Quote:Large multi-state retailers, including Amazon, have expressed concern that a high-dollar exemption could let thousands of small retailers, including sellers on eBay.com doing under $5 million a year, sell tax-free at an unfair advantage
After Amazon's refusal to adjust the shipping allowance it gives its small sellers when postal rates increased, I'm not shedding any tears for Amazon.
This is one of those rare times when I'm rooting for eBay('s lobbyists) and against Amazon('s lobbists). The costs, technical requirements, and time involved, for small businesses of trying to implement this tax proposal would drive many of them out of business or offline.
If Amazon and other large retailers are so worried about one company having an unfair advantage over another, perhaps they should think about giving up the volume shipping discounts that they receive from UPS, etc. that small ecommerce merchants don't receive
Quote:DMA tax counsel George S. Isaacson says. "I would hope the Democratic leadership would say, 'We don't want to get tagged with a bad tax bill as the introduction to our leadership,'" he adds.
Hopefully, this sentiment is shared by a majority of Dems.
To require collection of state taxes by small ecomm merchants would, IMO, shut them down. It is just too complicated. Even with a single tax rate.
My biggest fear regarding the SSTA is the same regarding
any new tax: Once it's implemented (even with the minimum gross-sales figure in the millions), it's easier to justify expanding, changing, increasing, etc. etc. Not only that, it opens the door to NEW taxes. Every bureaucrat, with their hands already out seeking new cash cows, will only be encouraged to extend them farther.
And lets not forget... with every tax (and new tax, for that matter) comes new agencies, additional regulation, government waste and loopholes for the privileged to find.
Politicians...
Can't live with 'em...
... can't shoot 'em...
[quote author=FiberGuy link=topic=1840.msg34540#msg34540 date=1164994220]
My biggest fear regarding the SSTA is the same regarding
any new tax: Once it's implemented (even with the minimum gross-sales figure in the millions), it's easier to justify expanding, changing, increasing, etc. etc. Not only that, it opens the door to NEW taxes. Every bureaucrat, with their hands already out seeking new cash cows, will only be encouraged to extend them farther.
And lets not forget... with every tax (and new tax, for that matter) comes new agencies, additional regulation, government waste and loopholes for the privileged to find.
Politicians...
Can't live with 'em...
... can't shoot 'em...
[/quote]
So true, it never fails that when new business legislation is enacted, the first ones to feel the effects are small business owners. It appears that the obstacles facing small B & M stores have finally found their way to online merchants. I haven't even figured out the tax system for my own state. I can't imagine attempting to maneuver all 50 of them. :blinkie: