the idea, describing an online sales tax as “common sense”. They also feel that a tax for online purchases would encourage people to buy local and keep tax dollars in their community.

Americans sure have gone far to the side of government-induced behavior modification and away from personal freedom. I truly do not recognize this country anymore.

4 posted on 12/06/2012 11:18:58 AM PST by ScottinVA (I've never been more disgusted with American voters.)
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To: Red Badger
More "fairness" at work. Fine. I stop shopping via the internet. It will reduce my exposure to phishing. Frankly, I've been phished pretty hard this last week. Besides, who will have money to spend after the tax increases?
5 posted on 12/06/2012 11:21:27 AM PST by Myrddin
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To: Red Badger

There are states where the sales tax rate changes town to town, county to county and borough to borough. How the heck are online retailers supposed to keep up with THAT?

Or the gazillion exceptions and exemptions in the PA sales tax code?


6 posted on 12/06/2012 11:27:28 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Red Badger
“We are optimistic that once the Marketplace Fairness Act is brought for a vote, it will have enough support to pass,” said Illinois Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin’s spokeswoman, Christina Mulka.

If it has enough support to pass, let it stand on its own merit and don't piggyback it off a defense bill.

7 posted on 12/06/2012 11:27:28 AM PST by Hoffer Rand (There ARE two Americas: "God's children" and the tax payers)
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To: Red Badger

Our inillustrious Congress....


8 posted on 12/06/2012 11:30:09 AM PST by onedoug
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To: Red Badger

Notice that Mike Enzi is all for it. Go figure. He has no clue as to what this would do to small businesses. I’ve spent my business career since 1996 helping large corporations navigate multi-state sales and use tax issues (and other excise taxes). Asking a small seller to keep up with the tax laws of thousands of jurisdictions is ridiculous. All it will do is kill small business and create a new bureaucracy.


9 posted on 12/06/2012 11:31:51 AM PST by cizinec ("Brother, your best friend ain't your Momma, it's the Field Artillery.")
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To: Red Badger
Since the bill is about "fairness", I presume that no tax will be collected from residents of states like mine that have no sales tax.

Right?

10 posted on 12/06/2012 11:32:15 AM PST by Jim Noble (Diseases desperate grown are by desperate appliance relieved or not at all.)
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To: Red Badger

It’s just another Golden egg laying Goose the Government wants to kill in their never-ending effort to tax every stinking dime out of Americans .


11 posted on 12/06/2012 11:36:01 AM PST by Venturer
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To: Red Badger

Shop from NH


12 posted on 12/06/2012 11:36:11 AM PST by Paladin2
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To: Red Badger

Taxes, taxes, taxes. :)

You voted for them America - now fork it over.

Pay your fair share. The liberals running the government won’t, so you’ll have to pick up the slack. LOL!


13 posted on 12/06/2012 11:38:55 AM PST by Tzimisce (What do you do when every every branch of the government is corrupt and aligned against you?)
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To: Red Badger
If you are a Republican joining hands with Dick Durbin, then you know you've jumped the shark. But then, it looks like the whole party and half the country has done that, if we are to be a party governed by polls rather than pols.
14 posted on 12/06/2012 11:39:06 AM PST by Major Matt Mason ("Journalism is dead. All news is suspect." - Noamie)
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To: Red Badger; ScottinVA
Still, a recent poll indicates that the majority of Americans support the idea, describing an online sales tax as “common sense”.

And exactly what freaking poll would that be!

15 posted on 12/06/2012 11:42:19 AM PST by Focault's Pendulum
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To: ScottinVA

That’s how you know America is dead. The people seek to tax themselves. The SHEEP have come home to roost. Thanks, teachers. /s


16 posted on 12/06/2012 11:43:57 AM PST by Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America (IMPEACH OBAMA)
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To: Buckeye McFrog

The International Council of Shopping Centers??????

oh well anyway. Here de Vat, here come de Vat everybody ready cuz here. one de VAT!


17 posted on 12/06/2012 11:47:03 AM PST by Gasshog
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To: Red Badger
said Betsy Laird, senior vice president of global public policy for the International Council of Shopping Centers.

WTF?

18 posted on 12/06/2012 11:53:36 AM PST by MileHi ( "It's coming down to patriots vs the politicians." - ovrtaxt)
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To: Focault's Pendulum

America is not a majoritarian country. We’re founded as a republic in which majority opinoin doesn’t count. It’s the entire idea of individual rights.


19 posted on 12/06/2012 11:54:10 AM PST by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: Red Badger
Some Republicans are on board, with Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi as “the most overlooked tax loophole.”

Sounds like a Scott Brown clone.

20 posted on 12/06/2012 11:54:10 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Political correctness does not legislate tolerance; it only organizes hatred.)
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