State tax on the internet
New York retailers were positively giddy in this ABC article because New York was going to force internet retailers to charge state tax.
At Chrono Tech Watches in White Plains, Jerry Nally is glad the clock is ticking on many Internet retailers that don’t charge New York sales tax. Nally says those so-called “e-tailers” steal his customers.
“They’ll come in our store, look at our product, touch it, play with it, look at the warranties, then go back to the web and buy it tax free,” says Nally.
Sounds like your problem is not with retailers, Jerry, it’s with your customers and your sales staff. Doing the happy dance over someone being forced to pay taxes is just childish. many of your customers probably paid more for shipping than they would have in sales tax – but they preferred to pay shipping. I do – I’d rather put a coupla bucks in UPS’ pockets than in Marty O’Malley’s. It’s better for the economy, too.
New York just raised their state sales tax – did you do anything about that Mr. Nalley? It seems to me that if tax free shopping appealed to your customers, you’d be opposed to the tax hike. But I’m betting you voted for Democrats who inherently raise taxes – expecially on businesses.
But the new rulings aren’t sitting well with the Internet giants. Amazon, the largest Internet retailer, is objecting to the decision, saying “this is the wrong time to increase taxes on New Yorkers.”
“You will drive people away. People are not going to want to shop online anymore,” says Cantin.
Nally is hoping online businesses will comply, however, telling CBS 2 “it’s about time!”
I’ll tell you what it’s about time for, Mr. Nally, it’s time we stopped depending on government to to tax and regulate our competition to “even the playing field”, whether it’s electronics or cars, and do a better job of competing for our customers’ money.
