Advocacy

The International Council of Shopping Centers has placed full-page ads in support of sales tax equity in a number of publications, including the New York Times. In addition, the organization has launched a sales tax fairness video series, with the first featuring Betsy Burton of The King’s English Bookshop.

On Wednesday, November 30, the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing to discuss the authority of states to collect sales tax on online purchases.

At press time, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue issued a regulatory bulletin stipulating that, under current sales tax law, remote retailers that have warehouse facilities or online affiliates in Pennsylvania have nexus in the state.

California booksellers could face civil fines of up to $500 if they improperly disclose customer information under a state law on reader privacy that goes into effect on January 1. 

Cynthia Compton of 4 Kids Books & Toys in Zionsville, Indiana, was one of about 40 retailers taking part in a November 16 sales tax advocacy day in Washington, D.C., organized by the Alliance for Main Street Fairness.

The New York Library Association has presented its SirsiDynix Intellectual Freedom Award for 2011 to the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression.

 With the movement to pass a national sales tax fairness bill gaining momentum in Congress, BTW asked three booksellers who participated in ABA’s recent Sales Tax Fairness Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., about their experiences and the importance of meeting with legislators.

Both the U.S. Senate’s Marketplace Fairness Act and the House’s Marketplace Equity Act, which would provide states with the authority to require remote sellers to collect and remit sales tax in the state, include small-seller exemptions.

Late last week, Simon Property Group, the largest mall owner in the country, filed a lawsuit against the state of Indiana in an effort to get the state to require Amazon.com to collect and remit sales tax on orders by Indiana residents.

ABA welcomed this week’s introduction in the Senate of the Marketplace Fairness Act, legislation that would provide states with authorization to require remote sellers to collect and remit state sales tax, as an important step toward a national sales tax fairness solution.

To help plan next year’s 30^th anniversary celebration of Banned Books Week, ABFFE is asking booksellers to complete a brief online survey.

A new study prepared for American Express OPEN by Civic Economics has found that in neighborhoods with thriving independent businesses home values outperformed citywide markets by 50 percent over the last 14 years.

ABA announced this week that it is inviting independent association executives and independent business advocacy groups and their members to Washington, D.C., to advocate on behalf of a national sales tax fairness solution.

This week, a coalition of small businesses joined Rep. Jackie Speier and Rep. Steve Womack in Washington, D.C., for the introduction of the Marketplace Equity Act.

ABA has entered into a new partnership with Civic Economics that will enable 10 communities with an active ABA member bookstore to work directly with Civic Economics at a reduced rate to create a customized study examining the economic benefits of local, independent retailers.