Smoot what-now? - Fox News: "Congress to end tax-free online shopping." Ah, this will end well, just like every other time Congress has moved to restrict free trade.
Don't worry too much about it -- they've done this at the start of every new Congress for the last 40 years. Before the Internet they were trying to get the big mail order, infomercial, telephone sales companies. Each time they've pushed out the PR angle: this year will be the year...I don't see any reason why the end result will be any different this time.
Existing law in 45 of the 50 states already requires taxpayers to personally report the amount of any sales tax they did not pay in the previous year. Either as part of their state tax filing, or with a separate form for "use tax."
This is an enforcement issue, not a "raising your taxes" issue.
It's always been more effort than it's worth to track down the 80 cents you should've paid on that U2 CD. And states cannot force retailers to act as tax collectors, which is why the existing law is lacking teeth. But the states' mutual budget constraints may finally force the issue.
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Don't worry too much about it -- they've done this at the start of every new Congress for the last 40 years. Before the Internet they were trying to get the big mail order, infomercial, telephone sales companies. Each time they've pushed out the PR angle: this year will be the year...I don't see any reason why the end result will be any different this time.
Good point Jim.
Existing law in 45 of the 50 states already requires taxpayers to personally report the amount of any sales tax they did not pay in the previous year. Either as part of their state tax filing, or with a separate form for "use tax."
This is an enforcement issue, not a "raising your taxes" issue.
It's always been more effort than it's worth to track down the 80 cents you should've paid on that U2 CD. And states cannot force retailers to act as tax collectors, which is why the existing law is lacking teeth. But the states' mutual budget constraints may finally force the issue.
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