The Main Street Fairness Initiative is an effort by small business owners, retailers, state legislators, local community leaders, associations and concerned citizens to help level the playing field for Main Street businesses, protect the jobs of teachers and first responders and help reduce state economic shortfalls.

Main Street Fairness Background

Our Mom & Pop businesses on Main Street and our local firefighters and police officers need our help. While the recession has taken a toll on community-based retailers, online-only sellers continue to avoid collecting sales taxes while passing the tax responsibility on to unknowing consumers.

In 1992, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress was responsible for taking appropriate action and establishing reasonable guidance to enable the collection of sales taxes from remote retailers such as Internet-only sellers.  However, Congress has yet to act.

In these difficult economic times, we need to ensure our Main Streets stay vibrant while protecting much needed local jobs.  Our communities are facing budget shortfalls that may lead to the loss of essential services in our communities such as education and first responders.

The Main Street Fairness Initiative is an effort to introduce and pass fair federal legislation that would reduce online sales tax complexity and strike the appropriate balance among the interests of the states, Internet-only operations and Main Street businesses to keep our economy moving forward and ensure our communities remain OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

What are the advantages of passing federal legislation for the states and our communities?

Empowering States, Solving Shortfalls – The proposed solution will give the states the power to collect revenue and help pay for necessary services.  This is a sustainable solution to help balance state budgets – without costing the federal government a dime.  The alternative is that the federal government continues to subsidize basic state operations in addition to state and local governments cutting additional jobs, creating a bigger drag on the economy.

Leveling the Playing Field – Online-only sellers, without a local community presence or the desire to reinvest in our neighborhoods, are crippling traditional downtown retailers by taking advantage of a tax loophole that has created an uneven playing field. This solution will level the playing field for Main Street businesses and ensure our downtowns stay vibrant, while securing local jobs and keeping essential goods and services in our communities.