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Democratic senator wants Internet sales taxes

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April 12, 2011 4:00 AM PDT

A Democratic senator is preparing to introduce legislation that aims to end the golden era of tax-free Internet shopping.
The proposal--expected to be made public soon after Tax Day--would rewrite the ground rules for Internet and mail order sales by eliminating the ability of Americans to shop at Web sites like Amazon.com and Overstock.com without paying state sales taxes. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second most senior Senate Democrat, will introduce the bill after the Easter recess, a Democratic aide told CNET.
"Why should out-of-state companies that sell their products online have an unfair advantage over Main Street bricks-and-mortar businesses?" Durbin said in a speech in Collinsville, Ill., in February. "Out-of-state companies that aren't paying their fair share of taxes are sticking Illinois residents and businesses with the tab."
Durbin is an idiot. How is this suppose to help the economy? Internet site usually charge less for their products, brick and mortar businesses pass the tax on in higher prices.
 
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Durbin is an idiot. How is this suppose to help the economy? Internet site usually charge less for their products, brick and mortar businesses pass the tax on in higher prices.

It's already the law in Illinois, which is probably why Durbin intro'd it in Washington. It makes sense to me. Why shouldn't I have to pay state sales tax on a purchase made on the internet? This is costing my state money. I myself probably spend $1,000 a year on line. The only time sales tax is collected is if the merchant has brick-and-mortar in Illinois. Why? Okay. Let's not call it a sales tax. Let's call it a buy tax. But one way or another, taxes should be paid.
 
It's already the law in Illinois, which is probably why Durbin intro'd it in Washington. It makes sense to me. Why shouldn't I have to pay state sales tax on a purchase made on the internet? This is costing my state money. I myself probably spend $1,000 a year on line. The only time sales tax is collected is if the merchant has brick-and-mortar in Illinois. Why?
I would imagine it's because Illinois has no authority over vendors in other states and cannot force them to collect.

Okay. Let's not call it a sales tax. Let's call it a buy tax. But one way or another, taxes should be paid.
Don't call it a "buy tax" call it a "use tax" and I think it's the law in every state that has a sales tax (not just Illinois). As I understand it, most people technically do have to pay state sales tax on internet purchases - but compliance is about zero because you're expected to fill out a form and send in your payment.

If the above is true, then Durbin wants Congress to tackle the issue because it presumably *does* have the power to make a vendor in California collect tax for Illinois, and the compliance rate would shoot from near zero to near 100%.

What would the effect be on internet stores? They'd lose that particular advantage and would have to further raise prices to cover costs associated with keeping track of dozens of state and local tax rates. What burden does that put on Amazon vs. a typical mom and pop internet seller?
 
people buy online for one main reason. Price. Start taxing online purchases, prices go up to compensate, and they are down to ... well... no reason to buy online.
 
This proves the old analogy remains true, "democrats haven't seen a tax they didn't like."
 
It's already the law in Illinois, which is probably why Durbin intro'd it in Washington. It makes sense to me. Why shouldn't I have to pay state sales tax on a purchase made on the internet? This is costing my state money. I myself probably spend $1,000 a year on line. The only time sales tax is collected is if the merchant has brick-and-mortar in Illinois. Why? Okay. Let's not call it a sales tax. Let's call it a buy tax. But one way or another, taxes should be paid.

Bull****, it doesn't cost your state one red cent. Nobody took that money from the state.
 
This proves the old analogy remains true, "democrats haven't seen a tax they didn't like."

It's not just Democrats who want to push this. Here in Texas, Governor Perry was pushing for it too, but he was shot down. At least we still have Congressmen in Texas who have not lost their minds. LOL.
 
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Durbin is an idiot. How is this suppose to help the economy? Internet site usually charge less for their products, brick and mortar businesses pass the tax on in higher prices.

This is the same senator that sets a price a credit card company they can charge if it is used. Durbin sppears to be in the pocket of big retailers. Those are the people that would benefit from what he stuck into fin reg. Consumers will get screwed with fees to make up for the lost revenues by credit card companies.

Now he is doing the same thing with this proposal. How is using the internet different than calling a company that has no stores in the state you live in and have them ship you goods. The consumer pats no tax in that case as well.

I wonder if Durbin wears his kneepads while on the senate floor in case in runs into a retail lobbyist who would like a blow***.
 
Bull****, it doesn't cost your state one red cent. Nobody took that money from the state.

Well, I disagree. As I said, I spent, probably, $1K on line last year. Maybe the state got their tax on a quarter of that. It most certainly does cost Illinois money when an Illinois consumer buys on line and avoids Illinois sales tax. You might say, "Well, they shouldn't have to pay it." That's one thing....but to say it doesn't cost IL revenue is just plain incorrect.
 
What are the Libbos going to do when they run out of tax money?
 
Why shouldn't they pay a tax? Having to pay a tax when online competitors don't causes your local businesses to be at a disadvantage compared to their distant online counterparts. Even people who are opposed to this have said as much. Most republicans favor sales tax, and yet are willing for online vendors to be able to avoid even that regressive tax.

Of course, I would be perfectly happy if states did away with the sales tax entirely, so how's that for getting rid of a tax. How about it, Republicans?
 
Why shouldn't they pay a tax? Having to pay a tax when online competitors don't causes your local businesses to be at a disadvantage compared to their distant online counterparts. Even people who are opposed to this have said as much. Most republicans favor sales tax, and yet are willing for online vendors to be able to avoid even that regressive tax.

Of course, I would be perfectly happy if states did away with the sales tax entirely, so how's that for getting rid of a tax. How about it, Republicans?

I don't think that online and offline businesses are in direct competition with each other.

I believe that the only real competition here, is between the government and the citizenry.
 
I don't think that online and offline businesses are in direct competition with each other.

I believe that the only real competition here, is between the government and the citizenry.

Oh, you are so incredibly and obviously wrong it is not even worth talking to you about it.
 
people buy online for one main reason. Price. Start taxing online purchases, prices go up to compensate, and they are down to ... well... no reason to buy online.

The reason I buy online is cuz I'm too lazy to go to teh store. It would suck to pay taxes on online purchases, but I don't see why the same standards shouldn't apply.
 
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Oh, you are so incredibly and obviously wrong it is not even worth talking to you about it.

Ok, prove it. Let's see some number that show the direct competition between on and off-line businesses.

I got ID thefted 5 years ago. My credit score is just now back up to the low 600's, plus spending around 3 g's, so I don't buy **** online anymore. Paypal and I don't have a very good relationship and that's why I'm not a donating member of this forum. IOW, there are plenty of offline businesses that get all of my business.
 
The reason I buy online is cuz I'm too lazy to go to teh store. It would suck to pay taxes on online purchases, but I don't see why the same standards shouldn't apply.

That's the reason I used to buy **** online, plus the usual, "online discount".
 
Why shouldn't they pay a tax? Having to pay a tax when online competitors don't causes your local businesses to be at a disadvantage compared to their distant online counterparts. Even people who are opposed to this have said as much. Most republicans favor sales tax, and yet are willing for online vendors to be able to avoid even that regressive tax.

Of course, I would be perfectly happy if states did away with the sales tax entirely, so how's that for getting rid of a tax. How about it, Republicans?

I believe this means that people who sell on E-Bay will have to keep track of all their sales and at the end of the year write piddly ass checks to whatever states they sold to. Am I right?
Anything that screws with the little guy and makes life more complicated is fine I guess. :(
 
what do u mean "used to"?

This................

I got ID thefted 5 years ago. My credit score is just now back up to the low 600's, plus spending around 3 g's, so I don't buy **** online anymore. Paypal and I don't have a very good relationship and that's why I'm not a donating member of this forum. IOW, there are plenty of offline businesses that get all of my business.

I find stuff that I want to purchase online, but the only way I buy it, is if they can sell it to me in person, bought with cash.

It pisses me off, because there is tons of stuff on ebay that I would buy, that I can only purchase via online payment.
 
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This................

sorry my bad I just saw that. How'd it happen? Paypal is generally pretty good with securing your personal info is it not?

I find stuff that I want to purchase online, but the only way I buy it, is if they can sell it to me in person, bought with cash.

So, like craigslist and other online postings?
 
sorry my bad I just saw that. How'd it happen? Paypal is generally pretty good with securing your personal info is it not?

I'm still not sure how it happened, but I just don't take any chances, anymore.



So, like craigslist and other online postings?

Yeah and I'll look on various websites, like Cabella's and Bass Pro Shop. Last week, I got the, "online", price for a boat motor, but I went get it and paid green-backs for it.
 
I am just saying, despite your horror story rhetoric, that we should have the players compete on a level playing field. So how 'bout it? Do away with sales tax altogether?
 
I am just saying, despite your horror story rhetoric, that we should have the players compete on a level playing field. So how 'bout it? Do away with sales tax altogether?

So, in-other-words, you don't have the first ****ing clue...do you??
 
Durbin would, see how him and Governor Quinn's Amazon tax has worked out for Illinois, it's resulted in online retailers dropping Illinois from their retail...just what we need it more taxes, some people have thicker skulls than it looks.
 
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