Fucking whaaa...Amazon is going to have to realize that they can't continue to be exempt from collecting state sales taxes forever.
If they keep dumping their "affiliates" in states that want to collect sales taxes from internet sales, pretty soon, they're only going to have "affiliates" in 3 or 4 states...
yeah, that's kind of how I feel. I mean....I love Amazon and not paying sales tax and everything, but it is a loophole. That is a nice chunk of revenue that is essentially owed to the states.
You really have to wonder just how much the states have lost in tax revenues due to the rise of online shopping. It has to be a lot so I have a hard time getting too upset over them trying to enforce something that I had no problem paying with in my purchases 15 years ago. It probably also presents a big burden on B&M. Not only do they have to deal with the fact that Amazon can get huge discounts from volume and shipping but they can also undercut a good couple of percent due to taxes alone. Makes a difference when it comes to shopping on big ticket items.
You can still send a check to the government if you want.
Hong Kong doesn't have sales tax but in case you're wondering I still do my US taxes too.
how dare california apply sales tax for business done in california who are they kidding right? some businesses shouldn't have to pay, while others do, that is how you ensure a "even" playing field
S.C. a couple of months ago. F-n politicians trying to hold Amazon by the short hairs. Comes out that Wal mart, target , lowes, home depot lobbies poured a ton of $$ into the political coffers to get the vote against Amazon(must collect sales tax). Amazon says F U, S.C. and leaves. Massive backlash against the politicians (10%+ unemployment here and it's 1200 jobs). Back to the table, Amazon promises 2000 jobs and gets no sales tax for 5 years. Also, after the fact, comes out that it's $1B net income for the state. F-n politicians.Was it north carolina or south carolina that went through this same think about a year ago.
The states want more money to support their welfare / illegal immigrants. But it would cost amazon more money collecting the taxes, then what their making in profits.
Also, think it the auditing nightmare for amazon. If some state like california was able to audit amazon to make sure the taxes are being collected.
S.C. a couple of months ago. F-n politicians trying to hold Amazon by the short hairs. Comes out that Wal mart, target , lowes, home depot lobbies poured a ton of $$ into the political coffers to get the vote against Amazon(must collect sales tax). Amazon says F U, S.C. and leaves. Massive backlash against the politicians (10%+ unemployment here and it's 1200 jobs). Back to the table, Amazon promises 2000 jobs and gets no sales tax for 5 years. Also, after the fact, comes out that it's $1B net income for the state. F-n politicians.
2 other companies threatened to not come here because of the states crap. don't know what the final outcome was on them.
Yep, in this case. A net $1B over 5 years, too.i was told that lower taxes did not equal jobs.
was i lied to?
Agree. They're in it for more $$ too. That's our situation, a distribution site with no sales. I'll take the net $1B all day long.snip
Liar liar, pants on fire.
Let's be honest here. While states like California, Texas, Illinois, and North Carolina may be playing heavy-handed, it's not like Amazon is without fault. They purposely use the "affiliate" model as an excuse to avoid collecting legally-owed taxes. What do I mean?
Take Nevada. Amazon has no physical presence in Nevada so there is no sales tax collected. Yet just outside Reno there is a GIGANTIC Amazon warehouse. There is a ton of merchandise shipped all over the west coast daily from Reno. The warehouse hires hundreds of seasonal workers every October-December. The warehouse is branded "Amazon". Seasonal employees are hired by "Amazon". Billboards advertise it as "Amazon". Yet somehow Amazon has no 'physical presence' and no nexus in Nevada?
Amazon has classified the warehouse as an "affiliate warehouse". The company claims that even though it's branded as theirs, employees are theirs, advertisements are theirs, etc. that none of the merchandise is theirs so technically the warehouse isn't theirs. It's a complete bullshit argument. It's also counter to the argument posited in California. In California, affiliates just provide referrals, but in Nevada affiliates have a 300,000 sq ft warehouse full of merchandise?
Liar liar, pants on fire.
Do you know what the state nets by their presence?they've got a 100% owned subsidiary filling amazon.com orders (not affiliate) from a warehouse here in texas and claim they have no presence in the state.
This whole ordeal just played out here in CT about a month ago.
I don't mind paying them sales tax for buying something, I just hate the BS that it gives them an unfair advantage which gives them lower prices. Last time I compared prices between them and a local place such as Best Buy on something, Amazon was cheaper BEFORE even looking at sales tax because of the type of business model they run, not because they save some people from paying sales tax.
yea but bestbuy tries to screw you all day everyday through sunday.