The
bill would empower states to require online retailers to collect state and
local sales taxes for purchases. The taxes would be remitted to the state where
the customer lives. Under current law, states can only require retailers to
collect sales taxes if they have a physical presence in the state. Under the
bill, online retailers would collect an estimated $22 billion to $24 billion in
now uncollected taxes.
While
a Senate vote hasn't yet been scheduled (not to mention if and when the House will take up the issue),
this is a good time to think about the issue philosophically and decide whose
side I'm on, big-box brick-and-mortar retailers or online retailers. As the
editor of a publication that targets omnichannel retailers, I'm in a conundrum
about whose cause to champion.
