A Louisville guide to online sales taxes
Brick-and-mortar retailers hope to level the playing field
The days of tax-free shopping on the Internet may be numbered, as
legislation requiring online sellers to collect sales taxes is moving
through Congress.But for Kentuckians,
tax-free online shopping has long been limited anyway because big
retailers such as Zappos.com (now part of Amazon) have warehouse
operations here — so they have to collect the state’s 6 percent tax from
Kentucky purchasers. Click here for the full article.
Collect taxes from online sales
From the Lexington Herald-Leader
It seems like the biggest argument against the proposed
Marketplace Fairness bill is that it would just be too much trouble.Too much trouble for online retailers to collect and remit taxes to multiple jurisdictions. Too much trouble for congressmen who are afraid of appearing pro-tax to explain why it's not a new tax. Click here for the full article.
Reaction To Online Taxes Is Mixed
From the Owensboro Messenger Inquirer
May 13–Owensboro-area businesses and leaders have mixed feelings
about the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 that passed the U.S. Senate
on May 6 by a 69-27 vote. The federal legislation would require online
companies to collect sales tax from their customers according to the tax
laws in the 50 states.
The Senate’s 2013 legislation is an updated and consolidated
version of three bills that died in the last Congress. A similar version
of the new bill has been introduced in the House. Click here for the full article.
Analysis: Bill to collect Internet sales tax would help Kentucky’s budget, level playing field for local businesses
From The Lane Report, By Jason Bailey, Kentucky Center for Economic Policy
BEREA, Ky. (May 9, 2013) — Federal legislation requiring internet retailers to collect sales taxes owed to states would aid Kentucky’s depleted budget and end the unfair advantage out-of-state sellers have over Main Street Kentucky businesses. With strong bi-partisan support, the U.S. Senate passed the Marketplace Fairness Act on Monday. The bill now goes to the House for consideration. Click here for the full article.
KRF Statement on U.S. Senate Passage of Sales Tax Fairness Legislation (S.743)
Frankfort- Kentucky Retail Federation President Tod Griffin had the following to say about the Monday, May 6 passage of S.743, the Marketplace Fairness Act:
“We regret that neither of Kentucky’s Senators voted for the Marketplace Fairness Act. However, we have hope that they will eventually come to understand just how important sales tax fairness is to the retailers of our state. For the past decade, out-of-state online retailers have been using Kentucky retailers as their showrooms. And they have done so without creating Kentucky jobs, spending money in our economy or contributing to local communities.
"Let’s be clear, this is not a new tax. A tax is already due on each sale made in Kentucky, whether it is made from a smartphone in Paducah or a store in Pikeville. It is time to close the loophole that allows government to pick winners and losers in the marketplace.
"The Kentucky Retail Federation applauds the Unites States Senate for passing S.743. Now, we ask our congressional delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives to step up and stand behind Kentucky retailers by cosponsoring and supporting the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013. Congress must pass this legislation to ensure our tax laws keep up with the modern marketplace.”
May 7 deadline for new I-9 form
A new version of the form used to verify employee eligibility will become mandatory for new hires starting May 7, 2013. Employers also can call the agency at (800) 870-3676. For more information about the I-9 process, call the USCIS’s National Customer Service Center at (800) 375-5283. Click here to access the form and more information about the changes.
March 7 Deadline for new FMLA Poster
KRF members are advised to post an updated version of the Family Medical Leave Act poster in their workplaces by March 7. To download a free copy of the updated poster, click here.