Maine Governor Signs Bill to Charge State Sales tax on Medical Marijuana into Law

Governor John Baldacci signed LD 1540 into law this weekend.  The law itself is sort of a catch-all, end-of term, grab-bag legislation.  Of course, there was some sales tax connection (or you wouldn’t see it here).  This bill provides for medical marijuana (med-mar) to be subject to sales tax. link to law:  http://www.legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_124th/chapters/PUBLIC625.asp Naturally, Maine [...]

The Sales Tax Buzz Top 10 Raciest and/or Surprising Sales & Use Tax Stories of 2009

The title speaks for itself. 1.  “The Internet Is for Porn” 2.  Blog Wars, the Phantom Menace Tooth Fairy 3.  Buy an Electric Car: Save the World, Taxes, and Possibly Your Manhood 4.  The tintinnabulation of gay wedding bells: $$$ for Vermont? (same-sex marriage and its potential implications on sales tax receipts) 5. Transaction Tax [...]

The Sales Tax Buzz Top 10 Sales & Use Tax Have-to-Know Developments of 2009

1. More States Go the Way of SST (and the SST finally updates its website to make it far closer to being user friendly than ever before, see here) 2.  The Main Street Fairness Act Is Gaining Momentum (see here)  3.  New York Prevails Over Amazon (thus far) & The New York Times Featured a [...]

Amazon.com & other online retailers costing states $7B a year?

In these stormy days of the ongoing saga between Amazon.com and a number of states (see here, here, here, and here), the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policies Priorities released a riveting report this week concluding, among other findings, that Amazon’s arguments against collecting sales taxes do not withstand scrutiny – costing states up to [...]

Tax Due on Free Seasonal Flu Vaccines in Iowa

Retail giant Walgreens (WAG), the nation’s largest drugstore chain, recently requested an advisory letter (Policy Letter No. 09300051, Iowa Department of Revenue, August 17, 2009) from the Iowa Department of Revenue on whether its promotional campaign involving the free distribution of the seasonal flu vaccine purchased outside of Iowa to uninsured persons in Iowa would [...]

All’s not quiet in Aspen

It’s hard to make ends meet today and even the rich (well, house-rich) try to make an extra buck when they can renting out their vacation (or first, second, or third) homes. But localities are having just as much trouble making ends meet, so they’re on the offensive searching for unreported tax revenues. The Finance [...]

Sales Tax Fairness and Simplification Act: How’s It Going?

In what could very well become historic times in the sales tax arena, I wanted to call attention to a draft federal bill that is set for consideration this Friday, March 20, in a final set of congressional meetings – namely the Sales Tax Fairness and Simplification Act (H.R. 3396 and S. 34), as can [...]

All of the Sales Tax Marijuana Enjoyment – Without Inhaling, Of Course (updated)

UPDATED March 26, 2009 and July 16, 2009 (see below) Flashbacks are a funny thing. Especially the type that follow, many years later, from non-physically addictive, non-hallucinogenic drug usage. In this case, I’m talking about marijuana. Marijuana: Friend or foe to state lawmakers? And to state budgets? I’ve subscribed to Harper’s for years. It’s also [...]

Live Free or Die! Border, Use Tax Case Stirs Strong Emotions

Sales Tax Buzz Interviews Retailer’s Lawyer and President of Retail Merchants Association of New Hampshire Not since we all worried (in the mid to late 1990’s was it?) that our Firestone/Goodyear tires would experience tread separation while driving at high speeds have tires been at the center of so much controversy (see here, here and [...]

Did You Forget to Pay Sales Tax On Your New DTV Converter Box?

Now that February has dawned (and sweet little Punxutawney Phil saw his shadow earlier today­­ – Happy Groundhog’s Day, for those who celebrate it), the countdown for old-style television watchers is on. With February 17th fast approaching, you may have received your government voucher to help cover the cost of your DTV converter box (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 [...]

Hoteliers, Online Hotel Bookers

Just like almost everybody I know, I shop for the best hotel rate when I plan to visit other cities, for personal and for corporate travel alike. Of the many sites I scope, I’ve used Expedia, Hotels.com, and Orbitz often enough to bookmark them. That’s why various cases (one, among several, in the U.S. District [...]