On November 29 and 30, several independent trade organizations, including the American Booksellers Association, met for an "Independent Trades Summit" in Washington, D.C. The gathering provided the associations with an opportunity to discuss common goals and challenges specific to independent retailers and businesses. Industries represented at the summit included bookselling, toys, gifts, bicycles, hardware, pharmacies, and office products.

The American Booksellers Association is calling on booksellers in the 45 states that charge sales tax to write to their governors now to urge that online retailers with in-state affiliates be required to collect sales tax in accordance with existing laws. To help booksellers in this crucial endeavor, ABA has prepared a template letter (below) that can be adapted and sent. The letter emphasizes that booksellers are not calling for new Internet taxes, but, rather, the enforcement of tax laws already in place.

NRF Urges Passage of Internet Sales Tax Bill

On December 6, a witness testifying on behalf of the National Retail Federation urged a congressional committee to approve sales tax simplification legislation (The Sales Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2007, H.R. 3396) that would make it easier to require Internet merchants, mail-order houses, and other "remote sellers" to collect sales tax across state lines.

Following up on a letter that 30 New York State booksellers sent to Governor Eliot Spitzer urging him to require online retailers with affiliates in the state to collect sales tax, the American Booksellers Association is asking booksellers in the other 44 states that charge sales tax to urge their governors to equitably enforce existing tax laws. To help booksellers in this crucial endeavor, ABA has prepared a template letter (below) that can be adapted and sent.

This week, 29 American Booksellers Association-member booksellers in New York State called on Governor Eliot Spitzer to enforce the equitable collection of sales tax. In a letter dated Wednesday, November 21, the booksellers stressed that, when out-of-state online retailers with clear nexus in the state via New York-based affiliations skirt tax laws, New York-based businesses lose sales as shoppers take advantage of tax-free shopping. The booksellers stressed that the situation is only compounded at holiday time.

Today, ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz sent a letter to New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer on behalf of New York-based independent booksellers that decries the governor's decision to drop a plan to enforce existing sales tax laws.

A group of more than 30 retailers and organizations, including the American Booksellers Association, Cody's Books, the Independent Music Retailers Association, the National Retail Federation, and a number of regional booksellers associations, have signed a letter in support of legislation that would simplify sales tax collection and provide equal treatment for local merchants and remote sellers. The letter is being sent to Representatives William J.

This week, the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA) and the California Tax Reform Association (CTRA) urged the state's publicly elected tax board to begin collecting sales tax for online purchases from retailers that have nexus in the state of California.

Washington has become the newest member of the Streamlined Sales Tax Project (SSTP), a coalition of 22 states that have simplified their laws to encourage retailers to collect tax on Internet and catalog sales to customers in participating states. The state's membership in SSTP goes into effect on July 1, 2008, though participating out-of-state retailers can begin collecting sales tax from Washington customers this July.

Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY) wants to level the playing field for all in-store, catalog, and online retailers so each has the same sales tax responsibilities.