NYC mayor to cut teachers, firefighters and services for seniors and children

Posted on 07. May, 2010 by Bring Fairness to Main Street in The Blog

New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg just announced that the city will be forced to cut 11,000 jobs and city services for senior citizens and children in order to deal with a significant budget deficit. Many of the positions to be cut include teachers, firefighters and childcase workers. While the revenue from online sales tax wouldn’t completely solve the budget deficit facing the city, it would definitely soften the blow and help protect these important community services.

The New York Times – Mayor’s Budget Would Cut Teaching Jobs, Fire Companies and Senior Centers

Kansas lawmaker says tax increase more likely

Posted on 22. Apr, 2010 by Bring Fairness to Main Street in The Blog

As states continue to grapple with massive budget deficits, legislators are having to make tough choices between cutting citizen services and raising taxes. In Kansas, they are dealing with a $70 million gap this year and a projected $450-$510 million gap for the 2011 budget. One of the challenges that the state economists cite is a decline in sales tax revenue over the last 2 years. Now the state legislature talking about a possible hike in the sales tax rate (along with tax hikes in other areas) to help bridge the gap.

The frustrating thing is that, according to a University of Tennessee study, Kansas is estimated to lose about $108 million in sales tax revenue from online sales this year and $127 million in 2011. Before states are forced to increase taxes, shouldn’t they be able to enforce the collection of taxes that are already due? The Main Street Fairness Act will allow states to do just that. Now we just need Congress to pass it.

Read more about the budget crisis in Kansas:
The Topeka Capital-Journal – State budget battle resumes

States want you to pay sales tax on online shopping – because you’re legally required to already

Posted on 01. Apr, 2010 by Bring Fairness to Main Street in The Blog

Use taxes-every state with a sales tax has one and has had one for decades. Use taxes require residents who don’t pay sales tax on an item during the purchase to track it and remit it on their own. So that book you bought off Amazon? Legally, you have to calculate the sales tax on your own, keep track of that amount and claim it when you file your state income tax return. And make sure your track those purchases off of Overstock, eBay, Joe’s Online Camera Store . . . I think you get the point. Many residents aren’t aware of this obligation. Even ones who are know that enforcement has been lax. Either way, as this article points out, states are becoming more aggressive in going after this tax. Brick-and-mortar retailers have been collecting these taxes for years-why should online and mail order retailers be able push that burden onto their customers? Many states have already simplified their sales tax codes and now software exists to make sales tax collection easy. However, states can’t require retailers to remit these sales taxes for consumers until Congress passes the Main Street Fairness Act.

MSN Money – States want you to pay sales tax on online shopping

Libraries never check out – But they may be forced to cut services

Posted on 25. Mar, 2010 by Bring Fairness to Main Street in The Blog

Check out this editorial about how funding to libraries is being cut as states grapple with declining revenues. These are exactly the types of local services that are threatened because states are unable to collect the taxes they are owed on online purchases. Congressional action is desperately needed to allow states to collect sales taxes from remote sellers. It not just about fairness to Main Street retailers; it’s also about protecting local services that communities need.

The Palm Beach Post – Libraries never check out

No free ride – Put sales tax on Internet sales

Posted on 08. Feb, 2010 by Bring Fairness to Main Street in The Blog

Check out this morning’s Tulsa World editorial. We agree that Congress needs to resolve an inequity and help state and local governments deal with their funding crises by passing legislation and leveling the playing field for Main Street.

Tulsa World – No free ride

Eleanor Roberts thinks Main St. needs tax loophole closed

Posted on 04. Feb, 2010 by Bring Fairness to Main Street in The Blog

Fact: Massachusetts faces a projected state budget shortfall of $3 billion when fiscal year 2011 begins in July. It is clear that stakes are high; remaining complacent will do nothing to forge a solution. Jobs are on the line. States will be forced to raise taxes and cut jobs to offset shortfalls.

See how Rep. Delahunt (D-MA) is supporting Main Street Fairness for Massachusetts.

Online sales tax is fair tax

Posted on 04. Feb, 2010 by Bring Fairness to Main Street in The Blog

Check out this editorial from the Palm Beach Post that calls on Florida to join on to the Streamlined Sales Tax project to help solve state budget shortfalls in the Sunshine State.

Online sales tax is a fair tax for Florida.

The Streamlined Sales Tax Solution

Posted on 13. Jan, 2010 by Bring Fairness to Main Street in The Blog

As part of the solution at the Federal level, legislation should be enacted to endorse the Streamlined Sales Tax (SST) agreement to provide a fair and uniform set of standards for states and allow for the fair collection of remote sales taxes.

The SST Agreement is the result of the cooperative effort of state and local governments and the business community to simplify sales and use tax processes in order to minimize costs and administrative burdens on retailers that collect sales tax, particularly retailers operating in multiple states. 

It encourages “remote sellers,” vendors selling only over the Internet, by mail order, television or door-to-door, that do not currently collect tax on sales to customers living in the Streamlined states, to begin collecting.

This proposal would level the playing field so that Main Street stores and remote sellers operate under the same rules – ensuring that all retailers can conduct their business in a fair, competitive environment.

Twenty three states have thus far ratified the agreement, which can be fully implemented through legislation at the federal level.

Learn more about the SST here.