Post by cyn on May 21, 2008 14:42:20 GMT -5
Not specifically Christian publishing, but related to our ongoing discussion about Amazon and Booksurge.
Amazon feels like they can do anything they want to the little guys and then blow them off when complaints rain down upon them (forcing POD printed books to use Amazon's Book surge instead of allowing authors to choose the POD company they feel best suits them) . . . but, Amazon gets right on the stick when they are being hurt. See article below.
I think it is too ironic coming on the heels of the Book Surge issue. Currently, it is up to individuals to report online purchases on their income tax and then sales tax is calculated at the state level (at least this is how it is in Indiana). Apparently Amazon doesn't want to have to go the extra step to collect and submit it themselves. This would hurt their image . . . having to add on a state sales tax would increase the price of books sold and they would no longer look like such a great alternative.
Whatever, I just find it ironic that they are so quick to complain but dismiss complaints against their practises.
Amazon sues New York state over proposed sales tax
As expected, Amazon has filed suit with the Supreme Court of New York to "challenge the constitutionality of a newly enacted New York State statute that requires out-of-state internet retailers, with no physical presence in New York, to collect sales and use taxes."
Amazon asserts that the new tax violates the Commerce Clause of the Constitution because "it imposes tax-collection obligations on out-of-state entities who have no substantial nexus with New York."
Amazon argues that their "affiliate" sites are "independently operated" sites that "post advertisements with links to Amazon and are compensated for these advertisements." They also claim the definition of "solicitation" of sales is "overly broad and vague" and charge that the tax - already informally known as the Amazon tax - "intentionally targets Amazon" and thus violates the Equal Protection Clause.
Earlier, New York State sent notices to the 500 largest online retailers in the state, saying they have to register and begin collecting sales taxes by June 1. "Companies must comply if they do $10,000 worth of business in the state and have agents within the state acting on their behalf. If they don't comply, the state can audit and assess them for past liabilities," the state says.
The new law requiring out-of-state e-tailers to collect sales tax was passed as part of the state's new budget, and with strong lobbying from the American Booksellers Association, which argued that the tax was necessary in order to create a level playing field for independent booksellers.
Amazon.com, one of the main companies affected by the law, last February called the measure a "tax increase" and questioned the constitutionality of the proposed law.
According to Long Island’s Newsday shortly before the Amazon suit was filed, "Many observers have speculated that the law will be challenged, pointing to a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said out-of-state retailers could not be required to collect sales tax unless they had a brick-and-mortar presence in a state." Proponents of the tax cite Amazon's affiliate program as a sufficient reason for it to be required to collect sales tax on purchases in New York and other states with sales taxes.
Amazon feels like they can do anything they want to the little guys and then blow them off when complaints rain down upon them (forcing POD printed books to use Amazon's Book surge instead of allowing authors to choose the POD company they feel best suits them) . . . but, Amazon gets right on the stick when they are being hurt. See article below.
I think it is too ironic coming on the heels of the Book Surge issue. Currently, it is up to individuals to report online purchases on their income tax and then sales tax is calculated at the state level (at least this is how it is in Indiana). Apparently Amazon doesn't want to have to go the extra step to collect and submit it themselves. This would hurt their image . . . having to add on a state sales tax would increase the price of books sold and they would no longer look like such a great alternative.
Whatever, I just find it ironic that they are so quick to complain but dismiss complaints against their practises.
Amazon sues New York state over proposed sales tax
As expected, Amazon has filed suit with the Supreme Court of New York to "challenge the constitutionality of a newly enacted New York State statute that requires out-of-state internet retailers, with no physical presence in New York, to collect sales and use taxes."
Amazon asserts that the new tax violates the Commerce Clause of the Constitution because "it imposes tax-collection obligations on out-of-state entities who have no substantial nexus with New York."
Amazon argues that their "affiliate" sites are "independently operated" sites that "post advertisements with links to Amazon and are compensated for these advertisements." They also claim the definition of "solicitation" of sales is "overly broad and vague" and charge that the tax - already informally known as the Amazon tax - "intentionally targets Amazon" and thus violates the Equal Protection Clause.
Earlier, New York State sent notices to the 500 largest online retailers in the state, saying they have to register and begin collecting sales taxes by June 1. "Companies must comply if they do $10,000 worth of business in the state and have agents within the state acting on their behalf. If they don't comply, the state can audit and assess them for past liabilities," the state says.
The new law requiring out-of-state e-tailers to collect sales tax was passed as part of the state's new budget, and with strong lobbying from the American Booksellers Association, which argued that the tax was necessary in order to create a level playing field for independent booksellers.
Amazon.com, one of the main companies affected by the law, last February called the measure a "tax increase" and questioned the constitutionality of the proposed law.
According to Long Island’s Newsday shortly before the Amazon suit was filed, "Many observers have speculated that the law will be challenged, pointing to a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said out-of-state retailers could not be required to collect sales tax unless they had a brick-and-mortar presence in a state." Proponents of the tax cite Amazon's affiliate program as a sufficient reason for it to be required to collect sales tax on purchases in New York and other states with sales taxes.
