Ravenwood - 01/31/05 07:30 AM
It looks like an internet sales tax is on the way. Dozens of states are ticked off that they have been thus far unable to tax internet sales that cross state lines. But what is most disturbing is their whole attitude about taxation.
At stake for the states is potentially billions of dollars a year in revenue that is currently going uncollected. A study released last July by the National Governors Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures estimated that state and local governments lost $15.5 billion to $16.1 billion in 2003 in revenue from untaxed Internet sales.That's right, if you buy a DVD from a guy in another state and don't mail in your 50-cents tribute, the states are somehow losing money.
All money belongs to the government; after all, they printed it. We just use it at their leisure.
Posted by: Brian J. at January 31, 2005 8:10 AMI would be interested to know how shipping companies (US postal, fedex, the brown trucks) pay taxes to states. Gasoline taxes? Property taxes? Income taxes? Business licenses? Vehicle taxes?
Is it possible the states are garnering other taxes in lieu of "sales" taxes due to internet sales?
Seriously, do you know of any sources for this sort of economic analysis?
Posted by: cj at February 1, 2005 11:54 PM(c) Ravenwood and Associates, 1.99K - 2K7
