Internet Commerce

At press time, the New Jersey Senate Budget Committee was scheduled to hold a hearing on S. 1762, legislation that would provide Amazon.com a temporary sales tax exemption in exchange for the retailer’s opening two warehouses in the state.

The Arizona state Senate is voting today on SB 1338, legislation that would clarify sales tax laws in the state by requiring any company with a warehouse or distribution center in Arizona to collect and remit sales tax. Meanwhile, in Utah the state Senate overwhelmingly passed similar legislation.

ABFFE has joined the National Coalition Against Censorship  in protesting a threat by the online payment processor PayPal to close the accounts of online booksellers selling erotic works.

On Thursday, March 1, the Utah House of Representatives passed H.B. 384, legislation that would require remote retailers with nexus in Utah via distribution centers or subsidiaries to collect and remit sales tax.

This week, BTW’s new technology feature provides an overview of common e-reader devices and their compatibility with Google eBooks.

Despite last week’s news to the contrary, Google will be continuing its relationship with indie booksellers that sell Google eBooks™ through its affiliate program.

On February 20, in a dispute over terms, Amazon.com stopped selling some 4,000 e-book titles distributed by Independent Publishers Group.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s office announced this week that an agreement on sales tax fairness legislation had been reached with Amazon.com, members of the General Assembly, and key retailers. In Kansas, ABA Board member Sarah Bagby of Watermark Books & Café testified before a state Senate committee in support of sales tax fairness legislation.

Four New Jersey state lawmakers have introduced legislation that would provide online retailers with a sales tax exemption in exchange for a capital investment and the creation of full-time jobs in the state between January 1, 2012, and December 1, 2013.

On February 10, the Virginia Senate passed a sales tax fairness bill by a margin of 34-6. Senate Bill 597 would require retailers with warehouses or distribution centers in Virginia, such as Amazon.com, to collect and remit sales tax for purchases made by Virginia residents.