Booksellers Urged to Reach Out to U.S. Representatives on Sales Tax Fairness

Following its overwhelming passage by the U.S. Senate, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 (H.R.684) awaits consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives. With no firm timeline yet set by House leadership, the American Booksellers Association is urging its members to write to their representatives in support of the bill, especially if their congressperson is a member of the House Committee on the Judiciary. The Marketplace Fairness Act would give states the right to require remote retailers that do $1 million or more in gross remote sales per year to collect and remit sales tax.

To make outreach easier, ABA has created a template letter that booksellers can adapt and e-mail to their representatives or use as a source for talking points in a phone call.

“Passage of the Marketplace Fairness Act in the House will not come without a fight, but I firmly believe we can succeed so long as your House representatives hear from you,” said ABA CEO Oren Teicher. “More than anything, this is about leveling the playing field for small retailers. We at ABA know how busy you are as booksellers, but the campaign for sales tax fairness began with independent bookstores and your continued leadership will play a critical role in a winning vote in the House.”

Teicher also stressed that if a bookstore’s congressperson is a member of the Judiciary Committee they should contact ABA Senior Public Policy Analyst David Grogan so that he can facilitate a meeting between the representative, the bookstore, and other independent businesses. “A face-to-face meeting with four or five different types of independent businesses would send a powerful message to your representative that the time for sales tax fairness is now,” Teicher explained. “Even if your rep supports the bill, let him or her know that they can count on your public support.”

Booksellers with questions about the Marketplace Fairness Act should contact Grogan via phone at (800) 637-0037, ext. 7562, or e-mail at [email protected]. In addition, booksellers who send letters to their representatives should let Grogan know so that ABA can track this important advocacy effort.