Re:Sorry, Shoppers, but Why Can’t Amazon Collect More Tax?
by ghshephard on Sunday December 27, 2009 @01:34PM
(#1017384)
" discrimination against bricks & mortar businesses seems quite unfair."
One rationale is that the Company in Nevada isn't using any services in California, so they shouldn't pay taxes for services they aren't receiving. I think that's ingenuine - it's a good reason not to pay _property taxes_ in California - but Sales Taxes are supposed to paid, they are called "Use Taxes" - and most larger business pay them, but individuals either don't bother or don't know.
The debate is over anyways - Amazon will be collecting sales taxes in all states within two years. In the meantime, their behavior has been both ethical and legal - and they enjoyed a competitive advantage - for a while.
One rationale is that the Company in Nevada isn't using any services in California, so they shouldn't pay taxes for services they aren't receiving. I think that's ingenuine - it's a good reason not to pay _property taxes_ in California - but Sales Taxes are supposed to paid, they are called "Use Taxes" - and most larger business pay them, but individuals either don't bother or don't know.
The debate is over anyways - Amazon will be collecting sales taxes in all states within two years. In the meantime, their behavior has been both ethical and legal - and they enjoyed a competitive advantage - for a while.