States push to collect online taxes

[mzkhadir]

Carl Bialik from the WSJ writes "On Saturday, 18 states will implement the Streamlined Sales Tax Project, which will make it easier to collect local and state sales taxes on purchases made over the Internet while offering amnesty on uncollected taxes. In their longstanding opposition to collect sales tax, many online retailers 'have cited a 1992 Supreme Court ruling that said that it would be too onerous for e-tailers to calculate all the permutations of differing state and local tax rates,' the Wall Street Journal reports. 'One goal of the project was to remove the ruling as a key defense for online merchants.' Is your state involved? 'The states that have signed on are Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and West Virginia. Five more -- Arkansas, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming -- are in the process of finalizing the requirements needed to join, while Washington, Texas and Nevada are in earlier stages.'"


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[Hammer]

nooooooooooooo, not texas. at least they are in "earlier stages"

 

[conjur]

Because of the lack of Federal funds into state coffers, states are having to find other ways to increase revenue. Not surprised to see my state involved.

 

[Crono]

I'm surprised (and happy) New York isn't up there

 

[Feldenak]

I'm surprised (and thankful) that Alabama isn't in that list.

 

[AdamDuritz99]

Well, TN is involved. I run an online store, an one of the benefits for people shopping online is no taxes. Alas, those days are coming to an end.

Peace
sean

 

[Queasy]

Not surprised to see Tennessee on there. Their TennCare healthcare program has been running wildly overbudget to the point where it is (or is near) the largest state expenditure. Tennessee has tried unsuccessfully to sneak in a state income tax the last few years and is now desperate for new sources of tax revenue.

 

[SagaLore]

This will not be good for the economy.

 

[Hammer]

Originally posted by: SagaLore
This will not be good for the economy.

it will hurt the online retailers for sure, but local economies will get a boost as more people go back to B&M stores.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Hammer

Originally posted by: SagaLore
This will not be good for the economy.

it will hurt the online retailers for sure, but local economies will get a boost as more people go back to B&M stores.

THe question is, how much? I would think that it would significantly slow the rate and size of consumer purchases, thus making the return for the lcoal economy almost insignificant.

 

[Yreka]

Wow, no California ? *faints*

 

[ElFenix]

oh noes, no more (illegally) evading our sales taxes!

 

[CalvinHobbes]

I guess this is just easier than trying to stop pissing away all the current tax money they get.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
oh noes, no more (illegally) evading our sales taxes!

Nobody is doing anything illegal if they buy something over the internet and don't pay sales taxes.

 

[Kelvrick]

Wow. California isn't on there?