Sales Tax Initiative

This week, the American Booksellers Association published an updated “Sales Tax Fairness FAQ.”  The FAQ provides booksellers with quick, easy-to-understand answers to some of the more common questions asked about ABA’s sales tax fairness advocacy efforts.

The push for sales tax fairness in California and Pennsylvania, which came to a head in 2011, will bear fruit next month.

On Wednesday, August 1, Steve Bercu, CEO and co-owner of BookPeople, in Austin, Texas, and ABA vice president, was one of four panelists to testify at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the Marketplace Fairness Act (S. 1832).

On Tuesday, July 24, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary held a full committee hearing on the Marketplace Equity Act (H.R. 3179), which seeks to level the playing field in regard to the equitable collection of sales tax for online purchases.

On Tuesday, July 24, the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee will hold a full committee hearing on the Marketplace Equity Act (H.R. 3179). Booksellers are urged to contact their representatives to voice support for the e-fairness bill.

With a House hearing on the Marketplace Equity Act less than two weeks away, booksellers are urged to contact their representatives to ask for their support of the sales tax fairness bill.

As the July 1 deadline for Amazon to begin collecting sales tax in Texas approached, a number of newspapers across the country published editorials declaring that the time had come for sales tax fairness.

On Sunday, July 1, under the parameters of a deal struck with the Texas comptroller’s office, Amazon.com will begin collecting and remitting sales tax to Texas for purchases made by state residents from Amazon and its many subsidiaries.

This week, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) urged his state’s U.S. senators to support the Marketplace Fairness Act, federal legislation that would allow states to require remote retailers to collect and remit sales tax in the state.

On May 30, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced that that the state had come to an agreement with Amazon.com that will have the retailer begin collecting and remitting state sales tax in exchange for opening two new warehouses in New Jersey.

ABA is encouraging its members to reach out to their state governors and federal lawmakers in support of sales tax fairness legislation currently under consideration in the U.S. House and Senate.

In a letter to the U.S. Senate dated May 9, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder publicly announced his support for the Marketplace Fairness Act (S. 1832).

The New England Local Business Forum last week in Cambridge, Massachusetts, brought together partners in the book, bike, and toy industries to create a diverse environment for sharing innovative ideas and learning how to better grow local businesses.

The state of Texas has struck a deal with Amazon.com that will require the online retailer to begin collecting and remitting sales tax to the state for purchases by Texas residents beginning July 1, 2012. 

Last week, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) announced the state had worked out a deal with Amazon.com that would continue the online retailer’s sales tax advantage over Main Street businesses for another two years.