Comments on: The Colorado internet tax and Amazon – it's still ugly

By: Quote by the Media about Amazon and the Colorado internet tax

Quote by the Media about Amazon and the Colorado internet tax — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:14:12 +0000

[...] more rare is my involvement in anything related to politics. However, this advertising/internet aka Amazon tax issue in Colorado is something I feel very strongly about. So of course, if someone want’s to ask questions I [...]

By: jnfr

jnfr — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:27:52 +0000

I can’t really know Amazon’s mind, but I suspect their thinking is that if there is nothing at all that seems like a “nexus” for them here, the CO legislature will have a very hard time enforcing this law. I can’t even imagine what legal basis they think they have for making any out-of-state entity collect taxes for them. And without even affiliates here, Amazon becomes out of state.

I’ve had an associates account with Amazon for years, though I didn’t do too much with it. But this makes me sad.

By: admin

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:04:55 +0000

Don’t blame it on the state – Colorado is fabulous! It’s the bad legislation that is a problem

By: admin

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:04:24 +0000

Thank you!

By: admin

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:03:48 +0000

I agree – it’s not a principle I agree with myself. What I agree with is standing by one’s principles. I don’t like the reaction they’ve taken or the legislation that is causing the action. Yet, I do respect when someone says the believe a certain way, they don’t waiver because other’s don’t agree. I definitely don’t know all the legalities nor business contracts nor ideals behing anyone else’s actions, especially Amazon’s.

I’m also really worried about what other merchants will do. I’m hoping they will make their own judgement for their own reasons.. not just play blind follow-the-leader. I think Amazon’s decisions in this are completely different from any other companies.. for a lot of reason.
Let’s hope other’s educate themselves!

By: Franklin Banker

Franklin Banker — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:57:26 +0000

I understand the idea of having principles, but do those principles have to include the description of how Amazon intends to continue selling in Colorado through other affiliate websites from other states? What principle is that? When you are hacking off a guy’s arm, you tell him you still have a guy over there who still has his arms intact. Is that a good principle? Not in my opinion, but I realize I am only one small voice.

This bill is different than any of the other bills passed in other states, and the pure fact is that Amazon did not have to do this. By doing this, what did they gain? Was it just to hurt Colorado by reducing the income taxes paid by affiliates to the state? Did they do it just to irritate lawmakers in some way? It could have been avoided and Amazon’s integrity and reputation would not have suffered.

Many people in Colorado will now have to decide if they can survive without Amazon, or move to Utah. Anyway, I am not affected much, but I sure am worried about the other companies who will play follow the leader with this. I hope not many.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:58:51 +0000

I blame the rotten state of CO. This really pissed me off. Now I’m looking into finding another option since I’ve been using Amazon but now everything is just down the toilet. At least they’re going to pay those of us stuck in this rotten state.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:07:55 +0000

Thanks for pointing me here Jen.. The explanations you outline here makes sense of the why now. I couldn’t understand why Amazon would drop affiliates but then still do sales to the state which from my understanding still required the same reporting that sales by associates within the state would require. I guess in sticking to their guns, they at least deny CO income tax that would have been generated via their CO associates. Leave it to politicians to destroy an entire industry. If all the states follow suit after seeing others pass such ridiculous legislation, and then in turn other merchants follow suit with merchants such as Amazon, will the affiliate industry survive?

I really enjoyed Dave Taylor’s letter to Governor Ritter as quoted in the comments to his blog post (http://tinyurl.com/yaf44cl) where he explains that instead of bringing in sales tax revenue to the state it is taking an income source away from him in an already bad economy.

I also agree that the only truly feasible way to tax online sales would be on a federal level, although I’m not sure I actually trust the fed in their handling of any additional money either but it would definitely be better than having to deal with literally thousands of tax zones on a per state basis. Some states are literally nightmares when it comes to sales tax. Ohio’s sales tax tables are broken down by zip+4 because every single municipality even within a county can have different sales tax rates..

Keeping you guys in CO in my thoughts. Here’s wishing you guys luck with combating this issue and hoping that Senator Brophy is able to get some of your other politicians on board and educated.