Sales Tax Initiative

In early February, California Assembly Member Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) introduced Assembly Bill 178, legislation that would clarify the state's existing sales tax law.

Carla Jimenez of Inkwood Books in Tampa and Mitchell Kaplan of Books & Books in Coral Gables, Miami Beach, and Bal Harbour are strongly encouraging their Florida bookselling colleagues to urge state lawmakers to craft Internet Sales Tax legislation modeled after the bill adopted by New York State in April 2008.

New York State's Internet Sales Tax provision, which went into effect on June 1, 2008, has recouped $46 million in sales tax revenue from the 30-plus vendors that registered to collect and remit sales tax, according to a spokesperson for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. The state expects to collect about $68 million for the fiscal year 2009 - 2010, which begins April 1.

Legislators in Tennessee recently introduced e-fairness legislation modeled on New York State's Internet Sales Tax provision. Tennessee joins California, Connecticut, Hawaii, and Minnesota in introducing legislation that would require out-of-state companies that have affiliates in their states to collect and remit tax on sales made to in-state residents over the Internet.

Citing the economic crisis and looming budget deficits, this past week, three major newspapers featured editorials in support of e-fairness. The Miami Herald and the Orlando Sentinel called on Florida lawmakers to join the Streamlined Sales Tax Project, and the Santa Cruz Sentinel urged California legislators to support Assembly Bill 178, which is modeled after New York State's Internet sales tax provision.

On Monday, March 2, the American Booksellers Association asked Florida booksellers to urge their state lawmakers to craft Internet Sales Tax legislation modeled after the bill adopted by New York State in April 2008. In the past two months, similar sales tax legislation has been introduced in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, and Minnesota.

On Thursday, February 26, a group of Virginia-based independent booksellers wrote to their state leaders to urge them to enforce existing sales tax laws by requiring Amazon.com to collect and remit sales tax for sales made in Virginia. Amazon.com operates two facilities, a fulfillment center and data center, in the state.

This week, three booksellers in Connecticut and four booksellers in Minnesota strongly encouraged ABA member colleagues in their respective states to join the fight for e-fairness. Legislators in Connecticut and Minnesota are among the latest to introduce legislation, modeled on New York State's Internet Sales Tax provision, which would require out-of-state companies that have affiliates in their states to collect and remit sales tax.

Booksellers Urged to Contact State Legislators

Today, in a joint effort, the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA), the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association (SCIBA), and the American Booksellers Association began e-mailing California booksellers to urge them to contact their state assemblymembers in support of Assembly Bill 178, legislation that would clarify California sales tax law.