E-Commerce

Amazon Terminates Affiliates in a Bid to Intimidate State Lawmakers

smitchell — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:00:00 -0600

Amazon is treating its Colorado sales affiliates as "human shields," to use the words of one Denver Post columnist, in what has become a aggressive campaign to overturn a new Colorado law and scare other states away from extending sales taxes to large online retailers.

New York Requires Amazon.com to Collect Sales Tax

smitchell — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Included in the state budget passed this week by the New York legislature is a provision that requires online retailers, including Amazon.com, to collect state and local sales taxes.

Independent booksellers and other retailers fought hard for the measure's passage, which eliminates a long-standing bias in tax policy. For more than a decade, local retailers have had to tack an extra 8 percent on to every sale while competing against a formidable rival""Amazon.com""that did not have to collect this tax.

Vote on Federal Sales Tax Fairness Bill Likely in Early 2004

admin — Sat, 01 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0600

Legislation introduced in Congress that would require internet retailers to collect state and local sales taxes stands a fairly good chance of passing in the first few months of 2004, according to supporters of the bill.

The bill, sponsored in the Senate by Byron Dorgan (D-SD) and Michael Enzi (R-WY) and in the House by Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA), gives Congressional approval to a national compact made up of states that have simplified and aligned their sales tax rules and regulations.

IOWA RECONSIDERS LINK TO AMAZON ON STATE WEB SITE

admin — Thu, 01 Aug 2002 00:00:00 -0500

The state of Iowa is in the process of removing a direct link to Amazon.com from the homepage of its official web site (http://www.iowa.gov). Under the new policy, visitors who click on the prominently placed graphic, "Looking for books about Iowa? Click Here Now," will be directed instead to a page with links to both Amazon.com and Booksense.com, an e-commerce site for independent bookstores.

The decision followed a letter sent by the owners of nine Iowa bookstores.

California Ruling Forces Borders.Com To Collect Sales Taxes

admin — Sat, 01 Dec 2001 00:00:00 -0600

In a decision that may galvanize action in other states, the California Board of Equalization (BOE) has ruled that online bookseller Borders.com must collect state sales tax.

Under a 1992 Supreme Court decision, Quill Corp. v. North Dakota, states cannot compel out-of-state companies to collect sales taxes unless the company has a physical presence, or "nexus," in the state.

Arkansas Enacts Sales Tax Fairness Legislation

admin — Sat, 01 Dec 2001 00:00:00 -0600

Arkansas has enacted a law that clarifies that retailers with stores in the state must collect sales taxes on any online purchases made by state residents.

As noted in the story above, under a 1992 Supreme Court decision, Quill Corp. v. North Dakota, states cannot compel out-of-state companies to collect sales taxes unless the company has a physical presence, or "nexus," in the state.

Sales Tax Fairness Update

admin — Mon, 01 Oct 2001 00:00:00 -0500

Efforts to apply sales taxes equally to both bricks-and-mortar and online retailers have made substantial progress since our last update (see January 2002 issue), yet it is likely to be several more years before a level playing field becomes a reality.

The Supreme Court has ruled that states cannot compel out-of-state companies, including internet and catalogue retailers, to collect state and local sales taxes.

States Collaborate On Equitable Sales Tax System

admin — Mon, 01 Jan 2001 00:00:00 -0600

In December, representatives of the 29 states participating in the Streamlined Sales Tax Project (SSTP) approved model legislation that they hope state legislatures will adopt this year. If enacted, the legislation would move states one step closer to a sales tax system that applies equally to both traditional and electronic retailers.

A US Supreme Court ruling bars states from requiring remote sellers, including mail order and internet companies, to collect sales tax.

Warning: Dot-Com School Fundraisers May Be Harmful To Your Community

admin — Mon, 01 Jan 2001 00:00:00 -0600

In an effort to raise funds, thousands of public schools are encouraging parents and neighbors to shop on-line. More than a dozen new companies, such as Schoolpop.com and SchoolCash.com, have created web portals that enable users to shop a hundreds of on-line retailers.

Cal. Tax Fairness Bill Vetoed; Activists Mobilize For National Fight

admin — Wed, 01 Nov 2000 00:00:00 -0600

In September, California Governor Gray Davis vetoed a bill that would have clarified state law to require that all retailers with a physical presence in the state collect sales tax on internet transactions.

Despite the veto, the campaign to enact the bill accomplished a great deal by raising awareness and building support for tax fairness at both the state and national level.