Californians not paying required taxes on Web purchases

Sacramento Bee ^ | 12/8/10 | Mark Glover

[SmithL]

An estimated $1.145 billion in use tax owed by Californians goes unpaid each year, according to an estimate released today by the state Board of Equalization.

BOE noted that much of the unpaid total is the result of consumers purchasing from out-of-state retailers not required to collect California tax. Many of those purchases are made online or via catalog orders.

BOE said the use tax owed is the same as the sales tax that would be due if the purchase were made from an in-state retailer. BOE said it is reminding holiday shoppers to save receipts, calculate the use tax due and make the appropriate payments to the state when they file tax returns.

[SFC Chromey]

Screw the state of Kalifonikation-

That is why I shop on the web!

[A_Former_Democrat]

Screw that. The “use tax” is indicative of the greedy mindset of government

[dynachrome]

“is reminding holiday shoppers to save receipts, calculate the use tax due and make the appropriate payments to the state when they file tax returns.”

Yeah, right. Compliance rate will be 1%?

[scooby321]

I thought the liberals in California want to pay more taxes?

[Nervous Tick]

BOE said it is reminding holiday shoppers to save receipts, calculate the use tax due and make the appropriate payments to the state when they file tax returns.

[1st I.D Vet]

FU CA

FU BO

Ha ha!

Please God get me out of hell.

[delacoert]

… reminding holiday shoppers to save receipts, calculate the use tax due and make the appropriate payments to the state when they file tax returns.

Or what?

[paul51]

BOE said it is reminding holiday shoppers to save receipts, calculate the use tax due and make the appropriate payments to the state when they file tax returns.

Oh, sure. No problem

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Remember, it’s not YOUR money!

It’s THEIR money!

[tflabo]

by the state Board of Equalization.

Sounds rather George Orwellian-like, '1984'.

[Polynikes]

“Or what?”

As of now they have no real way to monitor purchases but from what I understand after 1/1/11 CC companies will be turning over records of out of state purchases to the State Franchise tax board.

[tflabo]

I thought the liberals in California want to pay more taxes?

No no.....liberals say 'more taxes for thee but not for me'.

[RightGeek]

BOE said it is reminding holiday shoppers to save receipts, calculate the use tax due and make the appropriate payments to the state when they file tax returns.

Sure, I'll get right on it.

[Ouderkirk]

Screw NY too...I only buy big ticket items online or in Delaware w/ no sales tax.

[battousai]

BOE said it is reminding holiday shoppers to save receipts, calculate the use tax due and make the appropriate payments to the state when they file tax returns

Why I'm sure Kalifornians are just rummaging through their waste paper baskets right now to comply... oh wait this *IS* Kalifornia... might not need a sarcasm tag after all they probably are doing it.

[Wonka]

A question has appeared on the state income tax form for several years asking about out-of-state purchase amounts for use taxes.

I found it very confusing and answered none, of course.

[Ouderkirk]

after 1/1/11 cash rules.

[Oldexpat]

It is much better to pay shipping costs rather than pay CA sales tax and to pay the higher prices of the companies that also pay higher taxes. Starve the beast.

[tflabo]