Online Sales Tax Bill Introduced in the Senate
The Marketplace Fairness Act was introduced today by Senators Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Tim Johnson (D-S.D.).
The new bill would create a national sales tax for online sales and give states two paths to collect sales taxes on goods bought over the internet. States that sign on to a multistate legal agreement and conform their sales tax codes with other states “can compel internet retailers to charge and remit the sales tax.” States that don’t sign the interstate compact can collect internet sales tax if they adopt minimum standards.
Senate action on e-fairness comes less than a month after bipartisan introduction of similar legislation in the House.
"Amazon strongly supports enactment of the Enzi-Durbin-Alexander bill and will work with Congress, retailers and states to get this bipartisan legislation passed," said Paul Misener, Amazon's vice president, global public policy, in a statement. "It's a win-win resolution."
The sales tax flap has been a big headache in recent months for Amazon as the e-commerce giant has attempted to open new distribution centers and has gotten caught up in disputes in those states over the collection of sales tax.
