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New Internet Sales Tax Bill Pending in Congress

by kindsvater
12 replies
Keep your eyes on House Bill 5660 (the "Main Street Fairness Act"), just submitted by Democrat Delahunt from Massachusetts. This bill will make it easier for states to collect a tax on Internet sales, even if the merchant has no physical presence in the state .

Note this does not impose a national sales tax.

So far, 24 states have adopted the "Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement" - and those states would be able to collect sales taxes from Internet sales. The purpose of the streamlined sales agreement is to establish uniform definitions of taxable items across states.
#bill #congress #internet #pending #sales #tax
  • Profile picture of the author NicheMayhem
    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

    Ever notice how much the words "regulation" and "strangulation" resemble eachother?
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by NicheMayhem View Post

      NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

      Ever notice how much the words "regulation" and "strangulation" resemble eachother?
      lol ... good one.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        The purpose of the streamlined sales agreement is to establish uniform definitions of taxable items across states.
        There is little more frightening than being told there is a "purpose" to a bill about taxation....I think most understand the purpose quite well...$$$$
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  • Profile picture of the author bgmacaw
    As always, "Who is John Galt?"
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Originally Posted by kindsvater View Post

    Keep your eyes on House Bill 5660 (the "Main Street Fairness Act"), just submitted by Democrat Delahunt from Massachusetts. This bill will make it easier for states to collect a tax on Internet sales, even if the merchant has no physical presence in the state .

    Note this does not impose a national sales tax.

    So far, 24 states have adopted the "Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement" - and those states would be able to collect sales taxes from Internet sales. The purpose of the streamlined sales agreement is to establish uniform definitions of taxable items across states.
    I looked at the SSUTA once. It was NOT streamlined, NOT standard, NOT fair, etc....

    They could solve SO many problems, and maybe get more money, if they just SCRAP the IRS, and local sales taxes, and replace the national income tax with a national sales tax.

    Naw, that is too simple and sane, they'll NEVER do it! Oh well, maybe I'll get some of the work given to the THOUSANDS of consultants. And then there are the accountants, auditors, etc.... And HEY, lawyers can get a lot of work TOO! All of the sudden, I had a flashback to that crazy guy in the fifth element!

    Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg: Oh, Father, you're so wrong. Let me explain. [closes office door, places an empty glass on desk] Life, which you so nobly serve, comes from destruction, disorder and chaos. Take this empty glass. Here it is, peaceful, serene and boring. But if it is. [Pushes glass off table and crashed.] Destroyed! [robot cleaners move to clean broken glass] Look at all these little things. So busy now. Notice how each one is useful. What a lovely ballet ensues, so full of form and color. Now, think about all those people that created them. Technicians, engineers, hundreds of people who'll be able to feed their children tonight so those children can grow up big and strong and have little teeny weeny children of their own, and so on and so forth. Thus, adding to the great chain... of life. [Desk prepares a glass of water and a bowl of fruit] You see, Father, by creating a little destruction, I'm actually encouraging life. In reality, you and I are in the same business. Cheers. [drinks water with cherry, only to choke on cherry stuck in throat. Zorg frantically presses all buttons on his desk in an attempt to get something to clear his throat]

    Father Vito Cornelius: Where's the robot to pat you on the back? Or the engineer? Or the children, maybe? There, you see now, how all your so-called power counts for absolutely nothing now, how your entire empire can come crashing down because of one... little... cherry.
    destruction, disorder and chaos? TAXES!
    all these little things. So busy now? People like I mentioned.
    Where's the robot to pat you on the back? Or the engineer? Probably never to be. 8-(

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by kindsvater View Post

    So far, 24 states have adopted the "Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement" - and those states would be able to collect sales taxes from Internet sales. The purpose of the streamlined sales agreement is to establish uniform definitions of taxable items across states.
    I actually think this is rather a good idea, overall, once you get beyond the selfish question of my own bottom line.

    We've been effectively robbing the state sales tax coffers for years, and we all knew that sooner or later they were going to say "okay, enough" and make their residents pay sales tax.

    So when they finally get their crap together and make it happen, I think what we really ought to be doing is laughing and saying "well, it was nice while it lasted."
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Brock
      I don't even know where to begin on this one...

      One thing is for sure, us physical product affiliates are going to end up getting screwed on this one.
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      • Profile picture of the author entry
        Originally Posted by Daniel Brock View Post

        I don't even know where to begin on this one...

        One thing is for sure, us physical product affiliates are going to end up getting screwed on this one.
        Please elaborate on that comment.

        Can they ask for tax on every sale? can this bill automatically be merged with PayDotCom, clickbank automatically?

        is it applying to the US only or uk and European countries?
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        • Profile picture of the author evollusion
          I would think that this might run into constitutional issues. Essentially it would amount to a company being taxed twice, once by the state which the merchant is headquartered in and again by the state where the item is being shipped.

          Additionally there is the matter of enforcement. If there is no presence or incorporation in the state where the merchant is headquartered, how are states going to penalize those who don't conform the additional tax. Additionally there are the logistics of the matter. Can you imagine what kind of bureaucracy that would need to be set up by each individual state to monitor every single company in all the other 49 states? It would be mind boggling and far to easy to game the system.

          Now, if the state wanted to levy a tax directly on the purchaser I think that states might have a legal argument with which to move forward.
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          • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
            Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

            There is little more frightening than being told there is a "purpose" to a bill about taxation....I think most understand the purpose quite well...$$$$
            I'm sure it's a complete coincidence that a bill named the "Main Street Fairness Act" is floating during the summer before an election. Especially a mid-term election with no presidential race to bring out the vote.

            Osama bin Laden, British Petroleum and Internet merchants - the new axis of evil... :confused:
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  • Profile picture of the author hud_aus
    This Christmas present to BIG BOX stores is brought to us by Santa's helper elf, Amazon!
    If passed could mean a tax increase of almost 20% to 30%, includes filing costs!
    If IM's don't address this NOW 38 Billion floats out of our pockets.
    Worldwide increase!
    Does anyone Care?
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