In 2008, whose thoughts didn’t turn to the economy on a daily – and sometimes hourly – basis? From the fall of Wall Street as we once knew it to the thinning of Main Street, to unfunded federal mandates and state budgets approaching record shortfalls, I came up with the idea to create a space for individuals, businesses, state tax administrators, policymakers, journalists, and others to respond to developments in one of the most basic, yet important, revenue generators for U.S. states and territories – sales and use tax.
By year end 2008, some 41 states relied more heavily on sales and use tax revenues than any other source, including income, real estate, and other taxes. And from a broader perspective, I couldn’t think of a better time to examine the goings on in the transactional tax community as a whole – from state court rulings on nexus to the ever-building Streamlined Sales Tax (SST) momentum and global e-commerce taxation issues – time was of the essence to get this blog up and running.
Knowing the news about sales tax is one thing, interpreting what it might mean for you or your business is another.
Are you a manufacturer of hammers and nails in Memphis, TN selling your wares over the Internet to customers within the U.S.? How about to customers in Moscow? Mumbai? Do you attend trade shows in Lansing each year but are headquartered in Pittsburgh? What are all of the transaction tax implications to the answers to these questions? Are you absolutely sure?
Are these the sorts of questions that keep you up at night? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Do you sit on a state committee charged with enforcement and audit of companies’ SALT? Do you have an opinion on whether standardized definitions ought to be fleshed out, once and for all, are do you prefer the state-by-state variations? Either way, you’ve come to the right place.
Has your community passed legislation for new sales taxes? Do you plan your shopping around sales tax holidays or have you ever traveled, say, five extra miles to buy something cheaper in a neighboring community? Do you go online to purchase?
Hosted by Avalara but not designed to “push product,” Sales Tax Buzz was created and will be managed by Althea Azeff, who brings her passion for all things “tax” and writing together in one space. Her other passion, communicating, can only be realized through your active participation in the dialogue . . . so don’t be shy. If you want to argue a point, do so. If you want to offer up news, events, questions, or new areas of debate, please do so.
But because I am also a trained and well-practiced mediator, I must insist that a few ground rules be set forth from the outset. Play nice. No name calling, spamming, or screaming . . . and let’s try to keep the tone above board, dear reader-participants. 
Filed under: Taxability, The Art of Blogging Tagged: | Azeff, disclaimer, sales tax, Sales Tax Buzz, SST, state budget, welcome
[...] from our sponsor, sort of Posted on February 19, 2009 by Althea Azeff In keeping with the written intent of this web log, and from the depths of my innately rebellious soul, I’ve refrained from even the [...]