Vermont Is Seeking an “Amazon Tax” of Its Own

Introduced by State Representatives John Rodgers, Megan Smith, and Jeffrey Wilson, Vermont House Bill 661 is just the latest in a spate of “Amazon Tax” bills to sweep the nation – bringing the total to five states within nine days of each other. This latest bill would take effect July 1, 2010, if passed into [...]

Colorado Is Seeking an “Amazon Tax” of Its Own (updated March 8, 2010)

I wrote just a couple of days ago that it feels like an almost every day phenomenon that yet another state is introducing “Amazon Tax” legislation to broaden nexus net and thus e-commerce sales and use tax revenues. Now Colorado is joining the list, perhaps motivated in part by its $1.6 billion budget shortfall. H.B. [...]

Mississippi Is Seeking an “Amazon Tax” of Its Own (updated)

In terms of the broadening of “nexus” for sales and use tax purposes, what a New Year 2010 has been thus far! It’s starting to feel like on an almost every-day basis I’m reporting on yet another state seeking or having broadened its term “nexus” to encompass Internet sales. The past several days include the [...]

And Now Virginia Is Seeking an “Amazon Tax” of Its Own (updated)

An Amazon-type sales and use tax bill has been introduced in yet another state. This time, it’s the Commonwealth of Virginia. Introduced January 21st by Senator Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. (R—Augusta) and backed by the Virginia Retail Federation (the legislative arm of the Retail Alliance and the Retail Merchants Association), the bill (S.B. 660), if [...]

The Sales Tax Buzz Top 10 Sales & Use Tax Legislative Developments of 2009

2009 was rife with legislative changes in terms of nexus, e-commerce taxation, sales tax holidays, and other key areas, so to help readers make a little sense of all of this activity, I put together the Sales Tax Buzz Top 10 Sales & Use Tax Legislative Developments of 2009 List, as well as a little [...]

e-Roundtable on The Main Street Fairness Act: experts discuss Internet sales tax

e-Roundtable on The Main Street Fairness Act: Sales Tax Buzz Consults the Experts on Internet Sales Tax Act Read what Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney, Tech & Government say about a U.S.-wide Internet sales tax system I recently hosted an e-Roundtable event to address what many policymakers believe to be today’s most important topic within the transaction [...]

The Must-Read E-Commerce Paper of the Year

State, Local Governments to lose at least $11.4 billion in sales tax revenues to Internet by 2012 If anything, today’s headline might understate its case. Not only is “State and Local Government Sales Tax Revenue Losses from Electronic Commerce” the e-commerce paper of the year, it could very well be the must-read study of the [...]

Online Sales Tax Roundup: Internet Cowboys & Cowgirls, Open Your Eyes

UPDATED APRIL 14, 2009 It is my firmly held belief that as one state after another (no matter the size or perceived “importance” of any particular state) will possibly be able to pass Internet sales tax legislation, others are more likely to follow suit. Early adopters can pave the way towards the future in this [...]

“The Internet Is for Porn”

I’m going to tap my fingers upon the keyboard rather sensitively this morning. Porn is just one of those hot button issues that could be addressed in several different ways. I could, for example, take a post-modern feminist approach and remind readers that the preponderance of the pornography industry is staffed by adults who were [...]