O’, What’s the Use? Something You Should Be Paying, Friends . . .

As the economy continues along its downward slide, companies and individuals alike are being put on notice about states’ (and others’) willingness to go on the attack for use tax owed them. From California (here and here), which has sent over 6,000 demand letters to businesses since June of last year, to Connecticut (which is [...]

Could Arkansas Be Angling to Lose Its Full Member SST Status?

Arkansas State Representative John Burris (R-Harrison) introduced a bill last week (H.B. 1179) in his state’s legislature to revert the sales and use tax sourcing rules back to origin-based from destination-based, with effect from July 1, 2009, as was the case in that state pre-January 1, 2008. Essentially, the restoration of origin sourcing means that [...]

(Medical) Marijuana Tax Buzz in L.A.

According to Kay Ebeling of the LA City Buzz Examiner, covering “The Other L.A.,” the medical marijuana industry in California has contributed anywhere from $11 to $100 million to that state’s treasury, as originally reported by CNBC in its original program, Marijuana Inc. (“Officials estimate it accounts for up to two-thirds of the local economy [...]

Amazon.com v. New York: Score One for New York

The media, online retailers, and many states are positively a-buzz on today’s news about the dismissal by a New York state judge of the Amazon.com suit challenging that state’s law requiring certain non-New York Internet retailers to collect and remit New York sales tax. The suit – Amazon.com, LLC v. New York State Department of [...]

Zip Codes Mean “Zip” for Sales Tax Purposes

I just had to add a little background and history to yesterday’s post about zip code/sales tax issues: Errors are not tolerated lightly when we dwell in the realm of taxes. Incorrectly charging sales tax can result in fines, audit penalties, or even class-action lawsuits. The only way to accurately apply a correct tax rate [...]

Zip Code Should Be for Your Mail, Not Your Sales Tax Jurisdiction

Check out this article on the Union-Tribune’s SignOnSanDiego.com by Janine Zúñiga and all of the great sales tax buzz below it . . . and the good work being done by activist and retired firefighter Butch Fimpel . . . and see whether you think your zip code should help get your mail to you [...]

Protests Over First-Ever Value Added Tax In Iran Suspends Its Full Implementation

Facing potential budget deficits in its country, the Iranian Parliament imposed its first-ever VAT last year, which was not enforced until September 21, 2008. Rather than collect the tax, gold merchants in Tehran shut down a marketplace that has been operating continuously for more than 3,000 years. My first thought: Wow! Second thought: How remarkable [...]