[Red Badger]

Nobody argued sales tax when mail order catalogs was the ‘Internet’ of its day................

[RainMan]

Time to start a subscription business providing up to date sales tax information for every zip code in the country that retailers can integrate into their websites to calculate the correct tax. Who wants to join me :)

[Dilbert San Diego]

Yep it’s the same concept, regarding mail orders and internet orders.

This reminds me that some states ask you to pay tax on your out of state mail orders/internet purchases.

How many people actually file a tax return, on which they show they purchased a certain amount from out of state companies?? How would taxing authorities have any clue what you buy online?

[heterosupremacist]

Certain things are inevitable! Like Death & Taxes. HMMM... A (somewhat) related incident: Last week I purchased a 'spray' of flowers for a dear friends wake - select one, enter CC info, go to checkout, submit order. Standard online transaction, right? Purchased in NY & delivered to NJ; it clearly stated, "Sales Tax 0.00%." When I selected 'submit' I saw they had added an (undisclosed) $19.00 SERVICE FEE! When a person finalizes an online purchase, I would expect that to be regarded as a legal contract, am I mistaken? If 'finalized' does not mean final co$t - what exactly does it mean? GRRR!

[LoveMyFreedom]

But the state’s didn’t have a deficit like they do now. They need a way to balance the books.

[trebb]

Yep - and if one buys a car in one State but doesn’t register it there, they end up paying the sales tax in the State they do register it in - one way or another, some State will receive the taxes.