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E-commerce Sites to Collect Sales Taxes Nationwide

aengblom writes "An agreement between 38 states and some of the nation's largest retailers is bringing taxes to the net, The Washington Post reports. In return for collecting taxes for all U.S. sales, the retailers would not be held liable for taxes they 'failed' to collect previously. Best quote: 'If we disclose who these companies are, it's like putting a target on their back.' The Post reports that Wal-Mart, Marshall Fields, Target, Toys R Us and Mervyn's have all 'independently' announced plans to collect taxes nation-wide." Internetnews.com has a story about the taxes and an article claiming it won't hurt online sales.

2 of 572 comments (clear)

  1. Fair Enough by endoboy · · Score: 5, Interesting
    If (big if...) one accepts the proposition that sales taxes are legitimate, then there's no reason Amazon should be any less taxed than the bookstore down the street....

    Last I checked, the UPS guy was driving on the road that local taxes paid for...

  2. Use the phone. by Garg · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Before online shopping, I used to mail-order everything 'cause if you bought out-of-state, there was no sales tax.

    So now just look up what you want online, and call their 800 number to order instead of using the Web.

    I suppose they'll plug that too though...

    Sigh.

    Garg

    --
    Garg
    Alumnus, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters