Quote:
Originally Posted by sarettah
As far as I know, in most states that have sales tax, if you (the consumer) buy something out of state you are supposed to file a use tax on it. It usually credits you something for the sales tax that you did pay out of state and then collects any difference.
So, if you are buying stuff on-line and not paying a sales tax, and not filing a use tax then you are in violation of the law.
Most states do not enforce their use tax laws effectively except when it comes to big ticket items like boats and cars.
The failure of the government to adequately enforce the laws in their own state should NOT shift that burden on to me.
If the state of Missouri (where I reside and do business) required me to collect Missouri state sales tax on all sales I do (instead of just sales to people inside the state of Missouri) I could go for that. That is not the same thing as another state, where I have no representation, and who has absolutely no jurisdiction over me, requiring me to collect their taxes for them.
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This actually puts it in a way that clears some things up for me. I can understand what you are saying and it seems to me if, for example you live, work and operate your website from Missouri and the state of California wants you to do the work collecting their sales tax from buyers from their state they should, at the very least, come up with a system where they compensate you for your time or cover the cost/expense of doing so otherwise you are basically just working for them for free.