E-commerce

Uneven sales tax collection has helped online retailers at the expense of Main Street retailers, according to the study “An Analysis of Internet Sales Taxation and the Small-Seller Exemption,” released this week by the Small Business Administration.

On Monday, November 11, Amazon.com announced that it had struck a deal with the United States Postal Service that will enable the online retailer to offer Amazon Prime customers Sunday delivery in certain areas. ABA CEO Oren Teicher called the move disconcerting and said,  “The postal service’s role is not to pick favorites among competitors.”

As the U.S. House of Representatives continues to consider the issue of sales tax fairness, the list of states in which Amazon is collecting, or will collect, sales tax is growing.

The Supreme Court of the State of Illinois has affirmed a lower court’s ruling that the state’s affiliate nexus law is invalid. The Performance Marketing Association, whose members include Amazon.com, challenged the state law in 2011, contending it unfairly targeted affiliates and arbitrarily broadened the definition of nexus.

After recently announcing it would collect sales tax in West Virginia, where it has a customer service center, Amazon will be opening distribution centers — and collecting sales tax — in Wisconsin and Florida.

The International Council of Shopping Centers has released the results of a national poll that shows most Americans would prefer to pay sales or use tax on online purchases at the time of purchase, as opposed to filing it on their taxes.

Bill to limit Amazon’s advantage moves forward in France; Reading Group Choices’ 2014 guide out now; National survey details reading habits; NRF predicts modest growth during holidays; Consumers use smartphones, tablets to shop; California Bookstore Day website live; NCAC in New York Times Sunday Dialogue; Thurber Prize goes to Dan Zevin; Penguin Random House merges audio; HarperCollins joins Scribd’s e-book subscription service; Chronicle Books goes green; BISG announces new mission statement, industry award winners, F+W Media partnership

Last Thursday, Amazon affiliates in Maine began receiving notices informing them of the termination of their affiliate relationships as of October 6.

Four months after the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Marketplace Fairness Act, the U.S. House of Representatives is addressing the issue of sales tax fairness. On September 18, the House Judiciary Committee released its seven “basic principles” for sales tax fairness legislation.

After challenging New York State’s sales tax fairness law three times — and losing three times — at the state level, Amazon.com and Overstock.com have taken the fight to the nation’s highest court.

Proposed oversight of Apple scaled back by judge; Online retail sales remain low for chain stores

This week, a coalition of 18 independent trade associations, led by ABA, urged the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on the Judiciary to hold a hearing on sales tax fairness.

Amazon has fired all its online affiliates in Missouri to avoid the requirement to collect and remit sales tax to the state. Missouri passed an affiliate nexus law in July.

Beginning September 1, Amazon.com will begin complying with Georgia’s affiliate nexus law, which went into effect on January 1. Enforcement of the law is expected to add $16 million annually to the state’s coffers and create more than 50,000 jobs.

ABA has developed an affinity partnership with Alibris/Monsoon Commerce Solutions, which gives member stores an exclusive discount on services assisting in the sale of books online.