Posted on 10/05/2014 3:54:03 PM PDT by TurboZamboni
Amazon.com today begins collecting sales tax from purchasers in Minnesota and Maryland, marking the 22nd and 23rd states where the online retailer assesses the levy.
With the new states, about 69% of Americans—nearly 219 million people—will be subject to tax on their Amazon purchases.
That's a big switch from a few years ago, when Amazon fought to protect customers from sales tax, viewing it as a competitive advantage over brick-and-mortar rivals.
Now, Amazon perceives itself as disadvantaged versus online rivals such as eBay and Overstock. That's because a 1992 Supreme Court ruling allows states to apply sales tax to any retailer with operations in the state, which some states have interpreted to include partners.
With its vast and expanding network of warehouses, Amazon has a physical presence in more states than its competitors, meaning more of its customers have to pay sales tax. Amazon supports federal bill that would give states more leeway to charge sales tax, evening the playing field.
Generally, sales taxes in the states seen in the map above apply just to Amazon, except in those cases where another online retailer has a physical presence there.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Correct. More proof people wont pay the current tax rates voluntarly..
So I suppose I had better check amazon at year end and pony it up on my tax returnl, deductible on Sch A but i never have enough for that any more. I don't buy a whole lot there but it's so convenient and more choices. I almost always get free shipping. I guess I'd better be on the safe side and just pay it.
Not so. Only 23 states currently require you to pay sales tax on items purchased from Amazon.
Since Amazon started collecting CA sales I have purchased two things from them
One, it was the only place I could find to buy it.
Second, they were about 3% cheaper than anywhere else.
99% of the time they are more expensive than other online sellers for total delivered price.
Not sure why this is a big deal. Our household spends a lot of money with Amazon for convenience. The amount of money collected in taxes is negated by the 2 day shipping I get on almost everything through Amazon Prime.
I sell on Amazon, sales are up about 25% this year.
NO!
Not exactly. Those states require Amazon to collect the tax from you.
Other places, you’re still required to self-report and pay a “use tax”, as far as I know. (Yes, I know almost no one actually does it).
Since those who live in NYC consider anything outside of NYC to be a foreign country, it would be nice if they didn't charge that exorbitant sales tax on those of us who live "upstate"...
(For those who are not aware of the terminology, "upstate New York" is any and everything outside of the five boroughs that is not included in the term "Long Island"...)
To a NYC resident, if you live in the state of New York, you either live in New York, Long Island, or Upstate.
I lose money every single day collecting sales taxes for the state I live in. I’m not talking about the paperwork time or the like, I’m talking the loss I take from the actual collection of the taxes. Sure, it’s only a few percent of the sales tax amount, but I get to make up that difference out of my pocket, and in a business of pennies, they add up.
So if another state demands I collect taxes for them, they can pay for that difference as well as my time and trouble. I get no services from them, and without payment, I will not work for them, nor hand them money out of my pocket. And I’m more than willing to go to court to defend that.
what next, if one buys groceries in one state then drives back to the higher sales tax state will that state find a way to punish you too????
So Larchmont,Scarsdale and Chappaqua are considered "upstate"?
Maybe Amazon should set up its distribution points on Indian reservations.
The politicians want more of your money. When you buy something from Amazon, the buffoons on the hill want their cut.
I love B&H. The next camera will probably come from there.
No complaints about them from me.
Overstock.com does not charge CA sales tax, unless they changed since my last purchase.
That being stated, I have purchased only two items from them. Their stock is limited and prices generally higher when compared to Amazon.
For cameras you should also keep Adorama in mind.They're not as big as B&H but I got a great deal from them on a Nikon D7100 a few months ago.And you're right about B&H...every time I get to NYC (fairly regularly) I always make my way to 34th & 9th....and I stop at the Stage Door Deli on my way there! ;-)
I haven’t given Adorama much thought but thanks for the tip.
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