[cpw]

if NY is concerned by obesity, they should tax/outlaw all fast food restaruants, all pastry, etc.

 

[cpw]

Kali's been debating taxes on internet sales for a couple of years. Not sure how they would track it.

Any business with a presence in CA has to collect sales tax.

Any other business is a little bit harder, but just send officials t the out of state businesses and ask to see their records. If they refuse, then the inquiring state sales tax people would contact the sales tax people in the state in which the business is located and those sales tax people would go nd check the records and turn the info over to the inquiring state. I have see instances of the Kentucky sales tax people getting info in this manner and then sending out bills.

True the out of state businesses would not be liable for sales tx, but the people who made the purchases would be liable for the 'use' tax on the purchases.

Occassional sales by individuals would be a lot harder.

 

[cpw]

So for the out-of-staters, they have to audit the records of thousands of businesses hoping to find a few unreported purchases from Kali citizens? Doesn't sound very practical.

First of all, the other states will be glad to join in the search as they need the money also. Kentucky has a 6% sales tax and a 6% use tax.

Second, when most of the states join in the procedure, the investigation is not that hard.

Start off with the big businesses, the big sellers on ebay, etc. You will get a good piece of money there. Then have ebay requires that 6% (or some other percentage) on eac sale be paid directly to Ebay for transmission to the states. (That would not be hard for Ebay to do, especially how they are starting to require that all payments be made thru their Paypal system.)

Today this is made easier by the various electronic systems. Just plug in 'Clifornoa;, 'kentucky, etc and either print the list or copy it to a dvd.

Not a perfect system, not everybody will be caught, but more money than the cost of collection will be obtained.

So far, the states have not been able to cooperate. Also the fact that in some states, sales tax varies by locality has presented a problem. All of which can be corrected.