Internet tax threatens small business
Small businesses are more common today than they’ve ever been. The internet and modern technology have allowed anyone access to the professional world, and sometimes without having to even leave their homes. Online small businesses are the professional choice of many, as it’s best if they have a limited number of employees when on a small budget that can’t afford a physical location. And, of course, many small businesses today don’t even need a physical location and can do everything to enhance and progress their businesses online.
Online businesses have redefined small business in America, and they continue to strengthen the economy and create more and more jobs every day, which this country desperately needs. However, there is possible federal legislation that could implement an internet sales tax to businesses that are solely online. As currently proposed, this internet sales tax would ultimately impose a burden on small businesses, businesses that can’t afford to pay internet sales taxes and keep their virtual doors open.
Coalition against proposed internet tax
In 1992, the U.S. Supreme Court made the decision that forcing online businesses or individual sellers to pay sales tax for states in which they do not live would be burdensome. However, some have decided that they want to override that decision and make online retailers pay sales tax based on which state each individual sale came from. That means that online retailers would have to calculate every transaction and stay on top of each state’s changing sales taxes.
The We R Here Coalition is taking a stand against these taxes that will negatively affect small online businesses. Their goal is to take a united front, to come together and loudly voice why this is a bad idea, not just for the business owners themselves, but for the country as well. Anyone can get involved, through the coalition by signing up and/or signing the petition. As The We R Here Coalition perfectly puts it, this country needs to “…create a fair marketplace for all types of retail businesses to thrive and innovation to prosper.”
Sten Wilson
January 4, 2013 at 12:46 pm
My business using PayPalExpress Checkout buttons seamlessly integrated with modern technology freely available on the Internet is easily enables to calculate, collect and remit sales tax for any jurisdiction in any state? It is actually easier for my business to process tax for thousands of jurisdictions than deal with the complexities involved in shipping. In 1992 the technology did not exist, however the year is 2013 and the same technologies making the online marketplace vibrant, efficient and profitable now does the the same for tax processing.