Should Amazon be allowed to dodge state and local taxes across the country?

The Supreme Court will hear a case about the ability of states and localities to tax out-of-state retailers for online purchases. The Court will revisit South Dakota v. Wayfair, a 1992 decision that found states could only collect sales taxes from businesses with a physical presence in their state.

At the heart of the case is whether massive and growing online companies should be responsible for state and local sales taxes, just as traditional companies are.

As Amazon, a Seattle-based company, and other online shopping websites continue to grow and put pressure on brick and mortar stores (think: Borders, JCPenny, Toys”R”Us), state and local governments collect fewer and fewer taxes from sales in their communities.Fewer taxes for state and local governments means fewer state and local public services. Why should Amazon avoid taxes, costing the rest of us?

Link:

Supreme Court to hear online sales tax case (The Hill, Jan. 12, 2018)