E-commerce

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.

In a blow to Illinois’ Main Street retailers, Cook County Circuit Judge Robert Lopez Cepero ruled Wednesday that a law requiring remote retailers with a broad network of online affiliates acting as sales agents in the state to collect and remit sales tax was unconstitutional.

ABA CEO Oren Teicher urged the Massachusetts Department of Revenue to require Amazon.com to collect and remit sales tax on orders made by Massachusetts residents. Teicher’s letter was prompted by news that Amazon.com is opening an office in Cambridge. 

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil suit in district court in New York against Apple and five of the major publishers with agency model pricing for e-books. Three of the publishers have agreed to settle; Apple and the other two publishers appear to be headed for court.

In a letter to members, ABA CEO Oren Teicher discusses Google’s decision to discontinue the Google eBooks reseller program, worldwide, effective January 31, 2013, and provides an update on ABA’s meeting with the Department of Justice regarding agency model pricing of e-books.

The campaign for sales tax fairness continued to heat up this week, with legislative activity in Iowa and Louisiana.

Here’s a roundup of recent developments on the sales tax fairness front in Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, and New Jersey, as well as a report on ABA’s recent meetings with the staff of key legislators in support of a federal solution.

On Monday, ABA Board members and staff met with representatives of the  Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., to express ABA’s support for agency model pricing of e-books in connection with the Department’s ongoing investigation of e-book pricing terms.

The sales tax equity fight continues in Arizona, despite recent legislative setbacks in the state Senate.

At press time, the New Jersey Senate Budget Committee was scheduled to hold a hearing on S. 1762, legislation that would provide Amazon.com a temporary sales tax exemption in exchange for the retailer’s opening two warehouses in the state.

The Arizona state Senate is voting today on SB 1338, legislation that would clarify sales tax laws in the state by requiring any company with a warehouse or distribution center in Arizona to collect and remit sales tax. Meanwhile, in Utah the state Senate overwhelmingly passed similar legislation.

ABFFE has joined the National Coalition Against Censorship  in protesting a threat by the online payment processor PayPal to close the accounts of online booksellers selling erotic works.

This week, BTW’s new technology feature provides an overview of common e-reader devices and their compatibility with Google eBooks.

On Thursday, March 1, the Utah House of Representatives passed H.B. 384, legislation that would require remote retailers with nexus in Utah via distribution centers or subsidiaries to collect and remit sales tax.