Josh-da-man

It might depend on the state you're in; some require sales tax be collected on shipping/handling charges.

LJG765

They started charging sales tax in Wisconsin Nov. 1st. Didn't hear anything about it till I tried to make a purchase today. Nice of them to let people know-instead they just changed it like they did the free shipping limit and hoped people wouldn't notice.

TGM

They started charging sales tax Nov 1st in Massachusetts. There was no announcement from amazon, but it was all over the local news reports. Also, why did they need to announce it? the final checkout screen is all the announcement needed. You didn't have to commit the order if it bothered you that much.

LJG765

I'm very glad that they announced it in your area. They did not mine, neither in the news nor in the newspaper. I guess I didn't realize you required me to be happy that they are charging me sales tax without any warning. I know better for next time, now don't I?

My Other Self

So you're upset that Amazon didn't tell you about the sales tax implementation, even though you already knew about it?

Amazon isn't the one who's requiring you to pay sales tax. Blame your state legislature.

LJG765

No, I'm not upset about paying sales tax. I'm upset that Amazon didn't say, hey, we're going to start charging you. It just showed up. I'm not sure why you're making fun of me for stating that a) Wisconsin is now paying it and b) that I wished that I had some warning that they were going to do so.

It's not like it was announced anywhere I heard. I don't understand why I'm not allowed to be concerned that there was no warning. Quite frankly, that's why I visit this thread in the first place: to see if my state would have to pay. It's why I announced it here. I wanted to know, so I figured other people would as well. It is why this thread was created, right? "Amazon tax discussion."

But since I feel like I'm just feeding the trolls, I'm just going to ignore this thread from now on.

TGM

not trying to be a troll, just trying to point out that it's really not something that needs an announcement from Amazon directly. Now, if they tacked on sales tax AFTER your purchase, you'd have a case to be upset.

Laser Movies

Doing a quick news search I found this article about Amazon sales tax in Wisconsin.


Wisconsin online shoppers will soon have to pay sales tax for Amazon purchases
UPDATED 11:05 AM CDT Nov 01, 2013

KENOSHA, Wis. —If you shop online, be prepared to start paying a little more.

Amazon.com will soon begin charging Wisconsin shoppers sales tax for online purchases, which could mean tens of millions of dollars for the state.

"I do a lot of shopping online," Mary Webster said.

For Wisconsin online shoppers, Amazon.com has been a tax-free zone.

VIDEO: Amazon distribution center brings jobs, but adds sales tax

"I shopped Amazon.com, and I don't believe that they charged me sales tax on it," Tressa Vanderlois said.

But that's about to change because of what's happening in an open field along Interstate 94 in Kenosha County.
Amazon plans to build a new distribution center there, and having a physical presence in the state also means having to charge its online shoppers sales tax.

That distribution center won't be complete and processing shipments for at least another year, but online shoppers could begin paying the price almost immediately.

The state Revenue Department told WISN 12 News that Amazon could file to start collecting sales tax by Nov. 1, and when they do, the state said, Amazon online sales alone could generate $30 million a year for the state in tax revenue.

It's just in time for a holiday shopping season in which retail experts predict a 15 percent increase in online sales.

Shoppers WISN 12 News spoke with said the tax wouldn't keep them away.

"I'll still buy off Amazon. It's not going to change my habits. I'll pay the tax," Bill Farley said.

It's what Amazon and the state are counting on.

The new Amazon distribution center is expected to employee about 1,100 workers in Kenosha County.

Read more: http://www.wisn.com/news/money/wisco...#ixzz2jyp9R6XZ

BrewCrew

I read it numerous time in the Milwaukee Journal before it started on November 1st. It is correct though that Amazon would not comment when they would start charging tax even though it seemed pretty clear it would start in November. They will likely lose some of my business with me because with Target giving 5% when using their credit card they will sometimes be the better deal even if Amazon price matches.

dleedlee

Amazon Rejected by U.S. High Court on New York Sales Tax

The justices, without comment, today rejected appeals by Amazon and another Internet retailer, Overstock.com Inc. (OSTK), which said New York is violating the Constitution by demanding tax collection from companies that don’t have facilities in the state. New York’s top court upheld the state law.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-1...sales-tax.html

kenbuzz

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...?nodeId=468512

Add Indiana to the list of states Amazon collects sales tax for:
•Arizona
•California
•Connecticut
•Georgia
•Indiana
•Kansas
•Kentucky
•Massachusetts
•Nevada
•New Jersey
•New York
•North Dakota
•Pennsylvania
•Tennessee
•Texas
•Virginia
•Washington
•West Virginia
•Wisconsin

Tax is based on billing address, so if one lived in a tax state but could finagle a billing address in a non-tax state... profit! An easier way, though, seems to be:

1. Put the item(s) you want to buy on your Wish List
2. Buy a Gift Card (GC purchases are not taxes) and select Electronic Delivery
3. Email a friend/family member living in a non-tax state and give them the GC #
4. Have them order the items from your Wish List, use the GC to pay for it, and have them ship it to you.

Larry50

I have been buying more from Deep Discount rather than Amazon since they don't collect sales
tax here,while Amazon started collecting over the summer.I get orders with free shipping the
same delivery time from DD as Amazon.

zyzzle

An easier way, though, seems to be:

1. Put the item(s) you want to buy on your Wish List
2. Buy a Gift Card (GC purchases are not taxes) and select Electronic Delivery
3. Email a friend/family member living in a non-tax state and give them the GC #
4. Have them order the items from your Wish List, use the GC to pay for it, and have them ship it to you.

Easier? Seems like a lot more work, and you'll have to pay shipping TWICE, inconveniencing the party whom you ship it originally to, forcing them to ship it back to you. So, unless the item is light and very expensive, this 'method' makes very little sense.

Or did I miss something?

davidh777

He's saying have the other party buy it but use your shipping address.

Still seems like a lot of work, though.

The Cow

Isn't the tax based on the shipping address - not the billing address?

That's how the Amazon FAQ reads.

zyzzle

OK, gotcha, that makes much more sense. It still seems that you'd have tax charged using that method, since the shipping address would still be in a 'taxable' state. Believe me, I'm all for screwing with Amazon to avoid the 9% bullshit penalty. Has anyone tried this on a *taxable* item, and can report unequivocally that it works?

The Cow

I don't think it makes sense what kenbuzz proposed. Tax will still be applied (if it is correct that it is based on where the item is shipping).

dleedlee

That's how it works for me. I live in VA and ship to MD. No tax.
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/11847715-post118.html

dleedlee

You can add NC to the list, next month:
Amazon.com confirmed Saturday it will start adding sales tax to North Carolina residents’ orders beginning Feb. 1.

Classic Films

It will eventually spread to every state with a sales tax. Its too good a source of revenue for the states. It appeases local merchants who feel they now have a level playing field. As citizens oppose increases in income and property taxes , the money has to come from some where. Its been over two years since NY started collecting sales tax from Amazon sales. While upsetting at first you do get use to it and it just becomes normal after a while. I travel alot for business and have had things shipped to me while out of state to save taxes. I will be doing this less now as many of the places I travel now collect sales tax. There usually is no sales tax purchasing from 3rd parties at Amazon even when Amazon does the shipping (qualifies for Amazon Prime) . At least that is true in New York. Prime membership will see an increase of $20 to $40 this year due to increase in postage.

Thanks Ken for providing a list of states that now charge sales tax.

zyzzle

That's what their "magic bullet" is: Oh, after a year, people will just get used to it. I, for one, and hopefully for many, will never "get used to it" and am speaking with my wallet. The 'just get used to it' slippery slope is bullshit, of course, and I am calling them out on it. People who think like that are a real problem...

JimRochester

Tell me if I'm wrong but its sounding as though you feel Amazon is the impetus for this. At least in NY, the state pushed for this against Amazon's wishes. They knew it would hurt business. Now unless there is a drastic difference I'll usually go to best buy. i get it right away and I keep the money in the local economy.

zyzzle

No, I wouldn't say Amazon is the impetus for it per se, but their hands are not clean, at least in Calif. where they were bribed into sales tax collection by kickbacks from some of the counties (Riverside and San Bernadino, if I recall). So, it seems there are some corrupt politician-types at Amazon also!

Classic Films

In New York any company that registers to do business in the state has to collect sales tax whether or not they have a presence( ie store , office, or warehouse) in the state . It was nicknamed the Amazon tax but it applies to everyone. Are you saying that in California and other states that Amazon is the only company without a presence in the state that has to collect sales tax ?

PhantomStranger

States didn't care about out of state sales tax for decades because collecting it would have been almost as costly as the tax revenue it generated. Before the Internet, it was mostly restricted to catalog sales and some television infomercials.

Once E-commerce became a viable source of retailing, it was only a matter of time before the states demanded their cut.

Amazon could have delayed its widespread application for several more years if they had wanted to fight it in the courts, but instead they decided to cut sweetheart deals with most states as they wildly expand their nationwide distribution program.