Business

Massachusetts considers online sales tax

Posted April 05, 2011 11:00 pm

Associated Press

BOSTON — Massachusetts-based retailers are asking state lawmakers to level the playing field with online companies when it comes to sales tax.

The Retailers Association of Massachusetts is headed to the Legislature on Thursday to push a bill that would make online retailers collect a state sales tax from residents.

The retailers say the online companies have an unfair advantage.

Massachusetts is one of many states that have either passed or are considering passing laws to collect sales tax from online retailers. Massachusetts is projected to lose out on $335 million in revenue in 2012 because it does not get taxes from online sales.

The online companies are resisting. Overstock.com President Jonathan Johnson tells The Boston Globe laws forcing his company to collect sales tax are "unconstitutional and ... short-sighted."

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