SIBA to Host Sales Tax Summit at Trade Show

In 2011, the fight for e-fairness has become a major national story, as more states pass sales tax equity legislation and the Main Street Fairness Act has again been introduced in Congress.

However, while significant progress has been made — including the passage of sales tax equity legislation this year in Illinois, Connecticut, and California — the important work in leveling the playing field and equitably enforcing sales tax law continues.

At the upcoming Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance trade show, attendees will have an opportunity to hear an important update on the e-fairness fight from a national and regional perspective, to learn what’s unfolding in key battleground states (including South Carolina, Virginia, and Florida), and to ask questions about what can be a complex and confusing issue.

Participating in the Sales Tax Fairness Summit will be ABA CEO Oren Teicher, a leader for more than a decade in the e-fairness fight; Jason Brewer, vice president, communications and advocacy for the Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represents major corporate retailers and which has played a major role in the successful passage of sales tax equity legislation; and local retailers, including Jill Hendrix, owner of Fiction Addiction, an indie bookstore in Greenville, South Carolina.

“While this has been a year of real progress for e-fairness, we know that there is still much to be done,” said ABA’s Teicher. “We are grateful to SIBA for the opportunity to more fully explore the issue at the upcoming trade show so that booksellers can get the latest news and insight, especially from a local perspective, and discuss ways in which we can work together to help achieve sales tax fairness.

The Sales Tax Fairness Summit will take place from 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 17, in Ballroom C1 of the Embassy Suites North Charleston – Airport/Hotel & Convention Center in North Charleston, South Carolina. Immediately following the Summit, SIBA will hold a brief annual meeting.