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> "Amazon should have been fined billions for those infractions." They were not infractions, that was the tax code. Governments (whether you like it or not) d

> "Amazon should have been fined billions for those infractions." They were not infractions, that was the tax code. Governments (whether you like it or not) decided that in order for these markets to grow, they need to forgo taxes on them for a while until they reach critical mass. They weren't skirting the law, so you can't 'fine' Amazon (or any online retailer) for that.

gowld 6y ago
Government didn't "decide" that. Government was slow at rectifying the loophole. Legally, all of Amazon's customers were breaking the law by not paying "use" tax.
- perl4ever 6y ago
  Some states are making up for past undercollection of sales tax by pressuring you to pay when you file your income taxes. Pretty much everybody collects sales tax online these days, but if you don't obsessively keep records, you can't be sure you paid it on every single purchase, so it's safest to pay the estimated amount when you do your NY state income taxes, which means they are double dipping to some extent.
  - chii 6y ago
    wow that's so stupid. Sales tax is paid by the store, not the customer. How can the tax be collected after the fact?!
    - perl4ever 6y ago
      There is an estimated amount which you can pay optionally. The implied threat is, if you don't pay the estimate, and thereby claim you already paid your sales tax due on all online purchases, then if you get audited, you lied under penalty of perjury on your return. Now this is very unlikely, but it's compelling if you're very risk averse.
      - chii 6y ago
        > paid your sales tax due on all online purchases what i'm saying is that the gov't should not place the pressure of paying sales tax on the consumer, and instead get it off the store that's selling to you. If it's an overseas store, then they do not have legal right to operate in america, and should refuse an american customer. Unless they either also pay sales tax, or have a treaty with the USA in their home country for tax reciprocity. It's dumb to have a customer be responsible for said sales tax.

gowld 6y ago

Government didn't "decide" that. Government was slow at rectifying the loophole. Legally, all of Amazon's customers were breaking the law by not paying "use" tax.

perl4ever 6y ago
Some states are making up for past undercollection of sales tax by pressuring you to pay when you file your income taxes. Pretty much everybody collects sales tax online these days, but if you don't obsessively keep records, you can't be sure you paid it on every single purchase, so it's safest to pay the estimated amount when you do your NY state income taxes, which means they are double dipping to some extent.
- chii 6y ago
  wow that's so stupid. Sales tax is paid by the store, not the customer. How can the tax be collected after the fact?!
  - perl4ever 6y ago
    There is an estimated amount which you can pay optionally. The implied threat is, if you don't pay the estimate, and thereby claim you already paid your sales tax due on all online purchases, then if you get audited, you lied under penalty of perjury on your return. Now this is very unlikely, but it's compelling if you're very risk averse.
    - chii 6y ago
      > paid your sales tax due on all online purchases what i'm saying is that the gov't should not place the pressure of paying sales tax on the consumer, and instead get it off the store that's selling to you. If it's an overseas store, then they do not have legal right to operate in america, and should refuse an american customer. Unless they either also pay sales tax, or have a treaty with the USA in their home country for tax reciprocity. It's dumb to have a customer be responsible for said sales tax.