Comments on: States push to tax Net shopping
Tax collectors warn that on April 17, Americans had better fess up to what taxes they've avoided through Internet shopping--or else.
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I guess I'll just have to start moving in order to purchase things. Live in CA for a day, live in NV for a couple months, AZ for a day, etc..
I guess I'll just have to start moving in order to purchase things. Live in CA for a day, live in NV for a couple months, AZ for a day, etc..
Just exactly what personal benefit do I stand to receive under your plan to collect internet based State taxes? If I buy within my state I get the benefit of the tax revenues collected within my state.
If I buy out of my state, say from S. Carolina, am I supposed to pay S. Carolina's taxes? I don't think so. Maybe you had better go back to school and read up on Federal Constitutional law. Look at that header again: "Taxation Without Representation is Tyranny".
200+ years ago, a very large group Americans participated in a giant tea party in Boston to nmake a point about unlawful taxation. Do we need another tea party?
Make a legitimate case for the proper collection and use of taxes and make sure there are benefits for those who pay those taxes.
Else all you ever get is the middle digit from my right hand.
Sincerely,
Tricky Dick
Just exactly what personal benefit do I stand to receive under your plan to collect internet based State taxes? If I buy within my state I get the benefit of the tax revenues collected within my state.
If I buy out of my state, say from S. Carolina, am I supposed to pay S. Carolina's taxes? I don't think so. Maybe you had better go back to school and read up on Federal Constitutional law. Look at that header again: "Taxation Without Representation is Tyranny".
200+ years ago, a very large group Americans participated in a giant tea party in Boston to nmake a point about unlawful taxation. Do we need another tea party?
Make a legitimate case for the proper collection and use of taxes and make sure there are benefits for those who pay those taxes.
Else all you ever get is the middle digit from my right hand.
Sincerely,
Tricky Dick
Just exactly what personal benefit do I stand to receive under your plan to collect internet based State taxes? If I buy within my state I get the benefit of the tax revenues collected within my state.
If I buy out of my state, say from S. Carolina, am I supposed to pay S. Carolina's taxes? I don't think so. Maybe you had better go back to school and read up on Federal Constitutional law. Look at that header again: "Taxation Without Representation is Tyranny".
200+ years ago, a very large group Americans participated in a giant tea party in Boston to make a point about unlawful taxation. Do we need another tea party?
Make a legitimate case for the proper collection and use of taxes and make sure there are benefits for those who pay those taxes.
Else all you ever get is the middle digit from my right hand.
Sincerely,
Tricky Dick
Just exactly what personal benefit do I stand to receive under your plan to collect internet based State taxes? If I buy within my state I get the benefit of the tax revenues collected within my state.
If I buy out of my state, say from S. Carolina, am I supposed to pay S. Carolina's taxes? I don't think so. Maybe you had better go back to school and read up on Federal Constitutional law. Look at that header again: "Taxation Without Representation is Tyranny".
200+ years ago, a very large group Americans participated in a giant tea party in Boston to make a point about unlawful taxation. Do we need another tea party?
Make a legitimate case for the proper collection and use of taxes and make sure there are benefits for those who pay those taxes.
Else all you ever get is the middle digit from my right hand.
Sincerely,
Tricky Dick
The idiots in my USA governments (that's plural, because the idiots are from the city, county, state, and federal government) do not understand that the Internet has no geography. I can be like two clicks away from shopping in India than I can in Texas. Before the Internet, we purchased items locally because of convenience. Governments around the world took advantage of that and charged taxes to help those communities (and the Federal and State/Province governments as well). People were ensnared by this. The only way around it was to travel to somewhere else where the taxes were cheaper. But after the Internet, I have no geographical constraints. I can circumnavigate the globe in seconds.
No need to get angry at the knuckledraggers, though. We can just show them what happens when they continue to make brilliant decisions like this.
The idiots in my USA governments (that's plural, because the idiots are from the city, county, state, and federal government) do not understand that the Internet has no geography. I can be like two clicks away from shopping in India than I can in Texas. Before the Internet, we purchased items locally because of convenience. Governments around the world took advantage of that and charged taxes to help those communities (and the Federal and State/Province governments as well). People were ensnared by this. The only way around it was to travel to somewhere else where the taxes were cheaper. But after the Internet, I have no geographical constraints. I can circumnavigate the globe in seconds.
No need to get angry at the knuckledraggers, though. We can just show them what happens when they continue to make brilliant decisions like this.
A third party with some new ideas would be the better solution.
A third party with some new ideas would be the better solution.
A third party with some new ideas would be the better solution.
A third party with some new ideas would be the better solution.
issue - the fundamental issues with Sales Tax. First of all, for
many cities, sales tax may be their major source of income.
Cities usually get little funding from Federal and State Taxes.
Their main revenues are sales tax and property taxes. So not
paying sales tax hurts the cities the most. Yes it also smarts for
the states. On the other hand there is are groups of people that
because of their means, or job, rarely pay Sales Tax. I speaking
of those in the military, high income earners with the ability to
travel and people with jobs that involve travel - pilots and flight
attendants for example. These people have the ability or means
to travel out of state to make their major purchases in tax free
locations. The military can make purchases from on-base stores
that are tax free. There is also the issue for those living near tax
free states or Federal borders. Those in Yereka, CA can hop into
Oregon, a sales tax free state for purchases. Those in San Diego,
can go shopping in Tijauna, Mexico every weekend. My
understanding is that with few exceptions, such as automobiles,
purchases physically made in other states do not need to be
declared. Otherwise we would all need to declare everything we
purchased while on vacation, including meals and hotel rooms
and in some cases be taxed twice.
In many cases the only thing keeping some internet business
alive is the exclusion of sales tax. If you add up the price of an
item, shipping and then add sales tax, it is likely to just about
equal and sometime exceed the local cost, if it is available
locally. If this is the case, why would anyone, other than
availability want to purchase something over the Net? While
charging sales tax on Internet purchase would be a boost for
some local economies, it would probably put a lot of Internet
businesses out-of business. May of these businesses are small
business, less that a dozen people. The ripple effect could be
enormous. There would probably be a spike in unemployment,
bankruptcies and foreclosures. Even homelessness could rise. So
improving business in one area of the economy - higher sales
for some local retailers could be disastrous for others.
Additionally the Internet sales tax penalizes persons living in
small towns and rural America. These people may not be able to
get certain items locally. So an Internet sales tax means that
they may have to do without or pay more than those in larger
cities because the cost of goods will increase for them or the
items may no longer be available because the site that provided
it is no longer in business.
Sales Tax penalizes the poor most. They are generally not
mobile and must buy locally unless they make purchase over the
Internet. Without the Internet they pay the largest percentage of
their income into Sales Tax as they have no way of escaping any
of it, other than crime or the Internet. If the Internet gets taxed,
what does that leave? Tax free purchases over the Internet as
opposed to buying locally may make the difference as to if their
children get adequately fed every night. or if they are able to
keep a roof over their head.
The bottom line is that Sales Tax as a method of collecting taxes
is just plain unfair and I have yet to read of or see of any
practical methods of making it fair. States and Cities need a
different source of income, other than Sales Tax. The
bureaucracy in collecting Sales Tax is expensive in personnel
and record keeping, for the government and the retailer.
Additionally their are too many loopholes.
What is needed is a different kind of tax, that can be
administered fairly and relatively free of loopholes. An example
of such a proposal is the VAT or Value Added Tax. It is levied on
business every time an item changes hands. The final consumer
pays no tax. It is built into the final cost of the item. A business
has a choice of building the tax into the selling price of the item
or not.
This is just an example of one proposal and not meant to be
offered as the best solution.
Whatever is done, the one thing is obvious. Taxing Internet
purchases without addressing the entire issue of Sales Tax is not
going to be a fair tax, will not an evenly enforceable solution,
and likely have some unexpected or undesired consequences.
It is also obvious to me that the one that will be hurt the most
are the ones that can least afford it. The people that now escape
Sales Tax but can afford it it will continue to escape most of it,
especially on larger purchases.
We need a better solution for our Sales Tax issues, other than
taxing Internet purchases.
issue - the fundamental issues with Sales Tax. First of all, for
many cities, sales tax may be their major source of income.
Cities usually get little funding from Federal and State Taxes.
Their main revenues are sales tax and property taxes. So not
paying sales tax hurts the cities the most. Yes it also smarts for
the states. On the other hand there is are groups of people that
because of their means, or job, rarely pay Sales Tax. I speaking
of those in the military, high income earners with the ability to
travel and people with jobs that involve travel - pilots and flight
attendants for example. These people have the ability or means
to travel out of state to make their major purchases in tax free
locations. The military can make purchases from on-base stores
that are tax free. There is also the issue for those living near tax
free states or Federal borders. Those in Yereka, CA can hop into
Oregon, a sales tax free state for purchases. Those in San Diego,
can go shopping in Tijauna, Mexico every weekend. My
understanding is that with few exceptions, such as automobiles,
purchases physically made in other states do not need to be
declared. Otherwise we would all need to declare everything we
purchased while on vacation, including meals and hotel rooms
and in some cases be taxed twice.
In many cases the only thing keeping some internet business
alive is the exclusion of sales tax. If you add up the price of an
item, shipping and then add sales tax, it is likely to just about
equal and sometime exceed the local cost, if it is available
locally. If this is the case, why would anyone, other than
availability want to purchase something over the Net? While
charging sales tax on Internet purchase would be a boost for
some local economies, it would probably put a lot of Internet
businesses out-of business. May of these businesses are small
business, less that a dozen people. The ripple effect could be
enormous. There would probably be a spike in unemployment,
bankruptcies and foreclosures. Even homelessness could rise. So
improving business in one area of the economy - higher sales
for some local retailers could be disastrous for others.
Additionally the Internet sales tax penalizes persons living in
small towns and rural America. These people may not be able to
get certain items locally. So an Internet sales tax means that
they may have to do without or pay more than those in larger
cities because the cost of goods will increase for them or the
items may no longer be available because the site that provided
it is no longer in business.
Sales Tax penalizes the poor most. They are generally not
mobile and must buy locally unless they make purchase over the
Internet. Without the Internet they pay the largest percentage of
their income into Sales Tax as they have no way of escaping any
of it, other than crime or the Internet. If the Internet gets taxed,
what does that leave? Tax free purchases over the Internet as
opposed to buying locally may make the difference as to if their
children get adequately fed every night. or if they are able to
keep a roof over their head.
The bottom line is that Sales Tax as a method of collecting taxes
is just plain unfair and I have yet to read of or see of any
practical methods of making it fair. States and Cities need a
different source of income, other than Sales Tax. The
bureaucracy in collecting Sales Tax is expensive in personnel
and record keeping, for the government and the retailer.
Additionally their are too many loopholes.
What is needed is a different kind of tax, that can be
administered fairly and relatively free of loopholes. An example
of such a proposal is the VAT or Value Added Tax. It is levied on
business every time an item changes hands. The final consumer
pays no tax. It is built into the final cost of the item. A business
has a choice of building the tax into the selling price of the item
or not.
This is just an example of one proposal and not meant to be
offered as the best solution.
Whatever is done, the one thing is obvious. Taxing Internet
purchases without addressing the entire issue of Sales Tax is not
going to be a fair tax, will not an evenly enforceable solution,
and likely have some unexpected or undesired consequences.
It is also obvious to me that the one that will be hurt the most
are the ones that can least afford it. The people that now escape
Sales Tax but can afford it it will continue to escape most of it,
especially on larger purchases.
We need a better solution for our Sales Tax issues, other than
taxing Internet purchases.
issue - the fundamental issues with Sales Tax. First of all, for
many cities, sales tax may be their major source of income.
Cities usually get little funding from Federal and State Taxes.
Their main revenues are sales tax and property taxes. So not
paying sales tax hurts the cities the most. Yes it also smarts for
the states. On the other hand there is are groups of people that
because of their means, or job, rarely pay Sales Tax. I speaking
of those in the military, high income earners with the ability to
travel and people with jobs that involve travel - pilots and flight
attendants for example. These people have the ability or means
to travel out of state to make their major purchases in tax free
locations. The military can make purchases from on-base stores
that are tax free. There is also the issue for those living near tax
free states or Federal borders. Those in Yereka, CA can hop into
Oregon, a sales tax free state for purchases. Those in San Diego,
can go shopping in Tijauna, Mexico every weekend. My
understanding is that with few exceptions, such as automobiles,
purchases physically made in other states do not need to be
declared. Otherwise we would all need to declare everything we
purchased while on vacation, including meals and hotel rooms
and in some cases be taxed twice.
In many cases the only thing keeping some internet business
alive is the exclusion of sales tax. If you add up the price of an
item, shipping and then add sales tax, it is likely to just about
equal and sometime exceed the local cost, if it is available
locally. If this is the case, why would anyone, other than
availability want to purchase something over the Net? While
charging sales tax on Internet purchase would be a boost for
some local economies, it would probably put a lot of Internet
businesses out-of business. May of these businesses are small
business, less that a dozen people. The ripple effect could be
enormous. There would probably be a spike in unemployment,
bankruptcies and foreclosures. Even homelessness could rise. So
improving business in one area of the economy - higher sales
for some local retailers could be disastrous for others.
Additionally the Internet sales tax penalizes persons living in
small towns and rural America. These people may not be able to
get certain items locally. So an Internet sales tax means that
they may have to do without or pay more than those in larger
cities because the cost of goods will increase for them or the
items may no longer be available because the site that provided
it is no longer in business.
Sales Tax penalizes the poor most. They are generally not
mobile and must buy locally unless they make purchase over the
Internet. Without the Internet they pay the largest percentage of
their income into Sales Tax as they have no way of escaping any
of it, other than crime or the Internet. If the Internet gets taxed,
what does that leave? Tax free purchases over the Internet as
opposed to buying locally may make the difference as to if their
children get adequately fed every night. or if they are able to
keep a roof over their head.
The bottom line is that Sales Tax as a method of collecting taxes
is just plain unfair and I have yet to read of or see of any
practical methods of making it fair. States and Cities need a
different source of income, other than Sales Tax. The
bureaucracy in collecting Sales Tax is expensive in personnel
and record keeping, for the government and the retailer.
Additionally their are too many loopholes.
What is needed is a different kind of tax, that can be
administered fairly and relatively free of loopholes. An example
of such a proposal is the VAT or Value Added Tax. It is levied on
business every time an item changes hands. The final consumer
pays no tax. It is built into the final cost of the item. A business
has a choice of building the tax into the selling price of the item
or not.
This is just an example of one proposal and not meant to be
offered as the best solution.
Whatever is done, the one thing is obvious. Taxing Internet
purchases without addressing the entire issue of Sales Tax is not
going to be a fair tax, will not an evenly enforceable solution,
and likely have some unexpected or undesired consequences.
It is also obvious to me that the one that will be hurt the most
are the ones that can least afford it. The people that now escape
Sales Tax but can afford it it will continue to escape most of it,
especially on larger purchases.
We need a better solution for our Sales Tax issues, other than
taxing Internet purchases.
issue - the fundamental issues with Sales Tax. First of all, for
many cities, sales tax may be their major source of income.
Cities usually get little funding from Federal and State Taxes.
Their main revenues are sales tax and property taxes. So not
paying sales tax hurts the cities the most. Yes it also smarts for
the states. On the other hand there is are groups of people that
because of their means, or job, rarely pay Sales Tax. I speaking
of those in the military, high income earners with the ability to
travel and people with jobs that involve travel - pilots and flight
attendants for example. These people have the ability or means
to travel out of state to make their major purchases in tax free
locations. The military can make purchases from on-base stores
that are tax free. There is also the issue for those living near tax
free states or Federal borders. Those in Yereka, CA can hop into
Oregon, a sales tax free state for purchases. Those in San Diego,
can go shopping in Tijauna, Mexico every weekend. My
understanding is that with few exceptions, such as automobiles,
purchases physically made in other states do not need to be
declared. Otherwise we would all need to declare everything we
purchased while on vacation, including meals and hotel rooms
and in some cases be taxed twice.
In many cases the only thing keeping some internet business
alive is the exclusion of sales tax. If you add up the price of an
item, shipping and then add sales tax, it is likely to just about
equal and sometime exceed the local cost, if it is available
locally. If this is the case, why would anyone, other than
availability want to purchase something over the Net? While
charging sales tax on Internet purchase would be a boost for
some local economies, it would probably put a lot of Internet
businesses out-of business. May of these businesses are small
business, less that a dozen people. The ripple effect could be
enormous. There would probably be a spike in unemployment,
bankruptcies and foreclosures. Even homelessness could rise. So
improving business in one area of the economy - higher sales
for some local retailers could be disastrous for others.
Additionally the Internet sales tax penalizes persons living in
small towns and rural America. These people may not be able to
get certain items locally. So an Internet sales tax means that
they may have to do without or pay more than those in larger
cities because the cost of goods will increase for them or the
items may no longer be available because the site that provided
it is no longer in business.
Sales Tax penalizes the poor most. They are generally not
mobile and must buy locally unless they make purchase over the
Internet. Without the Internet they pay the largest percentage of
their income into Sales Tax as they have no way of escaping any
of it, other than crime or the Internet. If the Internet gets taxed,
what does that leave? Tax free purchases over the Internet as
opposed to buying locally may make the difference as to if their
children get adequately fed every night. or if they are able to
keep a roof over their head.
The bottom line is that Sales Tax as a method of collecting taxes
is just plain unfair and I have yet to read of or see of any
practical methods of making it fair. States and Cities need a
different source of income, other than Sales Tax. The
bureaucracy in collecting Sales Tax is expensive in personnel
and record keeping, for the government and the retailer.
Additionally their are too many loopholes.
What is needed is a different kind of tax, that can be
administered fairly and relatively free of loopholes. An example
of such a proposal is the VAT or Value Added Tax. It is levied on
business every time an item changes hands. The final consumer
pays no tax. It is built into the final cost of the item. A business
has a choice of building the tax into the selling price of the item
or not.
This is just an example of one proposal and not meant to be
offered as the best solution.
Whatever is done, the one thing is obvious. Taxing Internet
purchases without addressing the entire issue of Sales Tax is not
going to be a fair tax, will not an evenly enforceable solution,
and likely have some unexpected or undesired consequences.
It is also obvious to me that the one that will be hurt the most
are the ones that can least afford it. The people that now escape
Sales Tax but can afford it it will continue to escape most of it,
especially on larger purchases.
We need a better solution for our Sales Tax issues, other than
taxing Internet purchases.
However, when it comes to sales/use tax, i am completely lost. WHY am I paying this? why SHOULD I pay this? what burden is it that i am imposing on society by buying goods/services?
Income tax itself is an unconstitutional tax. Working class America is coughing up enough already. Make them pay more, and you have a "citizens disgruntled" situation. How do you think that makes one feel when he/she is told the country is in deficit despite all this taxation. Last year, i paid USD33000 in all taxes (sales, city, federal, state etc) out of my 96000 income. What did my government do for ME worth 33,000 USD?
by current deficit standards, that would mean they spent it all and more on the war in Iraq. Isn't this just great?
- No purpose to this Tax
- by srikanth_janga February 21, 2008 8:38 AM PST
- The purpose of tax, in my understanding, is to fulfill one's obligation to society for either rendering/consuming a good or service. For example, I see income tax as our obligation to society (administered by govt) to lay roads, sewerage etc, so i may live in society. The alternative to this is you lay your own road (not practical).
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
Showing 3 of 4 pages (106 Comments)However, when it comes to sales/use tax, i am completely lost. WHY am I paying this? why SHOULD I pay this? what burden is it that i am imposing on society by buying goods/services?
Income tax itself is an unconstitutional tax. Working class America is coughing up enough already. Make them pay more, and you have a "citizens disgruntled" situation. How do you think that makes one feel when he/she is told the country is in deficit despite all this taxation. Last year, i paid USD33000 in all taxes (sales, city, federal, state etc) out of my 96000 income. What did my government do for ME worth 33,000 USD?
by current deficit standards, that would mean they spent it all and more on the war in Iraq. Isn't this just great?