Quote:
Originally Posted by Skip Wyona
We can agree to disagree I guess. Shipping cost comparisons can not be made without data. I do not have any. Do you? In any case, books are not delivered by truck or rail to bookstores but by mail or UPS like everyone else.
Neither do I claim that Amazon does not provide good products at low cost or high efficiency. I agree. I am a frequent user of Amazon.
Neither is it fair to compare sales tax to other forms of taxation that you might have issues with.
The internet sales tax exemption is a result of a Supreme Court decision, Quill Vs North Dakota, that exempted catalog sales from sales tax in states where they have no physical presence. It was applied to online businesses as well when internet business was small. No one can claim that internet business is small anymore.
So I am stating: Isn't it time to reexamine these basic assumptions? My concern is that every action one makes often as unintended consequences. What might the consequences be for giving Amazon a massive tax break?
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What is this massive tax break that Amazon has? The taxes are paid by the consumer, not Amazon. Were Amazon to charge the taxes, they would only be a funnel for the consumer, not the payer of the taxes.
I can see why we should readdress the issue, but I would rather not have the US Congress meddling further in state affairs. Let the states and the retailers fight it out.
Personally, I pay my state sales taxes for internet purchases on my tax form every year. Anyone who objects to Amazon not paying their taxes can take the same route.