Sales Tax Initiative

Last week, hundreds of small business owners met with elected officials in Washington, D.C., to communicate firsthand the need to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act. Participants in the two-day fly-in included Sarah Pishko of Prince Books and ABA Board member Sarah Bagby of Watermark Books & Café.

The U.S. Senate may vote on the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 as early as next week. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to bring the bill directly to the floor for a vote without first referring it to the Senate Finance Committee, according to published reports.

As the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 continues to gain momentum in the U.S. Congress, three more states are considering enactment of sales tax fairness legislation that would level the playing field for Main Street retailers.

Two indie booksellers were among an array of small business owners who traveled to Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 11, to meet with members of Congress to press for passage of the Marketplace Fairness Act.

The campaign for sales tax fairness gained tremendous momentum with two major victories in the last few weeks, but now, more than ever, it’s crucial to keep the pressure on federal legislators.

On Thursday, March 28, the New York State Court of Appeals ruled 4-1 in favor of the state’s sales tax fairness law, dismissing arguments made by Amazon.com and Overstock.com that the law was unconstitutional.

New York Times editorial favors sales tax fairness; free bookseller subscription to ForeWord Reviews; European Union to approve Penguin, Random House merger; France budgets for bookstore assistance

On Tuesday, March 19, in advance of the Senate’s landslide vote in favor of sales tax fairness, ABA joined with Jewelers of America to meet with key U.S. senators and representatives in Washington, D.C., in support of the Marketplace Fairness Act (S.336/H.R.684).

On Friday, March 22, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved, by a vote of 75-24, a budget resolution amendment in support of sales tax fairness.

ABA is encouraging booksellers to ask their federal lawmakers to support the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013, legislation that would give states the authority to require remote retailers to collect and remit sales tax on purchases made by customers in their state.

As a bipartisan coalition of U.S. lawmakers seeks to pass federal sales tax fairness legislation, a Utah Senate committee approved an affiliate-nexus bill sponsored by Sen. Wayne Harper, and in West Virginia, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has proposed legislation that would require remote retailers with warehouses in the state to collect and remit sales tax.

Today, February 20, is the date set by state of Georgia for all retailers to submit sales taxes collected for the month of January. Legislation, which went into effect on January 1, made clear that Amazon.com has nexus in Georgia and is therefore required to collect sales tax on purchases made by state residents.

On Thursday, February 14, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators and representatives announced the introduction of a sales tax fairness bill that would give states the authority to require remote retailers to collect and remit sales tax on purchases made by customers in their state.

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy has announced that as of November 1, 2013, Amazon.com will begin collecting state sales tax in exchange for opening a distribution center in Connecticut and bringing jobs to the state.

On Monday, February 4, the Indiana House of Representatives passed sales tax fairness legislation that would require remote retailers with nexus in the state via online affiliates or warehouses to collect and remit sales tax to the state beginning July 1, 2013.