Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Congress jumps into 'Amazon sales tax' issue
The Orange County Register ^ | 8/1/2011 | Jan Norman

Posted on 08/01/2011 10:20:54 AM PDT by So Cal Rocket

Three Democrats have introduced a federal bill that would require online retailers such as Amazon.com to collect states' sales taxes.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill) and Representatives John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) call their proposal that was introduced July 29 the Main Street Fairness Act.

Amazon.com, which has been fighting individual states – including California – over efforts to require online retailers to collect state and local sales tax, is supporting the bill, according to a letter to Durbin from Amazon.com Vice President for Global Public Policy Paul Misener.

(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: California; US: Illinois; US: Michigan; US: Vermont
KEYWORDS: amazon; california; congress; conyers; democratcorruption; democrats; durbin; govtabuse; illinois; liberalfascism; liberals; michigan; progressives; socialistdemocrats; statesrights; taxcheatparty; taxes; tyranny; vermont; welch
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last
To: Future Snake Eater
Easily the most Orwellian title for an overreach-and-tax bill I’ve yet seen.

In the last 20 years I have not seen a single 'Rat-sponsored bill that did NOT have an Orwellian title.

41 posted on 08/01/2011 11:20:45 AM PDT by Publius6961 (My world was lovely, until it was taken over by parasites.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: RobRoy
Here's a list of all the jurisdictions in just New York State...

http://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/publications/sales/pub718.pdf

42 posted on 08/01/2011 11:21:31 AM PDT by Dan Nunn (Support the NRA!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: IYAS9YAS

Such a tax is a tax on interstate commerce, which is
unconstitutional.

It would lessen (theoretically) such interstate commerce
by erecting barriers (ie., it would be cheaper to buy
locally and not have to pay the additional s/h).


43 posted on 08/01/2011 11:21:38 AM PDT by CondorFlight (I)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: mojitojoe

It’s not like you get a great benefit when you order online, because one way or another the shipping cost has to be accounted for. It seems to me to be something of a wash usually. If I had to pay tax AND shipping, it would be an unfair penalty on me for using the internet. And yes, it would make me stop using it as much. Only trouble is, more and more, I can’t think of where to buy this or that locally - I HAVE to use the interwebs.


44 posted on 08/01/2011 11:23:57 AM PDT by ichabod1 (Nuts; A house divided against itself cannot stand.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: So Cal Rocket
We have one business that is doing quite well, so of course it has to be throttled.
I hear they sell Glenn Beck books. Can't have that go unchecked.

45 posted on 08/01/2011 11:25:38 AM PDT by BitWielder1 (Corporate Profits are better than Government Waste)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DonaldC
Maybe I don’t understand the problem, but mail order has had to do this and I don’t see why internet retailers should get a pass.

A neighbor a few blocks away got mugged at a certain intersection. Must I reroute myself and also go through that intersection? Why should I get a pass?

The interstate commerce prohibition of obstructing interstate commerce has been repealed?
As far as I know there is no national sales tax, nor should there be. Just another hidden stealth means of the Feds getting more of our money.

As an aside, there is something perverse about collecting a tax when I download an electronic book, for instance. Nothing physical is being transfered.

46 posted on 08/01/2011 11:31:14 AM PDT by Publius6961 (My world was lovely, until it was taken over by parasites.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Ciexyz
This is crap. There never used to be a tax on catalogue sales such as from Sears catalogue.

At least for Michigan, yes, there was and is. You're supposed to self-report any mail order sales on your state income tax return.

Non-income tax states such as Florida have self-reporting forms that you are supposed to fill out and send in along with the sales tax payment.

47 posted on 08/01/2011 11:39:34 AM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Future Snake Eater

So, how can Congress claim that it has the power to REQUIRE collection of state sales taxes in other states?


48 posted on 08/01/2011 11:40:41 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Islam is the religion of Satan and Mohammed was his minion.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Future Snake Eater

To Congress...
Either Constitutionally propose it as an amendment to be ratified by three-quarters of the states or stay out of unconstitutional meddling.


49 posted on 08/01/2011 11:44:51 AM PDT by Solitar ("My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them." -- Barry Goldwater)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Drill Thrawl

passes almost unanimously


50 posted on 08/01/2011 11:57:01 AM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Happiness)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: So Cal Rocket

With all the problems we have; they are worried about this?


51 posted on 08/01/2011 11:57:06 AM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: So Cal Rocket
Either make on-line retailers pay sales tax — or eliminate it altogether. Local bricks & mortar business everywhere are being hurt, by this (in effect) subsidy for their on-line competitors.
52 posted on 08/01/2011 12:18:11 PM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CondorFlight
Such a tax is a tax on interstate commerce, which is unconstitutional.

No, it's not. It's a tax you pay, in lieu of sales tax, when you purchase an item from out of state, and use it within your home state. Use taxes have been around for decades. The forcing of the on-line retailer to collect these taxes is an undue burden on the retailer, unless that retailer also has brick-and-mortar locations within the state, they shouldn't be responsible for collecting the taxes.

The use tax is supposed to be paid by the consumer once the goods have come to rest in the state.

Look at your state's tax code. If you have a sales tax, I'll bet you also have a use tax to go along with it.

Now, think about how many felonies for filing fraudulent returns the government can get the populace for. Most states allow individuals to file and pay use taxes on the state income tax return.

53 posted on 08/01/2011 1:31:00 PM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Rose, there's a Messerschmitt in the kitchen. Clean it up, will ya?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Perdogg

Yeah, NC has the same thing. Wonder how that works out for them...


54 posted on 08/01/2011 3:10:26 PM PDT by Future Snake Eater (Don't stop. Keep moving!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: So Cal Rocket

THIS IS SOME SCARY STUFF!

The “Main Street Fairness Act” creates a “Governing Board” to supervise the administration of the “Streamlined Sales Tax Project”.

The “Streamlined Sales Tax Project” is an agreement between 44 states to modify and unify their sales taxes.

The “Main Street Fairness Act” also implies that all states will become part of the “Streamlined Sales Tax Project”.

What it comes down to is....this is a backhanded way to institute a NATIONAL SALES TAX and VAT!


55 posted on 08/01/2011 3:22:30 PM PDT by PanzerKardinal (Some things are so idiotic only an intellectual would believe it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: So Cal Rocket
sounds like something out of an Ayn Rand novel...
56 posted on 08/01/2011 3:53:28 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: grellis; AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; ...

Thanks sickoflibs.


57 posted on 08/01/2011 4:56:55 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Yes, as a matter of fact, it is that time again -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Springman; sergeantdave; cyclotic; netmilsmom; RatsDawg; PGalt; FreedomHammer; queenkathy; ...
MICHIGAN PING LIST

Please freepmail me if you wish to be added or dropped from the mitten ping.

Conyers??! I'm shocked, I tell ya!

58 posted on 08/01/2011 6:19:40 PM PDT by grellis (I am Jill's overwhelming sense of disgust.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RobRoy
Actually I think there always was, but it just wasn’t enforced. In my state (until tomorrow, that is), Washington, you are supposed to add up all your catalog purchases and send the state a check for the sales tax. If you don’t, you are technically breaking the law.

My husband and I have been paying use tax for about 20 years on catalog orders. Michigan IRS assumed that because of the nature of his job, he was avoiding paying them for his business, which was not the case. We have been saving receipts on all on-line and catalog orders ever since and paying Michigan use tax.

59 posted on 08/01/2011 7:25:18 PM PDT by stayathomemom (Beware of kittens modifying your posts.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

“This is crap. There never used to be a tax on catalogue sales such as from Sears catalogue.”

Are there no Sears brick and mortar stores in Michigan? My understanding is that if the retailer has a physical presence in the State, they are required to charge tax.


60 posted on 08/01/2011 9:17:02 PM PDT by F1reEng1neRed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson