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Nov 07 – Nov 13, 2011 Edition Republican Senators Back Internet Sales Tax
WASHINGTON, D.C. AUTHORLNK NEWS VIA CNET NEWS/November 7, 2011–The days of tax-free Internet shopping may soon be coming to an abrupt end. Two Republican senators are preparing to introduce new legislation that would allow states to force Amazon.com and other out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes.
Sens. Mike Enzi of Wyoming and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee are currently putting the final touches on their bill, which is backed by Wal-Mart Stores, Best Buy, Home Depot, and other companies that are currently required to collect sales taxes. It’s a bipartisan concept: a related effort was embraced by Democrats including Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois a few months ago.
“It’s time to close the online sales tax loophole,” says Jason Brewer, a vice president at the Retail Industry Leaders Association in Arlington, Va., which represents big box stores. “Amazon and companies like it are no longer fledgling startups.”
A Republican Senate aide told CNET the bill would likely appear late this week or next week.
