Study: Amazon Hurt in States With New Tax Laws

[Adam_ME]

Originally Posted by W

Who'd have thought what's basically a raise in prices across the board would mean less sales? And it only happened in states that raised prices (collected taxes)? And people are going elsewhere because where they went before is now more expensive? This article should be called "High School Economics Actually Works".

You'd be amazed how many idiots out there don't grasp this simple concept. Unfortunately many of them hold elected office.

I don't necessarily blame Amazon though. Weren't they fighting internet tax collection all this time? They knew that was what gave them an enormous edge over B&M competition, but ultimately the state governments won out and forced this on them. And yes, I personally do purchase fewer things on Amazon than I used to since they started collecting taxes in Texas.

[fronk777]

Originally Posted by Adam_ME

You'd be amazed how many idiots out there don't grasp this simple concept. Unfortunately many of them hold elected office.

I don't necessarily blame Amazon though. Weren't they fighting internet tax collection all this time? They knew that was what gave them an enormous edge over B&M competition, but ultimately the state governments won out and forced this on them. And yes, I personally do purchase fewer things on Amazon than I used to since they started collecting taxes in Texas.

Amazon USED to support fighting internet taxes until they realized they couldn't win and saw state after state fall. They now support global internet taxes so that sites like ebay etc. would also have to pay taxes. Amazon will support anything that gives them a competitive advantage.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by fronk777

Amazon USED to support fighting internet taxes until they realized they couldn't win and saw state after state fall. They now support global internet taxes so that sites like ebay etc. would also have to pay taxes. Amazon will support anything that gives them a competitive advantage.

As does every business on the planet.

[BrentLW]

Originally Posted by K i r a

May 1st is the day they start collecting tax in FL. Aka.. the day I bring my purchases WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY down.

You were supposed to be paying taxes all along

http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/taxes/sales_tax.html

"If you buy a taxable item outside Florida and bring or have it delivered into this state and you didn't pay sales tax on the item, you owe use tax."

[Chiefy]

Originally Posted by BrentLW

You were supposed to be paying taxes all along

http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/taxes/sales_tax.html

"If you buy a taxable item outside Florida and bring or have it delivered into this state and you didn't pay sales tax on the item, you owe use tax."

That's hilarious. The politicians who wrote this, should give themselves another raise.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by Chiefy

That's hilarious. The politicians who wrote this, should give themselves another raise.

actually they're probably dead since "use Tax" has been in effect in most states since the 50s... it was just never really enforced until now because out of state purchases was kept to a minimum before the internet. It's the same laws they created back in the days to keep someone in Washington from going across the border to Oregon and buying a car to save on sales tax and driving it across the border. now with the internet taking HUGE portions of the sales anymore they are not enacting sales tax laws on internet purchases... basically internet orders didn't take up a huge slice of the pie till recently so they ignored people not paying use tax.. now they can't afford to ignore it.

[Chiefy]

Originally Posted by wormraper

actually they're probably dead since "use Tax" has been in effect in most states since the 50s... it was just never really enforced until now because out of state purchases was kept to a minimum before the internet. It's the same laws they created back in the days to keep someone in Washington from going across the border to Oregon and buying a car to save on sales tax and driving it across the border. now with the internet taking HUGE portions of the sales anymore they are not enacting sales tax laws on internet purchases... basically internet orders didn't take up a huge slice of the pie till recently so they ignored people not paying use tax.. now they can't afford to ignore it.

I did not know "use tax" was written in the 50's, however I did know about buying a car out of state and how its taxed. I always thought that was crap.

All this tax cash grab is infuriating. I pay income tax, property taxes, and a wide assortment of hidden taxes. Why do they feel it ok to charge tax again on money (income) that has already been taxed? Total BS.

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by Chiefy

I did not know "use tax" was written in the 50's, however I did know about buying a car out of state and how its taxed. I always thought that was crap.

All this tax cash grab is infuriating. I pay income tax, property taxes, and a wide assortment of hidden taxes. Why do they feel it ok to charge tax again on money (income) that has already been taxed? Total BS.

If you don't like it, you can contact your local elected officials to ask them to change the law. If they don't change the law, you can vote for new elected officials.

[neoz]

Originally Posted by BrentLW

You were supposed to be paying taxes all along

http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/taxes/sales_tax.html

"If you buy a taxable item outside Florida and bring or have it delivered into this state and you didn't pay sales tax on the item, you owe use tax."

My state is like that as well. If I buy something on the internet and it is not taxed you are supposed to report it when you file. Since all my income is non taxable, yeah.....

Originally Posted by Chiefy

I did not know "use tax" was written in the 50's, however I did know about buying a car out of state and how its taxed. I always thought that was crap.

All this tax cash grab is infuriating. I pay income tax, property taxes, and a wide assortment of hidden taxes. Why do they feel it ok to charge tax again on money (income) that has already been taxed? Total BS.

Yep...it sucks. I live in a state where you have to pay property tax on your vehicle every year. Yet right across the state line they do not. It is craziness sometimes and pretty annoying.

Originally Posted by jscoggins

If you don't like it, you can contact your local elected officials to ask them to change the law. If they don't change the law, you can vote for new elected officials.

Or...move to a different state. I'm glad I live in a state where they don't have emissions tests and vehicle inspections haha.

[MikeCL]

I pay property tax on a car as well as well as emissions, btw emission testing is the biggest crock of crap ever..

[neoz]

Originally Posted by MikeCL

I pay property tax on a car as well as well as emissions, btw emission testing is the biggest crock of crap ever..

Oh God that must suck....I mean property tax on a car is stupid. I can understand a house and property. But basically on a car, it is as if the state is saying...thanks for living here and renting a car.

[MikeCL]

Originally Posted by neoz

Oh God that must suck....I mean property tax on a car is stupid. I can understand a house and property. But basically on a car, it is as if the state is saying...thanks for living here and renting a car.

Oh don't get me started. .. buying a used car they go by the nada avg value of the car and tax you for that. . But not just for you but if you sell the car again. . It just gets taxed over and over again

[rickah88]

Just wanted to confirm, that my two BD received from Amazon yesterday, both preordered in June/July, arrived with no tax charge.
Checked my CC statement and it was the same tax-free price.

So I guess, as I mentioned previously, Amazon will do 1 of 2 things:
1) Let preorders slide(for how long who knows)
2) Bill me later with the tax charge

I sure hope it's option 1, as I've got about 40 open BD preorders.

[neoz]

I think if you ordered something before the taxes started they usually don't charge the taxes when it ships. I think the preorder guarantee comes into play they.

[Jett Rink]

I am going to be a good citizen and pay taxes without complaint. A few cents is not going to kill me, nor should it be cause to boycott a retailer because taxes were added (that help the community!). This seems kind of like a childish thing to do.

[neoz]

I pay my taxes. It sucks but what can you do, I guess I'm used to it by now so for those that don't pay it yet count your blessing. Time is ticking.