Ruling on Internet sales tax could boost Florida efforts to collect

Sarasota Herald Tribune ^ | 12/3/13 | Lloyd Dunkelberger

[SoFloFreeper]

A U.S. Supreme Court decision this week rejecting an appeal from Amazon. com that contested a New York law that requires the Internet retailer to pay sales taxes there could provide momentum for a similar measure in Florida.

The issue of Amazon paying sales taxes in Florida is already settled, with the retailing giant announcing this year that it would build two distribution centers in the state. Once those centers are operating — in Lakeland and Ruskin — the company will have to pay sales taxes on Internet purchases made by Florida customers.

[SoFloFreeper]

Instead of finding ways to cut taxes, the Republican legislature seems hellbent on finding a way to raise taxes.

Great.

[Ray76]

Amazon is putting these distro centers in several other states too

Any new thing must be taxed... how did they ever get along with out that tax? Greedy bastards.

[Moonman62]

Once those centers are operating — in Lakeland and Ruskin — the company will have to pay sales taxes on Internet purchases made by Florida customers.

Customers will be paying sales taxes, not Amazon.

[Joe Brower]

Florida Freeper

[NautiNurse]

Customers will be paying sales taxes, not Amazon.

Yep. Collect and remit sales taxes would be the correct verbiage.

[Gay State Conservative]

Having made a number of major electronics purchases in the last few years (TVs,laptops,cameras) I always buy over the web and have never had a dime in sales tax added.My state requires that all such purchases be reported to the tax dept and our sales tax rate be applied and paid.I've never done so...and don't feel even *slightly* guilty,given the hundreds of thousands I've paid in state taxes in my life...only to see it go Osama Obama's illegal aunt and uncle and to a state politician who gets an annual state pension of $250K after having taken the 5th a dozen times before a Congressional committee in DC.

If tax free web shopping stops I'll go up to New Hampshire (no sales tax) and won't report *those* purchases either.

[sickoflibs]

CA was the first to force them using a similar rationale.

Amazon is getting so big its physical presence in states open them up to this.

This isnt all bad because now smaller competitors will be able to compete with them without having to collect the tax, and Amazon is so successful they can set prices such that it makes up for the taxes.

Personally I love dodging the Maryland sales tax with Amazon.

[rarestia]

Yeah, this is a bald-faced lie. Customers are paying the sales taxes. In other states where Amazon has built distribution centers, oftentimes they extend deeply-discounted if not free same-day and next-day shipping to Prime members.