I shop online not because of the occasional break on sales tax but because what I want (and occasionally need) is not available in the local stores. The impact on the consumer will be minimal except for the shuttering of a number of small business which will be unable to handle the administrative burden, which is why places like WalMart, Target, Costco, were all in favor of this.
Personally, very few (if any) of my online purchases exclude state taxes. My out of state, cash purchases contribute far more to my state’s tax revenue loss and until we have a secure form (block-chain?) of electronic currency, this will probably be the case.
It’s very difficult to compete with internet. The idea of wanting something crosses your mind. You can either put it on your shopping list or find it online, order it and have it on the porch before you get around to going to town. The price is usually pretty equal, often cheaper, if you are willing to wait for a slow boat from China, often much cheaper. And, you have access to many more choices than any one store, even one business district could stock. If it’s something you want to match, you can often find it used— I found a perfectly matching bed sheet from the 60’s to go with ones I had in storage. You can’t really see the size or quality of an item ordered on line, which is where the actual stores are going to continue to exist, but usually you either know or it doesn’t matter. And, the recently expanded number of stores that offer free returns makes even that workable. I have friends with a store going out of business, and I still can’t resist all the advantages the internet provides.
The wrong issue is being debated: It’s not who should pay sales taxes but why do we have them in the first place given that these taxes are the most regressive form of taxation ever devised. Add to this the sheer complexity of dealing with multiple jurisdictions, rates, and exemptions and it becomes a truly mind numbing experience.
I buy things when I’m out of state on business or a vacation. It’s none of my home state’s business what I bought while away. I’ve always felt that the same is true for whatever I buy online.
When I was growing up in California the state sales tax was 4%. Now it’s 7.5%. Once they have the tax on the books, it’s really easy to nudge it up. No need to ask the voters, the law is already there. We’ll just amend it a bit.
3cranes Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Most of the stuff I buy already has sales tax, but a few smaller businesses didn’t.
Carl Premium Member almost 6 years ago
I shop online not because of the occasional break on sales tax but because what I want (and occasionally need) is not available in the local stores. The impact on the consumer will be minimal except for the shuttering of a number of small business which will be unable to handle the administrative burden, which is why places like WalMart, Target, Costco, were all in favor of this.
superposition almost 6 years ago
Personally, very few (if any) of my online purchases exclude state taxes. My out of state, cash purchases contribute far more to my state’s tax revenue loss and until we have a secure form (block-chain?) of electronic currency, this will probably be the case.
Diane Lee Premium Member almost 6 years ago
It’s very difficult to compete with internet. The idea of wanting something crosses your mind. You can either put it on your shopping list or find it online, order it and have it on the porch before you get around to going to town. The price is usually pretty equal, often cheaper, if you are willing to wait for a slow boat from China, often much cheaper. And, you have access to many more choices than any one store, even one business district could stock. If it’s something you want to match, you can often find it used— I found a perfectly matching bed sheet from the 60’s to go with ones I had in storage. You can’t really see the size or quality of an item ordered on line, which is where the actual stores are going to continue to exist, but usually you either know or it doesn’t matter. And, the recently expanded number of stores that offer free returns makes even that workable. I have friends with a store going out of business, and I still can’t resist all the advantages the internet provides.
tauyen almost 6 years ago
The wrong issue is being debated: It’s not who should pay sales taxes but why do we have them in the first place given that these taxes are the most regressive form of taxation ever devised. Add to this the sheer complexity of dealing with multiple jurisdictions, rates, and exemptions and it becomes a truly mind numbing experience.
Holden Awn almost 6 years ago
I buy things when I’m out of state on business or a vacation. It’s none of my home state’s business what I bought while away. I’ve always felt that the same is true for whatever I buy online.
Iron Pounder almost 6 years ago
When I was growing up in California the state sales tax was 4%. Now it’s 7.5%. Once they have the tax on the books, it’s really easy to nudge it up. No need to ask the voters, the law is already there. We’ll just amend it a bit.