Any One From NC here worried about the internet tax?

I'm in NC also, and am also curious about the smaller companies that offer affiliate programs. Will they still allow us NC affiliates to join and just not worry about collecting tax from our sales ... or will they have to do so in order to comply with law?

How will NC state know that Mr. Marketer has an affiliate program for his e-book series? Ya know?

I admit my ignorance in how the legalities in these instances.
Hopefully, there will be more detailed news soon so we know what we can and can not do.

You shouldn't be - I think it will come sooner or later for the whole Internet Community because some how the whole bailout money has to be paid back.

Timo

Dang that is bad news for me! I am moving to North Carolina next month! of all the states to move to and have a new law coming in! that stinks! well I guess its a good thing I have a few products of my own and I am moving more towards selling my own products but I guess I wont be able to promote anyone else's products in my newsletter's or on my site!

I was wondering how many other Internet Marketer's were in North Carolina! now I know of atleast 2...anyone else out there? and have you guys done any mastermind meetings? if so when and where and I will be there! and if not then would you guys be interested in setting one up? thanks, Mike Linley

I had not heard about this; however Amazon canceled my membership because of this problem. I am not sure how this will affect all my other affiliate programs. Where can I learn more about this new law?

I live in NC and it sucks to have my accounts canceled because companies do not want to deal with this.

I thought the US government had a law that prohibited such tax issues. I am not a lawyer and have not been following it closely. But I thought they renewed that law in the last twelve to eighteen months.

I think tj has it right though, the bail out money has to be paid for somehow. As do all of the other money hungry programs that the Congress and the administration are trying to get. These fools are going to spend us into oblivion. I know that I am seriously thinking of leaving the USA. I am afraid that like all great powers, they all end. Is this one on the downhill slide yet. I am beginning to wonder.

But back to the subject, you need to make your representatives in the state government know, loud and clear, this is not a positive move. Not only will they not generate additional tax revenue, but the incomes of many internet marketers will be decreased as they are having their affiliate programs canceled because of this law. The unintended consequences of his will be that income tax will be lower and total revenues to the state treasury will be smaller.

I was until I spoke to my Aunt about using her address...

Barbara, I found the Mastermind group you were talking about and the second annual warriors even in Raleigh! I will be there for sure! but as for a mastermind near you let's see if we can make it happen..if we can get enough interest and if not then I am going to be pretty close to that area and we can get together and two heads are better than one...I'll be in touch. -Mike Linley

Thanks for all those nuggets guys. Hopefully this will not affect smaller merchants. So far I haven't seen any changes, but it's very upsetting.

I am also an NC resident that got screwed by our state government. Affiliate Sales via Amazon was one of my multiple sources of income. One of the sites I've been running since 1996 exclusively sells digitally downloaded goods: virtualsoftware(dot)com

Many months ago, I sent a letter to the government officials sponsoring the senate and house bills. I was very tactful & respectful in my letter, citing myself as an expert in the field of digital goods and payments, since I've been doing it for over 14 years, and consulting on this very topic to the likes of VeriSign, EDS, etc... I also indicated the hardship it would cause, including the loss of NC jobs.

The only response I got was to be put on junk-mail lists from these government officials that, beneath their glossy color photos, says what great government officials they are and pandering for my support on unrelated topics. Not a single one sent any kind of reply indicating they had received my message or that they were at least taking my input into consideration. (I know they got my letter from the junk mail I now get from them.)

Passing a law to tax digital downloads really shows a lack of understanding or knowledge of how business is conducted in this century. There's simply no way they'll get anything but a fraction of the income they expect, and I can't see how the law is even enforceable.

Just watch, it won't take long for outside-of-NC companies to pop up offering "proxy" services for North Carolina residents. (Re-mailing services, Pay-Pal accounts, etc.) Amazon did what it had to do to protect against other states attempting the same thing as NC.

Attempting to establish state borders on the Internet is laughable and doesn't say much for the NC state legislators who think they can do it.

BTW, those who mentioned incorporating in a different state to try and get around it? That won't help. The Session Law seems to indicate that being a "resident" of NC is enough for them enforce tax collection.

Your feedback and comments are welcome.

Paul Cormier
WinCorp Software, Inc.