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"Finally, it wants the Texas comptroller's office to set up a website where its customers can send sales tax owed on Amazon purchases to the state. Historically

"Finally, it wants the Texas comptroller's office to set up a website where its customers can send sales tax owed on Amazon purchases to the state. Historically, voluntary sales-tax payments haven't been reliable." I thought that part of the story was a joke. "Historically, voluntary sales-tax payments haven't been reliable." has got to be an understatement. Has anyone here ever voluntarily paid sales taxes?

epochwolf 15y ago
> Has anyone here ever voluntarily paid sales taxes? I didn't even know it was possible to do so.
- sixtofour 15y ago
  I would be reluctant to do so, because that establishes one more connection between me and the state. The best thing, in general, is to minimize your profile with the state.
SwellJoe 15y ago
When I ran a business in Texas, I generally did. There were occasions where I bought parts intended to resell them, but ended up with them stuck in one of the desktop or development machines...so, I probably cheated a little bit, but not much. But, I was under the impression individuals were not legally obligated to pay sales tax on goods from out of state, but this article makes it sound like they are. So, I never paid on individual purchases during the 15 or so years I lived in Texas.
- esrauch 15y ago
  In NY State at least there is a "use tax" which is not the same as sales tax, but it effectively is just sales tax on goods bought out of state.
- dangrossman 15y ago
  Not that I'm some kind of tax expert, but AFAIK, "sales and use tax" is levied on categories of goods and services, regardless of where they're purchased. There's only an obligation to COLLECT the tax by retailers with a presence in the state, but all residents of the state have to pay the tax on all purchases. When it's collected by the retailer it's called sales tax, when it's not it's called use tax and you have to send it in yourself.
ohyes 15y ago
In CT it is a line on your tax form. It is only on certain goods and I just do an estimate, but yes, I paid it.
dangrossman 15y ago
Yes, I keep receipts on anything I buy out of state and pay the sales tax at the end of the year. It's mostly Amazon.com purchases, really. I'm in PA.
anamax 15y ago
> Has anyone here ever voluntarily paid sales taxes? Yes. FWIW, it's a line on CA's form 540 (I paid on the long form but assume that it's on the short form as well). Turbotax even asks about it.
LarryA 15y ago
Yep, on the California Tax form - called the Use Tax. I go through my eBay/Amazon/etc stuff and work up a total. I like having stuff like libraries and roads without potholes.

epochwolf 15y ago

> Has anyone here ever voluntarily paid sales taxes? I didn't even know it was possible to do so.

sixtofour 15y ago
I would be reluctant to do so, because that establishes one more connection between me and the state. The best thing, in general, is to minimize your profile with the state.

SwellJoe 15y ago

When I ran a business in Texas, I generally did. There were occasions where I bought parts intended to resell them, but ended up with them stuck in one of the desktop or development machines...so, I probably cheated a little bit, but not much. But, I was under the impression individuals were not legally obligated to pay sales tax on goods from out of state, but this article makes it sound like they are. So, I never paid on individual purchases during the 15 or so years I lived in Texas.

esrauch 15y ago
In NY State at least there is a "use tax" which is not the same as sales tax, but it effectively is just sales tax on goods bought out of state.
dangrossman 15y ago
Not that I'm some kind of tax expert, but AFAIK, "sales and use tax" is levied on categories of goods and services, regardless of where they're purchased. There's only an obligation to COLLECT the tax by retailers with a presence in the state, but all residents of the state have to pay the tax on all purchases. When it's collected by the retailer it's called sales tax, when it's not it's called use tax and you have to send it in yourself.

ohyes 15y ago

In CT it is a line on your tax form. It is only on certain goods and I just do an estimate, but yes, I paid it.

dangrossman 15y ago

Yes, I keep receipts on anything I buy out of state and pay the sales tax at the end of the year. It's mostly Amazon.com purchases, really. I'm in PA.

anamax 15y ago

> Has anyone here ever voluntarily paid sales taxes? Yes. FWIW, it's a line on CA's form 540 (I paid on the long form but assume that it's on the short form as well). Turbotax even asks about it.

LarryA 15y ago

Yep, on the California Tax form - called the Use Tax. I go through my eBay/Amazon/etc stuff and work up a total. I like having stuff like libraries and roads without potholes.