Power Sellers Unite

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17219 Location: Texas

The halcyon days of tax-free Internet shopping may be about to end.

A powerful alliance of politicians, including key U.S. senators and the National Governors Association, is arguing that out-of-state retailers must be required to charge sales taxes on purchases. At the moment, for instance, companies like Seattle-based Amazon.com are not required to collect sales taxes on shipments to millions of its customers in California.

This is hardly a new debate: officials from the governors' association have been pressing Congress to enact such a law for at least six years. They invoke arguments, which have been unsuccessful so far, like saying that reduced sales tax revenue threatens budgets for schools and police.

more.. link to news article

CrystalStar · Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 3571

Sounds like it's time for a new petition to Congress!

Patty00 · Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 1017

If something like that goes thru, me and millions of other small sellers will definitely be forced to quit. Just collecting and distributing the tax would be an overburden and not worth the meager profit of selling online. If the other states are anything like California - reporting sales tax is a hassle - with figuring each amount for the particular county in which it came from! I have a LOT more trouble with that then with my state and federal return! Its shear madness - compounded by all states - I'd just throw up my hands and quit!

knappschiles · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 4035 Location: Wi

The only way some tax would even have a chance to work and get people to comply would be if it was just a flat rate collected by the US gov and then distributed back to the states. If like Patty said, WE had to do the full figuring of the taxes, it would be such a headache that only the big corps would be able to handle it.

Carol

RCFComputing · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 127

knappschiles wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")The only way some tax would even have a chance to work and get people to comply would be if it was just a flat rate collected by the US gov and then distributed back to the states. If like Patty said, WE had to do the full figuring of the taxes, it would be such a headache that only the big corps would be able to handle it.

Carol
If we switched over to the fairtax model, this wouldn't be an issue. Taxing internet sales would be a huge restriction on the economy. I don't think this Congress is stupid enough to do it.

http://www.fairtax.org/

PattyPooh · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 682

Are you kidding??? Any Congress would be THAT stupid when all those yummy dollars of other people's money are dangled before their greedy little eyes!! :evil: :shock: :evil:

nopaypal · Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Posts: 2008

i knew the governors would be trouble...that's why we always break the legs of ours!
:lol:

RCFComputing · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 127

PattyPooh wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")Are you kidding??? Any Congress would be THAT stupid when all those yummy dollars of other people's money are dangled before their greedy little eyes!! :evil: :shock: :evil:
It's basically government vs everybody. No one supports this except government officials. Consumers like cheaper goods, and businesses like the ease of being able to do business in all states uniformly without having to know 50 different sets of tax rules (not including county or municipal tax rules).

I don't think this will ever get enough support to pass without significant changes.

Patty00 · Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 1017

Don't ever depend on the intelligence of Congress LOL

Patty00 · Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 1017

nopaypal....New Jersey? I grew up there :-)

PattyPooh · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 682

You know, I'm continually amazed at the apathy of the American citizen! :( In many other countries, and in the America of old, we would have had another American Revolution by now. Instead, we just continue on, choosing people from 2 Parties that are completely alike...there is no real difference anymore between Demos and Rep...only the speed at which they are traveling toward the cliff. :cry: :evil:

tuckerbunny2 · Joined: 29 Apr 2005 Posts: 380 Location: Pennsylvania

The geniuses in the state of PA are already sending out quarterly use tax forms. At this moment this reporting method is considered 'voluntary' but the fine print indicates fines & penalties for non-compliance.
:(

CrystalStar · Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 3571

The only thing that we can be guaranteed is politicians greed. Like here when the tornado hit Enterprise...our state legislatures decided to give themselves a 60% pay raise and then condemn Enterprise by not allocating the money for new schools. The school system was asking for several million dollars to replace/improve the school. All the politicians were worried about was the school was asking for too much money....' a country club instead of a school' was one of the politician's comment. Yet he had no problem giving himself a 60% pay raise??? Country club???

Until we get the politicians out of politics....it will stay this way. What we need is real people with real life concerns....not someone who can't decide on whether to buy Armani or Versace or whether to drive their Jaguar or Hummer. We should all have such terribly important decisions to make!!!( Politicians should be paid minimum wage....then maybe they would get a clue!!)

nopaypal · Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Posts: 2008

Quote: › docWrite("quote")nopaypal....New Jersey? I grew up there
kewl, patty00. where? i'm in bernardsville.
:D

btw, i dont spoze ya remember that "use tax" they tried to foist on us here? where we were spozed to declare the value of whatever merch we had bought outta state that year & pay sales tax on it? rofl! even the WSJ thought that was hilarious!
:roll:

mojavelyn · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:25 pm Post subject:

CS, I agree, the elected officials who keep voting theirselves pay raises... should be cut... down to Minimum wage.... Lets see them pay that high dollar Washington rent on it. Because that is exactly wht they are asking of us!

And the only way to change it... Vote them out of office.

Write letters to them... get petitions....

Flat out point blank ask them... WHAT DID YOU DO TO DESERVE THIS RAISE???

to prevent long winded double talk... "State in 25 words or less."

then publish any answers you get in the newspaper.

you won't get any real answers but at least the secretary will earn her his/her paycheck that week.