Slashdot Mirror
Warming Battle Over Online Taxes
mackertm writes "The NYT (free registration, blah blah) has an interesting story about the fight over Internet taxation. A coalition of states and some big clicks-and-mortar retailers are leading the charge to simplify the process of collecting taxes online. Amazon, Dell, and eBay are the biggest pure e-tailers resisting this movement. It's fun to see Amazon try and talk about how difficult it would be to implement taxes for all states, when it's already doing it for Target and Toys 'R Us."
I, for one, don't collect taxes when I'm running a garage sale.
--sex
Very popular slashdot journal for adul
Drop the internet sales tax idea completely. Want a package shipped to use? Delivery tax. Road Tax. What to connect to the net? line tax. Connection tax. Why not have all these 'toll roads'? It would make the people who are using the products/services pay for things.
"If you are on fire you can just stop, drop, and roll. If you fall into Lava you are just dead." - my 5yr old daughter
Also, EVERYTHING I sell is used. Taxes cannot be charged on used goods. Taxes were ALREADY paid. I have heard of some states trying to come down on flea markets and yard salers in some states. If they are selling new, it's one thing. If selling used, again, taxes have already been paid.
Yell & scream & rant & rave... it's no use... you need a shaaaave ~ Bugs Bunny
We've got a use tax here in Michigan, but I've never paid it, simply because I think it's unenforceable. Only Congress has jurisdiction over the taxation of interstate commerce. Maybe these states should become familiar with Article 1, Section 6 of the Constitution.
Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
It's smoking.
Yep, another thing to blame on the smokers.
See, states have been taxing cigarettes like mad. New York, for example. Some retailers in other states were doing a rather brisk business selling cigarettes online: no tax.
They all thought the government would clamp down on internet taxing before too long, and they were right. Not only do they get to claim they're protecting the world from smokers, but they grab some extra cash for the here and now. Never mind that sales taxes always have a chilling effect on spending. Technically, though, it's just the companies that are doing bad right now. Joe Six-pack has been spending his little heart out, and the economy hasn't budged.
So is it the state's fault for raising taxes on cigarettes, or the online retailers "cheating" the states out of the money they've already spent that was supposed to come out of smoke taxes?
I don't smoke, but think it's none of the government's business.
...
And if China implements a tax on everything sold online, regardless to the fact that neither the buyer or seller live in China, we're legally required to pay that tax.. if you feel like obeying the laws. Just because something is legally required doesn't mean it's logical or that you actually have to do it.
Don't forget to ask why certain companies are wanting to push Internet taxes. A lot of companies get to keep a portion of the taxes they collect from their customers. If they help push these laws through they'll get to keep some of the money collected. Meanwhile Ma & Pa Shop get to deal with more redtape that ends up costing them more and making them less likely to successfully launch a new business and thus hurting the economy.
At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
Folks, if a bunch of states get together and legally levy a new tax on Internet sales where a resident of one state begins, through whatever means to owe and pay taxes in another state, it's time to pack up and call it a day.
First of all, the very concept of states organizing outside the auspices of Congress is both bizarre and of some concern.
But more importantly, this country is roundly screwed if anything resembling this is passed and upheld. It will make a complete mockery of the Constitution, and it will once and for all remove all semblance of dignity from the citizens.
This must be opposed, not only because it is a new tax, but because it is expressly prohibited in the Constitution. There can be no taxation by one state upon the citizens of another state, PERIOD. The reason for this is that those so taxed have no representation in the taxing state. That's it. Game over. No amount of political double-speak bullshit is going to change this fact.
But, we all know in the era of the 95-year copyright, that interpretation of the Constitution is often stretched beyond the absurd.
So, if these states do form the United States of Tax, would the last taxpayer to leave please bring the flag?
No joke here folks. I worked in the U.S. for a while, and I paid a lot less taxes (your situation may vary) than I do in Canada.
Of course, in Canada we don't mind so much - we implement silly things like free healthcare (getting sick in the U.S. was one of the worst experiences of my life. who wants to argue with insurance companies when you're bed ridden?).
aside: Honestly, people always talk about how great our healthcare system is in Canada. Guys, I experienced Canada's [a lot] and the U.S. [a bit], there is a HUGE difference. The hype is true.
The U.S. has better roads though - can't argue with that.
..mork
and it be charged on evryting.
Ever buy tires? They're all tax. I work for a nonproft in a state that forgives these taxes. A set of 4 nice snow skins - Goodyear UltraGrip for a large van - retail to the drones for about $450. Nonprofits get them for $200 and the GSA buys them for $90.
It all be taxes, bunky. You have no idear what tax bracket you really be jivin.
Why should we discriminate against bricks-and-mortar retailers? Why should it only be their customers, who support their local economy, who are penalized?
Granted, implementation of sales taxes for all fifty states plus potentially scores of international jurisdictions is a nontrivial endeavour (understatement), but it's part of the cost of doing business. Look on the bright side--online retailers get to save a lot of money on mortar.
If the only added value an online retailer can offer is "I can offer marginally lower prices because I skirt tax laws"--do they deserve to be in business?
~Idarubicin
I made the following comment recently in another thead, I think it applies here as well:
I'm assuming that the majority of Slashdot folk are in favor of keeping the Internet tax-free -- at least for the time being. (IMO, new regulations forced on the internet sector for online sales and Internet access would have a horrible affect on an already hard-hit portion of our economy... but then again, I'm biased... but aren't we all.)
As mentioned in the article, legislation has been introduced in both the House and the Senate that will extend the current moratorium on new taxes for Internet access and e-commerce activity.
Contact your members of Congress and voice your support for House Bill H.R. 49 and Senate Bill S.52
Contact Congress concerning H.R.49 Here
Contact Congress concerning S.52 Here
Polite emails (and/or snail-mailed letters, as they carry the most weight) simply stating your support for these bills will suffice.
My local government does a terrible job of plowing snow off the roads, particularly in the residential neighborhoods. It would be better for my neighborhood to pool some funds and hire a service to clear the roads (maybe even hire a neighborhood resident with a snowplow on his pickup truck).
Now, if we can clear our roads more efficiently without involving government, why should we be paying taxes for that purpose?
While Amazon and Dell are the loudest complainers, they will be laughing all the way to the bank when the aftershock is over.
Small Businesses which sell online will be killed by this as I understand (which I may not) it's present form. Small one or two people web stores just don't have the resources to collect and pay sales tax to all 50 states. It's hard enough to do for the one they are in. For example, some states don't charge tax on clothes while some do. I know in my state certain types of groceries are taxed while others are not. With all the differences, not to mention the actual payments to each state, the overhead of maintaining this is huge.
I am sure this could run many small web sites out of business. Amazon at least should welcome that.
-Pete
Soccer Goal Plans
I don't see the states "inspecting" most of the items they want to charge inter-state sales tax on. I SURE don't see them handing the extra $$ over to the Treasury of the United States (note the Constitutional emphasis on making sure that the states don't profit!).
And there's no Congressional approval.