Navigating The Internet Sales Tax Laws


QUESTION:
I have been contacted by my local city government to say that my business is scheduled to be audited to determine if I owe any sales tax from items purchased on the Internet. Can they really make me pay this tax? I thought you could buy things online tax free? -- Katie R.

ANSWER:
I hate to burst your internet bubble, Katie, but they are within their rights to audit your business and demand payment of sales tax on items purchased on the Web.

Internet sales taxation has been a topic of contention even before Amazon sold its first book and Priceline booked its first flight.

One of the more controversial points is that no one, including our own government, seems to have a clue how to implement a fair and logical Internet taxation process.

With over 7,500 different local, county and state taxation systems in the United States, you can understand the controversy. In 1998, Congress did what it usually does when faced with a potentially explosive issue like Internet tax collection -- it decided to put off making a decision. Congress enacted a three-year moratorium on the collection of taxes to give an appointed advisory board time to come up with an acceptable solution.

That moratorium ended last year and opened the door for municipalities to begin collecting sales tax on their own.

Here in Alabama the sales tax collection department is airing radio spots asking Alabamians to step up to - and toss dollars into - the proverbial collection plate. The commercial kindly suggests that if I have purchased anything from an online retailer, I am honor-bound to proclaim such purchases and submit the appropriate sales tax to the collection department right away. They thank me in advance for my cooperation.

So, Katie, when the auditor shows up at your door the best thing you can do is smile politely and be totally forthcoming. The sales tax that you pay is a small price for the convenience of shopping online.

Now where did I put all those Amazon.com receipts?

Small Business Q&A is written by veteran entrepreneur and syndicated columnist, Tim Knox. Tim's latest books include "Small Business Success Secrets" and "The 30 Day Blueprint For Success!" Related Links: www.smallbusinessqa.com www.dropshipwholesale.net


MORE RESOURCES:
tax - Google News

Abouhalkah's column: Why KC's earnings tax matters to suburbs - Kansas City Star

Abouhalkah's column: Why KC's earnings tax matters to suburbs
Kansas City Star, MO - 5 hours ago
The 1 percent income tax levied on people who work or live in Kansas City has been around for almost four decades. Businesses also pay the tax on net ...
Council sets property tax levy Carthage Press
all 2 news articles


Woodside hits out at budget tax on light oil - The Age

The Age

Woodside hits out at budget tax on light oil
The Age, Australia - 13 hours ago
As the Government struggles with cross-bench senators to get the tax on condensate passed, Woodside's CEO Don Voelte told a company briefing that the tax ...
Woodside chief says consumers will pay for condensate tax ABC Online
Woodside says customers will pay condensate tax Sydney Morning Herald
Australia PM says will not reverse condensate tax Reuters
The West Australian - The Age
all 116 news articles


Provena Covenant's tax-exempt status again in question - Chicago Tribune

Crain's Chicago Business

Provena Covenant's tax-exempt status again in question
Chicago Tribune, United States - 4 hours ago
In 2003 the Champaign County Board of Review yanked the tax exemption of Provena Covenant for allegedly overly aggressive attempts to collect money from ...
Appellate court rules against Provena in tax dispute Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette
Provena loses tax exemption again in appellate court ruling Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette
Court says Urbana hospital owes taxes Chicago Tribune
all 11 news articles


Pay Me: Will Congress Extend Wind, Solar Tax Breaks? - Wall Street Journal Blogs

Wall Street Journal Blogs

Pay Me: Will Congress Extend Wind, Solar Tax Breaks?
Wall Street Journal Blogs, NY - 10 hours ago
Despite more than a half-dozen efforts, Congress has yet to renew the clean-energy tax credits which make or break the industry. Those credits have never ...
Solar Firms Wait on Tax Credit Wall Street Journal Blogs
all 2 news articles


Fitch Rates Missouri City, Texas' 2008A GOs & COs 'A+' - MarketWatch

Fitch Rates Missouri City, Texas' 2008A GOs & COs 'A+'
MarketWatch - 4 hours ago
Fitch also affirms its 'A+' rating on the city's outstanding debt, comprising $26.8 million permanent improvement bonds, $10.9 million combination tax and ...
Fitch Rates Riverside County, California's $116MM COPs 'AA ... MarketWatch
Fitch Affirms District of Columbia's $125MM 2002D GOs 'A+ ... MarketWatch
Fitch Rates Yuma Union High SD No. 70, Arizona's School Bonds 'A' MarketWatch
MarketWatch
all 36 news articles


Half of Americans Believe GOP Spin on Obama's Tax Plan - AlterNet

Half of Americans Believe GOP Spin on Obama's Tax Plan
AlterNet, CA - Aug 26, 2008
You've really got to tip your hat to the anti-tax propagandists on the Right. According to Gallup, 53 percent of Americans believe an Obama presidency would ...
More Confusion over Corporate Taxes BusinessWeek
Worried about Obama? Don't sell off your hot stocks yet Detroit Free Press
Obama’s New Tax Welfare American Spectator
Washington Post - Chicago Sun-Times
all 40 news articles


Group wants homebuyers to use new tax credit - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Group wants homebuyers to use new tax credit
Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA - 4 hours ago
By touting the new $7500 refundable tax credit contained in the massive housing-stimulus bill President Bush signed last month. The credit expires July 1. ...


Emissions trading scheme a tax: Nelson - The Age

Ninemsn

Emissions trading scheme a tax: Nelson
The Age, Australia - 2 hours ago
The federal government's planned emissions trading scheme is nothing more than a tax, Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson says. The government is meeting with ...
Libs blast Rudd's 'fake' $6b blow-out in tax budget The Canberra Times
Tax changes dominate debate as parties get back to business The Australian
Australia’s “tax review”: Rudd seeks to deliver corporate agenda World Socialist Web Site
ABC Online - The Age
all 502 news articles


Ottawa urged to fast-track business tax reform - Financial Post

Ottawa urged to fast-track business tax reform
Financial Post, Canada - 3 hours ago
OTTAWA -- The federal and provincial governments should accelerate business tax reforms to help Canadian firms be more productive to deal with the strong ...
Feds heading for fatter surplus, not deficit: Conference Board Canada.com
Slower economy won't mean government deficits in future ... The Canadian Press
Canada governments urged to slash business taxes Reuters
Canada NewsWire (press release)
all 54 news articles

Taxrome.com © 2008