Advocacy

Independent booksellers, including Kepler's, protest state's tax system By David Boyce Almanac Staff Writer

There is still time for booksellers to add their names to an ABA letter calling on U.S. governors in the 45 states that collect sales tax to enforce existing tax regulations by making sure that retailers with a physical presence in their states collect sales tax on online sales. Hundreds of booksellers have already added their names to the letter, but ABA is looking to include the signatures of as many ABA member stores in these states as possible.

Hundreds of booksellers nationwide have signed on to an ABA letter calling on U.S. governors in the 45 states that collect sales tax to enforce existing tax regulations by making sure that retailers with a physical presence in their states collect sales tax on online sales. Close to 300 booksellers have already responded to an e-mail last week from ABA COO Oren Teicher about the communications effort.

The citywide book club trend, which began in Seattle six years ago, continues its remarkable popularity, with new community-reading initiatives sprouting up around the nation at an amazing pace. When BTW first published a listing of citywide book club initiatives in March 2002, there were 45 community-reading events listed. Eleven months later, the number has almost tripled, and now lists 124 cities, counties, or states that have organized (or are organizing) events that encourage communities to read the same book at the same time.

This week many booksellers nationwide received an e-mail from ABA COO Oren Teicher regarding the American Booksellers Association's efforts to achieve greater equity regarding the collection of sales tax on online sales. The e-mail noted the letter that ABA recently sent to the U.S. governors in the 45 states that collect sales tax. In that letter, ABA again called on states to fully enforce existing regulations by ensuring that retailers with a physical presence in their state collect sales tax on online sales.

The troubling effects of falling tax revenues continue to multiply for elected officials facing rapidly growing deficits. Forty-one states collected less revenue in fiscal 2002 than they had planned for in their budgets. Nationwide, sales tax collections were 3.2 percent lower than originally budgeted, personal income tax collections missed states' targets by 12.8 percent, and corporate income taxes were 21.5 percent lower than projected.

The American Booksellers Association has once again called on the U.S. governors in the 45 states that collect sales tax to fully enforce existing regulations by ensuring that retailers with a physical presence in their state collect sales tax on online sales.

Representatives from 31 states and the District of Columbia approved, on November 12, a proposal to simplify and to modernize sales and use tax administration. The states are part of the Streamlined Sales Tax Project (SSTP), a national initiative seeking to improve sales and use tax collection, especially for online commerce. The plan incorporates uniform definitions within states' and local governments' tax bases, simplified audit and administrative procedures, and improved software to help reduce the burden of tax collection.

ABA's Prescription for Reading is in full swing, and booksellers who spoke to BTW reported that they are having great success with this year's program. "We started out with 200 books [for the program]," said Lee Kimball, manager of The Library Shop in Richmond, Virginia. "We ended up having to order another 1,000 more."

The Citywide Book Club trend, which began in Seattle six years go, shows no sign of slowing down. When Bookselling This Week first created its Citywide Book Club list in March 2002, there were 45 known community-reading initiatives. Seven months later, the number has more than doubled, and now lists 94 cities, counties, or states that have organized (or are organizing) events that encourage communities to read the same book at the same time.