4 ms·

Amazon Shuts Down Associates Program in NC

21 points by KrisJordan 17y ago

dougp 17y ago
Can anyone find the specifics in the legislation that is causing this. I can't find anything. They really should put all legislation in progress up on github or something.
- qeorge 17y ago
  I'm not sure what the specific bill is, but try this site: http://www.ncleg.net/ http://www.ncleg.net/ You should be able to find the text of any NC legislation there.
- designtofly 17y ago
  Credit to iends who found this during the previous discussion of this topic: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=662254 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=662254 Original thread: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=662200 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=662200
- bwhite 17y ago
  It is in the Appropriations Act of 2009 / S202, currently in revision 6: http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/HTML/S202v6.html http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/HTML/S202v6.... See sections 27C.2 and 27C.3.
  - Dilpil 17y ago
    The appropriations act? Someone needs to explain modularity to lawmakers.
    - gojomo 17y ago
      If spending and revenues were any further separated, even more US states would be bankrupt.
    - bwhite 17y ago
      From their perspective, hiding stuff like this in large appropriation bills is a feature, not a bug. Sadly.
spolsky 17y ago
Really simple. Internet merchants have to collect sales tax on residents of any state where they have a physical presence. Amazon has been careful to limit their physical presence to Washington so that their sales are tax free in the 49 other states. North Carolina doesn't like all the lost sales tax revenues caused by people buying things from Amazon. So they changed the law so that having an AFFILIATE in North Carolina is the same as having a physical presence in North Carolina. Amazon retaliated by eliminating all North Carolina affiliates. (Many of whom will probably just change the address on their account. Since Amazon pays by direct deposit, this won't matter). It's the only way Amazon can keep from having to charge sales tax to ALL North Carolina residents which would make them more expensive.

21 points by KrisJordan 17y ago

dougp 17y ago

Can anyone find the specifics in the legislation that is causing this. I can't find anything. They really should put all legislation in progress up on github or something.

qeorge 17y ago
I'm not sure what the specific bill is, but try this site: http://www.ncleg.net/ http://www.ncleg.net/ You should be able to find the text of any NC legislation there.
designtofly 17y ago
Credit to iends who found this during the previous discussion of this topic: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=662254 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=662254 Original thread: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=662200 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=662200
bwhite 17y ago
It is in the Appropriations Act of 2009 / S202, currently in revision 6: http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/HTML/S202v6.html http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/HTML/S202v6.... See sections 27C.2 and 27C.3.
- Dilpil 17y ago
  The appropriations act? Someone needs to explain modularity to lawmakers.
  - gojomo 17y ago
    If spending and revenues were any further separated, even more US states would be bankrupt.
  - bwhite 17y ago
    From their perspective, hiding stuff like this in large appropriation bills is a feature, not a bug. Sadly.

spolsky 17y ago

Really simple. Internet merchants have to collect sales tax on residents of any state where they have a physical presence. Amazon has been careful to limit their physical presence to Washington so that their sales are tax free in the 49 other states. North Carolina doesn't like all the lost sales tax revenues caused by people buying things from Amazon. So they changed the law so that having an AFFILIATE in North Carolina is the same as having a physical presence in North Carolina. Amazon retaliated by eliminating all North Carolina affiliates. (Many of whom will probably just change the address on their account. Since Amazon pays by direct deposit, this won't matter). It's the only way Amazon can keep from having to charge sales tax to ALL North Carolina residents which would make them more expensive.