Amazon packing again

[RIROCKHOUND]

So... Am I understanding it correctly?
Amazon doesn't want to pay the same internet based sales tax that they are supposed to pay, and that a mom and pop online book store in the same state would have to pay? Or am I missing something...

Kind of like if Saltwater Edge had to pay more in taxes on internet orders than say BPS or Cabelas?

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

So... Am I understanding it correctly?
Amazon doesn't want to pay the same internet based sales tax that they are supposed to pay, and that a mom and pop online book store in the same state would have to pay? Or am I missing something...

There technically is no "internet based sales tax" that any company is supposed to pay.

Amazon doesn't actually operate any store fronts in any state. The laws that are being passed (the SC one is a little different) are declaring the affiliates - typically individuals like myself - who advertise their products as "Agents" of the company and saying that those "Agents" mean that Amazon is required to collect state sales tax on internet sales.

In SC, the law (if I'm reading it correctly) is declaring that Amazon's distribution warehouse is evidence that the company operates within state boundaries and should therefore be required to pay the tax. However, you would still have to purchase through the website.

I always come back to the Staples.com case... because they own stores in every state, they have a defined presence and are required to collect sales tax on internet sales just as they would if someone walked into the store. Amazon does not have any physical stores that you can walk into.

These laws have been called "Amazon.com Tax Laws" because they very specifically target Amazon.com's operations and their business model.

Kind of like if Saltwater Edge had to pay more in taxes on internet orders than say BPS or Cabelas?

Saltwater Edge isn't paying any tax that BPS or Cabelas is able to avoid. SWE *collects* sales tax from the consumer and then is required to make quarterly Sales Tax payments to their state government.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

So... Am I understanding it correctly?
Amazon doesn't want to pay the same internet based sales tax that they are supposed to pay, and that a mom and pop online book store in the same state would have to pay? Or am I missing something...

Kind of like if Saltwater Edge had to pay more in taxes on internet orders than say BPS or Cabelas?

A good example is if Cabelas came to Rhode Island, asked for what Amazon was asking for and got it, despite having a physical location in RI they would NOT have to collect sales tax from someone who placed an Internet or catalog order in Rhode Island.

Some states have allowed this, others have shot it down.

SWE has to collect the sales tax on an Internet sale to someone in RI making us more "expensive" in the eyes of the customer, assuming they aren't going to pay the tax (which almost no one does) for that same purchase that they might make from someone who wouldn't collect that tax.

Or, the other way around, if SWE were to set up a warehouse in South Carolina, we would have to collect sales tax from SC residents even if the package shipped from RI.

Naturally in states where this has occurred, tackle shops got a little bitter about it. And small business in general tends to frown on the Amazon scenario. Even the Tea Party has a hard on about it and some money hungry states are sending back taxes to Amazon.

As JohnnyD mentioned, a Google search for "Amazon tax laws" will fill you in with the details if you want them.