Comments on: Is Amazon.com Playing Favorites? http://www.taxgirl.com/is-amazon-com-playing-favorites/ Paying taxes is painful... but reading about them shouldn't be. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:16:58 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Michael http://www.taxgirl.com/is-amazon-com-playing-favorites/comment-page-1/#comment-10823 Michael Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:46:27 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3569#comment-10823 Amazon has a very strange attitude when it comes to taxes. In addition to all this drama with their affiliates, they've had a longstanding policy to refuse to collect the applicable sales tax for people like myself who sell used books and other merchandise through their site. They are after all, the ones collecting the payment on such sales, and could easily pass along the charge to us as sellers. Instead however, we sellers are forced to pay the taxes out of our profits. Amazon has a very strange attitude when it comes to taxes. In addition to all this drama with their affiliates, they’ve had a longstanding policy to refuse to collect the applicable sales tax for people like myself who sell used books and other merchandise through their site. They are after all, the ones collecting the payment on such sales, and could easily pass along the charge to us as sellers. Instead however, we sellers are forced to pay the taxes out of our profits.

]]> By: Jim W. http://www.taxgirl.com/is-amazon-com-playing-favorites/comment-page-1/#comment-10822 Jim W. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:05:40 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3569#comment-10822 My wife and I live in DC, and have been paying a "Consumer Use Tax" for the past decade. It applies the 5.75% DC sales tax rate to purchases made online and shipped to us from entities that lack a bricks-and-mortar presence in the District. It excludes shipping costs, when itemized. Our yearly bite is about $150, mostly from the purchase of clothing, media and electronics not widely available in local stores. The problem is that likely less than one percent of households file and pay this tax. My wife and I live in DC, and have been paying a “Consumer Use Tax” for the past decade. It applies the 5.75% DC sales tax rate to purchases made online and shipped to us from entities that lack a bricks-and-mortar presence in the District. It excludes shipping costs, when itemized. Our yearly bite is about $150, mostly from the purchase of clothing, media and electronics not widely available in local stores. The problem is that likely less than one percent of households file and pay this tax.

]]> By: Kelly http://www.taxgirl.com/is-amazon-com-playing-favorites/comment-page-1/#comment-10820 Kelly Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:51:24 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3569#comment-10820 Robert, I completely agree with you re the referral fees. It's a win, win for Amazon. Robert,

I completely agree with you re the referral fees. It’s a win, win for Amazon.

]]> By: Robert Pecom http://www.taxgirl.com/is-amazon-com-playing-favorites/comment-page-1/#comment-10819 Robert Pecom Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:49:47 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3569#comment-10819 Amazon seems to be picking the smaller states to set the stage for their big fights with the larger, more profitable states. The affiliate seller program was a great boost, but where will those consumers now go to shop for their goods? - directly to the amazon site, no referral fees to be paid. Seems like a good plan for Amazon. The director of Sales tax at Amazon, Richard Prem, has been very active in the SST. He knew this was coming, but I don't think he could stop the storm of states looking for additional revenue. Amazon seems to be picking the smaller states to set the stage for their big fights with the larger, more profitable states. The affiliate seller program was a great boost, but where will those consumers now go to shop for their goods? – directly to the amazon site, no referral fees to be paid. Seems like a good plan for Amazon.

The director of Sales tax at Amazon, Richard Prem, has been very active in the SST. He knew this was coming, but I don’t think he could stop the storm of states looking for additional revenue.

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