July 1st: Amazon begins taxing purchases

[smoothoperator]

We are supposed to pay sales tax period. It has nothing to do with where the company we are buying from is. The companies are only obligated to collect it if they have a physical presence in Texas. All of us good citizens are supposed to voluntarily send the tax into the state for items we purchased from companies that don't collect the tax. I have never met anyone who does so.

Technically it's a use tax instead of a sales tax if you buy out of state but the amount is the same and you're right that most people cheat and don't pay.
http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/s ... .html#use3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Texas is giving people a chance to come clean this summer. http://freshstart.texas.gov/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Jumping Frog]

Canceling my Amazon Prime membership ...

Cancelled mine long ago. Was not happy they way they kept pushing things at me and not allow me to opt out of their heavy marketing.

Seriously? I've had the same Amazon account since 1995. I've never had to deal with a bunch of spam from them.

[AEA]

No SPAM, but "things you might be interested in" & such on the main page that is generated based on your past purchases.

[The Annoyed Man]

Canceling my Amazon Prime membership ...

Cancelled mine long ago. Was not happy they way they kept pushing things at me and not allow me to opt out of their heavy marketing.

Seriously? I've had the same Amazon account since 1995. I've never had to deal with a bunch of spam from them.

Yeah, I've had an Amazon account since the mid '90s too, and I've never had any problem with them either. But I am curious Jumping Frog.....why cancel the "Prime" membership, but not your complete membership? I have a "Prime" account too, so that's why I ask.

[Jumping Frog]

Yeah, I've had an Amazon account since the mid '90s too, and I've never had any problem with them either. But I am curious Jumping Frog.....why cancel the "Prime" membership, but not your complete membership? I have a "Prime" account too, so that's why I ask.

Well, as a rough estimation, if an average order has $6-$8 in shipping cost for a $40-$50 order, then I would need 10-13 orders per year to offset the $80 Prime membership price. That means somewhere around $400-$650 in annual business. Not sure I'll use the account that much.

[sjfcontrol]

We are supposed to pay sales tax period. It has nothing to do with where the company we are buying from is. The companies are only obligated to collect it if they have a physical presence in Texas. All of us good citizens are supposed to voluntarily send the tax into the state for items we purchased from companies that don't collect the tax. I have never met anyone who does so.

Technically it's a use tax instead of a sales tax if you buy out of state but the amount is the same and you're right that most people cheat and don't pay.
http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/s ... .html#use3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Texas is giving people a chance to come clean this summer. http://freshstart.texas.gov/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I keep a list of anything I get on-line, and pay the sales tax at the end of the year on my state income tax.

What's that?

[3dfxMM]

We are supposed to pay sales tax period. It has nothing to do with where the company we are buying from is. The companies are only obligated to collect it if they have a physical presence in Texas. All of us good citizens are supposed to voluntarily send the tax into the state for items we purchased from companies that don't collect the tax. I have never met anyone who does so.

Technically it's a use tax instead of a sales tax if you buy out of state but the amount is the same and you're right that most people cheat and don't pay.
http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/s ... .html#use3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Texas is giving people a chance to come clean this summer. http://freshstart.texas.gov/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The amnesty program looks like it is only for businesses.

[Cobra Medic]

Everyone has to pay but only businesses get the amnesty. That doesn't sound fair.

[barstoolguru]

I get better deals on EBay

[3dfxMM]

Everyone has to pay but only businesses get the amnesty. That doesn't sound fair.

Businesses are being offered amnesty as a way to get them to pay what the state knows they owe. The state doesn't have a clue how much any one individual has purchased via the internet or mail order.

[sjfcontrol]

Everyone has to pay but only businesses get the amnesty. That doesn't sound fair.

Businesses are being offered amnesty as a way to get them to pay what the state knows they owe. The state doesn't have a clue how much any one individual has purchased via the internet or mail order.

Most individuals have no idea, either.

[3dfxMM]

Too true. :)

[gringo pistolero]

As crimes go, I guess it's not much worse than a CHL carrying in a bar or school.