posted on January 30, 2001 02:03:56 PM new
How often are you charged sales tax by sellers in the same state??
[ edited by powderblue on Jan 30, 2001 02:04 PM ]
posted on January 30, 2001 02:14:18 PM new
I only bought something from a seller in my own state once, but they did charge sales tax. It was in their TOS. I don't have a problem with it.
posted on January 30, 2001 03:13:20 PM new
<<I think that sales tax should either be collected or not, regardless of where you live. >>
I'm not following this. Why would I collect tax if they don't live in the same state as me? I only have to pay my state if I sell in my state. I don't think the buyers (who know the law) would be too happy..and I would prob be charged with fee avaoidance, if I collected tax, and kept it.
What I am getting at is that you SHOULDN'T be charged sales tax simply because you live in the same state!
When someone walks into a store, they're charged sales tax--regardless of where they live. If you buy something from someone through Ebay you are NOT charged sales tax---UNLESS you live in the same state. That's B.S. It's flagrantly unfair.
I have paid sales tax to sellers who live at the opposite end of my big state--meanwhile, people from other states nearby (much closer to seller) do NOT pay sales tax on these through-the-mail transactions.
posted on January 30, 2001 04:02:52 PM new
Powderblue,
Collection of sales tax has more to do with the state the item is sold in AND taken possession in.
The reason people pay sales tax when walking into a store is that they are TAKING POSSESSION of the item within the state and therefore must pay sales tax. If an item is sold in the same state as the buyer and the seller is a legitimate business they MUST collect sales tax. They are responsible for paying the tax to the state whether or not they collect it.
Technically, YOU are SUPPOSED to pay taxes on items you purchase out of state and bring into your state. MOST states have that law on the books. You are supposed to declare items that you purchased out of state and did not pay tax on, and pay your states sales tax rate on it.
As a business in my state, I am required to collect sales tax on sales within the state, and so I do.
Oh, and if you purchase goods online from a Company that has a store in your state, you WILL pay sales tax on your purchase, even though it is a mail order purchase.
(Example, if I buy books at borders.com, I must pay sales tax because they have stores here in my state. If they did not have stores here, I would not be required to pay the tax. Same with Gateway. I thought I'd SAVE on sales tax, but nope, they have a store at the other end of my state, so I was stuck paying it).
[ edited by kidsfeet on Jan 30, 2001 04:05 PM ]
