Article: Determining the liability of internet retailers to collect sales taxes Journal: International Journal of Technology Policy and Law (IJTPL) 2014 Vol.1 No.4 pp.387 - 394 Abstract: This paper discusses the current issues on internet commerce sales tax. The main issue is whether an internet retailer is responsible for collecting sales tax. An out-of-state seller is not required to collect sales tax from buyers who reside in states in which there is no minimum connection between the seller and the state. This paper summaries judiciary decisions in the past and points out that physical presence was the principle to satisfy the requirement of minimum connection. And, in 2008 the New York State legislature enacted the so called 'Amazon tax' that requires an internet retailer to collect sales tax from buyers in New York if the retailer has affiliates in New York that put the retailer's website link on the affiliates' websites so that shoppers could order merchandise from the retailer by using that link. In this case, the minimum connection was extended from the physical presence of the retailer to include the physical presence of the retailer's affiliates. Moreover, in February 2013, a bill (the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013) was introduced in both houses of the Congress that would give states the option to require the collection of sales and use taxes already owed under state law by out-of-state businesses, rather than rely on consumers to remit those taxes to the states. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Determining the liability of internet retailers to collect sales taxes

Authors: Wing W. Poon; James G.S. Yang; Beixin Lin

Addresses: Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey 07043, USA ' Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey 07043, USA ' Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey 07043, USA

Abstract: This paper discusses the current issues on internet commerce sales tax. The main issue is whether an internet retailer is responsible for collecting sales tax. An out-of-state seller is not required to collect sales tax from buyers who reside in states in which there is no minimum connection between the seller and the state. This paper summaries judiciary decisions in the past and points out that physical presence was the principle to satisfy the requirement of minimum connection. And, in 2008 the New York State legislature enacted the so called 'Amazon tax' that requires an internet retailer to collect sales tax from buyers in New York if the retailer has affiliates in New York that put the retailer's website link on the affiliates' websites so that shoppers could order merchandise from the retailer by using that link. In this case, the minimum connection was extended from the physical presence of the retailer to include the physical presence of the retailer's affiliates. Moreover, in February 2013, a bill (the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013) was introduced in both houses of the Congress that would give states the option to require the collection of sales and use taxes already owed under state law by out-of-state businesses, rather than rely on consumers to remit those taxes to the states.

Keywords: sales taxes; internet retailers; e-business; electronic business; physical presence; minimum connection; Amazon tax; Marketplace Fairness Act; liability; tax collection; electronic commerce; e-commerce; USA; United States.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTPL.2014.061660

International Journal of Technology Policy and Law, 2014 Vol.1 No.4, pp.387 - 394

Published online: 02 Jul 2014 *

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Title: Determining the liability of internet retailers to collect sales taxes

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