Bipartisan Internet Sales Tax Bill Introduced

jfruhlinger writes "Four senators, including both Democrats and Republicans, have introduced a bill that would allow (but not require) states to collect sales tax on items purchased by residents online, even the seller has no physical presence in that state. Sellers would be able to pay through either the existing Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement or a new alternative tax simplification plan. Battle lines are being drawn predictably: brick-and-mortar retailers love the idea, Internet-only sellers hate it."

Ten Senators

[Attack DAWWG]

According to this [sacbee.com] article it was ten senators—six Republicans and four Democrats.

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[account_deleted]

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Re:I feel a disturbance in the force....

[Anonymous Coward]

Most people already owe these taxes, they just aren't paying them. Some don't know it, some do, but the fact of the matter is that most states already have a "use tax" that matches their sales tax, and is applied only to out-of-state purchases. This is just a way making the online retailers collect the current taxes, instead of the current "Yeah, pay your taxes after the goods ship. Wink, wink." system we have right now. And since it is being done on the federal level, it is entirely legal and constitutional.

Re:Too bad the law is unconstitutional

[Derekloffin]

This isn't the same. That was the state issuing the law. This is the Federal government. The problem before has always been a state attempting to tax interstate commerce, something they don't have the authority to do. The Federal government however does.

Re:Bipartisan support

[Anguirel]

Yes, how dare the people working in the government expect retirement plans and healthcare? Clearly they should all be doing their public service as volunteer work.

Re:About time

[broken_chaos]

Sales tax is applied to the consumer, not to the business. The business is unaffected, except in how many orders they receive as a result of having lower taxes than buying in-state.

Re:you have no clue at the depth of fraud

[Nite_Hawk]

You are insane if you think teachers are making $100k/year in retirement. My wife used to teach elementary school and was making ~$40k/year with a masters degree in education. If you take a look at the national teacher averages that's right in line:

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/All_K-12_Teachers/Salary [payscale.com]

Ok,l lets look at police:

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Industry=Law_Enforcement/Salary [payscale.com]

Wow. Lots of $100k salaries there.