As opposition to proposed new Internet sales tax legislation in the U.S. grows, eBay Inc. is taking action. In addition to a new petition, company officials have voiced strong support for proposals to protect online retailers who seek to provide product choice and quality without the burden of oppressive taxation schedules.
On July 29, Tod Cohen, VP of Government Relations and Deputy General Counsel at eBay Inc., made the following statement upon the introduction of H.Res. 1570 by Congressman Paul Hodes (D-NH):
"We applaud Congressman Hodes for his commitment to protecting the hundreds of thousands of small online retailers and entrepreneurs that have provided consumers access to greater choice and quality goods. This resolution is just part of the widespread, bipartisan opposition against new burdensome and unfair tax regimes on small online businesses."
eBay Inc. and its Government Relations team have also tracked the Streamlined Sales Tax Project (SSTP), which includes an effort to force online retailers to collect and remit sales taxes on purchases from out-of-state buyers. New, complex Internet sales taxes could discourage buyers by raising prices, and create an enormous administrative burden on sellers, forcing them to keep track of thousands of different taxing jurisdictions.
Over 25,000 people have already added their names to a petition opposing proposed, oppressive new sales tax legislation, and you can sign the petition online. Specifically, the petition opposes H.R. 5660, also known as “The Main Street Fairness Act.”
According to the petition:
“On July 1, a bill was introduced in the United States House of Representatives which would impose complex sales tax collecting requirements on Internet retailers and entrepreneurs, including our eBay sellers. If passed, H.R. 5660, the so-called, "Main Street Fairness Act," would require small online retailers to comply with varying and regularly changing sales tax rules and rates for thousands of tax jurisdictions and to collect and remit sales taxes from each customer.”
“This new sales tax scheme would be extremely burdensome and costly to small online retailers like you who have set up shop on the Internet. A similar bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate as well. eBay is working very hard to stop this bill from becoming law, but we need your help!”