What about the online auctions? And what about the sellers of any site not charging the state taxes?
When I purchase online, if the company doesn't charge for Maine State Taxes, I surely am not going to tack it on! In fact, when I order, and if the seller doesn't make provisions to charge me for Maine Tax, there is NO space for me to insert Maine tax.
So, these states are nailing the buyer! How unfair is that?!
I have run across some sites that tack on the individual's state tax, but not many. And if they don't charge me, I don't pay it. So why should I, as the buyer, be responsible for this?
J.C.Penny's is one online company that does charge for state taxes. I can't think of any others.
State Government Glutton ping.
I believe Target does, too.
And citizens worry about the Patriot Act. This has a more far-reaching effect on average citizens than the Patriot Act ever will!
Nice to see the Government has so much time on their hands to investigate citizens and bill them for on-line smokes, yet there's not enough time to seal the borders and enforce existing immigration laws.
These kind of taxes are reminiscent of a government-run protection racket...
Don't worry. They'll get around to those soon.
I guess the other states are waiting for New Jersey to take the lead in this.
Depending on the brand of cigarettes, that is about a 100% tax.
And they wonder why folks buy cigarettes elsewhere. . .
Laws do vary anymore, but in the pre-Internet mail-order days, a company could only charge state taxes if they had an outlet in that state.
For example, mail order JCPenny could charge taxes on an order if they had at least one JCPenny retail store in that state. Otherwise, they (and the purchaser) could avoid paying state tax where the purchaser lived if JCPenny had no retail outlet in the purchaser's state.
This was a great incentive for mail order companies and their out of state customers.
Ebay purchases will be next.
With no sales tax in Delaware, many people cross the state line from Pennsylvania to buy there...but you are required to report all purchases to Pennsylvania and pay "use tax" on them. Many states chase this down for big-ticket items like automobiles, but Internet commerce has broadened the problem and the enforcement.
I'm not a smoker, but I recall noting years ago that few people would break the tax seal on cigarette packs (just opening the corner). Federal offense there.
Disclaimer: IANAL
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT??????????
The State Legislature in TX is apparently voting to start charging $6.00 more a carton in Taxes on Cigarettes. Also, they are voting on raising Taxes on alcohol.
When everyone is forced to quit drinking, and smoking, I'm not sure how they plan to get money from Texans..oh, yes, toll roads.
Texas is starting to resemble an East Coast State these days.
It's only good (to the state) because they have a demonized segment of society to pick on.
If they do this on cigarettes they should be made to do it on ALL online purchases.
I don't buy any cigarettes in the US anymore because of this problem. Just use the internet and buy from another country where these tax hogs are not privey to your personal information. They will ship right to your door. Cheaper too!!!!
As Michigan racks up award after award as the worst state in the union to live and work, leave it to the nanny state clods to charge into a breach and throw a bomb to make the state more miserable.
The anti-smoking nazis infesting Lansing want to charge people with crimes for puffing in bars, restaurants and workplaces.
We should not be surprised that these Marxist thieves are breaking and entering into private property called bars, restaurants and businesses to impose fascist state control. After all, a diversion is needed to take attention away from the highest unemployment rate in the nation and businesses running as fast as they can away from Michigan’s high taxes and onerous regulations.
Fixing these problems would require skill, courage and acumen on the part of the clucking political class. Instead we get balloon popping clowns playing political skullduggery.
As a state sinks down into incompetence and impotency to properly manage a society of free individuals, we get a diversionary circus of punishing property owners for legally using their property.
We still wait for the anti-smoking nazis to produce a death certificate that states: “Died from second-hand smoke.”
In the meantime, enjoy your burgers and beer. They’re next.
Fact of the matter our country and Govt is broke and will confiscate money any way they while proclaiming it is for the good of the people. First they target a minority user group. Get their product labeled a syn product and then they can levy excess syn taxes without too much protest. Soon they will come up with the idea that we should be taxed 100% since its the states money and you will be returned enough to live on according to your contribution to society.
You've got that right and we have Wal-Mart to prove it.
Now comes a question to mind as to what Michigan crazies might intend on doing. Will the state seize or gain access to Wal-Mart records and obtain their customer identities so they can be sent an invoice for sales tax on the difference between Wal-Mart's low price and a higher price of same merchandise at J. C. Penney?
After all, isn't the act of buying the same merchandise at a lower price, avoidance of paying sales tax on a higher price?
I am glad sales tax laws only effect Businesses. Tax agencies would never bother individuals if we only had a 30% sales tax, or so I have been told.