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States To Try Taxation Of The Net Again

kimbermatic writes "From the Denver Post comes this article that the states are ready to try and tax the internet sales once more. The poor economy is sending the 'hounds' sniffing for more money. An interesting, and alarming read if your interested in protecting online merchants from this taxation plan." 'though it's not really online sales that are the big ones people want -- it's catalog mail order sales, which are still much bigger then online sales.

2 of 454 comments (clear)

  1. While I don't like being taxed, fair's fair by PhysicsGenius · · Score: 0, Troll
    The people who are ordering stuff over the Internet and from J Crew/LL Bean are the richest 10% of the country[1]. It is only fair that we contribute our share towards running it and take some of the crushing burden off of the WalMart-shopping, non-SUV-driving, non-alternative-remedy-using hoi polloi.

    [1]Wearings jeans and a free tshirt, avoiding showers and eating macaroni and cheese all the time doesn't make you poor. It makes you trendy.

  2. Oh Brother What is Up with Them Now by kenp2002 · · Score: 2, Troll

    They Said:
    Monday, October 28, 2002 - Tax-free Internet purchases could be dot-gone within a year or two as states search for ways to lower budget deficits
    I Say:
    Has it ever occurred to them to curb spending?
    They Said:
    Colorado is projected to lose $686.4 million in revenue in 2006 if it does not tax interstate e-commerce, according to a study released last year by the University of Tennessee for the Institute for State Studies.
    I say:
    Most families don't spend more than they earn, why don't "They" quit spending money they don't have?
    They Say:
    The report estimates that all 50 states could collectively lose more than $45 billion in Internet sales tax revenue in 2006.
    I say:
    You can't lose what you didn't have in the first place. It isn't their money it's OUR MONEY!
    They Say:
    The Streamlined Sales Tax proposal, on which delegates from the 29 states will vote on Nov. 13 in Chicago, would simplify tax collection procedures.
    I say:
    The US Constitution is around 10 pages long. The US tax laws total over 2 million pages. You cannot simplify the beast by adding MORE laws.
    They Say:
    "It's my hope that we reach that level next year," said project committee member Bruce Johnson, who is a Utah tax commissioner.
    I say:
    There is a man with few friends.
    They say:
    Gov. Bill Owens, who has put high-tech development at the top of his agenda since taking office in 1999, firmly opposes any sales tax on the Internet

    "He feels it's really taxation without representation," said Dan Hopkins, a spokesman for the Republican governor.
    I say:
    There's someone to vote for!
    They say:
    Democratic businessman Rollie Heath, Owens' challenger in November's gubernatorial election, is pushing for Colorado to join the tax project.
    I say:
    This is why I will NEVER VOTE DEMOCRATE. All they want to do is STEAL my money and spend it on things I don't want. They're Socialists now, quit calling them Democrats.
    They say:
    If Colorado joins the project, the state would have to make significant changes to its tax procedures.
    I say:
    See the earlier comment on the 2 million pages of tax law!
    They say:
    But states have the authority to tax sales from online vendors who have a physical presence in their jurisdictions.
    I say:
    Pass the laws and watch them move their servers to Non-US locations. That will mean more money flowing out of the US economy.
    They say:
    In Colorado, if a company maintains an office or warehouse in the state or regularly sends a sales staff here, it has a physical presence.
    States don't have the authority to tax sales from online companies who don't have a physical presence in the state.
    I say:
    Ok, I have a warehouse in CA, Offices in NY, and my servers in MN. Who gets to tax me?
    They say:
    But even when an online sale isn't subject to a levy, Colorado law requires residents to pay a use tax on the purchase.
    Few are aware of this requirement.
    I say:
    Democracy is rule by the people. If the people don't know about the law, how legitimate can the law be without the support of the people?
    They say:
    But the consumer still must pay use taxes, he said.
    I say:
    Remember your citizens are armed Big Brother, and there will be a point we won't take it anymore. We rebelled once against taxes, and overthrew an invincible power, and we can do it again. Don't push you luck. Be thankful we vote you out of office for pulling shit like this.

    --
    -=[ Who Is John Galt? ]=-