Posted on 10/05/2014 3:54:03 PM PDT by TurboZamboni
Amazon.com today begins collecting sales tax from purchasers in Minnesota and Maryland, marking the 22nd and 23rd states where the online retailer assesses the levy.
With the new states, about 69% of Americans—nearly 219 million people—will be subject to tax on their Amazon purchases.
That's a big switch from a few years ago, when Amazon fought to protect customers from sales tax, viewing it as a competitive advantage over brick-and-mortar rivals.
Now, Amazon perceives itself as disadvantaged versus online rivals such as eBay and Overstock. That's because a 1992 Supreme Court ruling allows states to apply sales tax to any retailer with operations in the state, which some states have interpreted to include partners.
With its vast and expanding network of warehouses, Amazon has a physical presence in more states than its competitors, meaning more of its customers have to pay sales tax. Amazon supports federal bill that would give states more leeway to charge sales tax, evening the playing field.
Generally, sales taxes in the states seen in the map above apply just to Amazon, except in those cases where another online retailer has a physical presence there.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Most states require you to pay a “use tax” on out of state purchases that will be used in state and which would not be exempt from a sales tax if bought within the state.
Actually yes, to someone who lives in New York (keeping in mind the three parts that make up the state of New York - New York, Long Island and Upstate.) Occasionally you will find that rare City-ite that will recognize a fourth geographical part of the state. That part is called Westchester - which is where those snooty locales you mentioned are situated...
More often than not, those that recognize the geographical division called "Westchester" tend to 'live' in New York during the week and in "Westchester" on weekends and holidays. They recognize that fourth geographical division of the state because they think they are somehow better than those plebeians who live Upstate..
Now to us who live in "Upstate NY"(by the previously mentioned division of the NY state geographical map), the real Upstate is up around Lake George.. ;-)
So here I am 70 miles nw of New York. I'm Upstate... ;-)
A real question is why does not AMAZON and others internet retailers allowed to keep your Gift Card credits and allow you to cash them in for CASH? NO PURCHASE NO SALES TAX.... No purchase no profit.
Sees to me that should be a nice piece of new legislation.
I live in Louisiana, and I get charged sales tax for everything I buy online. As far as I know, La. has not implemented an internet sales tax, but I keep getting charged one anyway.
“Yep, good old TENNESSEE is collecting the tax.”
Which makes Amazon a less desirale source to buy from. the Walmarts of the world are the ones pushing this. They contend it gives non brick and mortars an advantage, which isBS. They are out to get small businesses who are online only
Great point. This crap is anti small business and anti consumer
According to state laws in Tennessee, that is exactly what you are supposed to do
really? then a majority of Tennesseans are ignoring that!!
Not all states have a sales tax
Man, you sure hit the nail on the head!
I don’t waste my time wearing out shoes anymore, I check amazon first.
The idiotic southern state of Georgia does...
I know when I was in NJ, they had a provision to collect taxes for items purchased out of state and moved or shipped into the state... There is a name for the tax which I can’t recall... but they expect everyone to self-report. Which NOBODY DOES... it’s the whole Ayn Rand thing of writing laws to make everyone a criminal.
It’s not an ‘internet sales tax’. It’s just a sales or use tax. Ordering from a catalog brings the same obligation to pay. Some companies collect on behalf of the state and some don’t. If they don’t collect, you’re still obligated to send it in.
If leftards had their way, grocery stores would charge you accoring to how much you earn.
If you earn more, you’d pay more.
Now I’m more likely to just read the Amazon reviews and then buy on Ebay or Craigslist if I’m lucky.
Have to agree with you. Especially since the nearest real shopping is a 90 min round trip to the mall. Which does NOT allow my gun, hates Christmas, but sure wants the income it provides.
Daughter owns her own IT business and has added us to her Amazon Prime account. So postage is usually FREE! I got a Jabra Tour for $53, AT&T wanted $80. I wear twin hearing aids, and the Jabra Tour turned my NON blue tooth car into a blue tooth car, 2 users can be on it.
Nor do they carry Conservative senior friendly clothes or shoes. It’s all for under 20 and ethnic. I wear a size 5 shoe, can’t find that at the stupid mall. I have to ORDER my shoes and hope they fit.
Plus they have little handicapped parking and NO electric carts. Not all of us can afford those scooters and the carrier.
I order a lot online. I make it a point to find places that do not charge California sales tax. I figure every darn penny I can keep out of the looters hands is good.
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