Comments

1
How about a $10,000 per word tax on every column by Goldy calling for another Democratic Party tax increase? Other than hating cars except for purposes of raising taxes on them, is there anything that the Democrats in Washington State stand for other than sticking their hand further into everyone's pocket?
2
I've heard it's only $684 million from certain sources.

@1 is just another tax-subsidized whiner, of course. We've got your secret accounts tracked, you know.
3
The better way to frame the question to Republicans is why they favor large out of state companies over hometown-Main Street-mom & pop retail.
4
More sales tax, on top of the 10% we already pay.

Great, fab. Love it.
5
4,

For once we agree on something. I never thought this day would come.

A state income tax is the only possible solution. Sales taxes punish the poor. A graduated progressive income tax places the burden on the shoulders most able to support it.
6
sorry 4 (and 5,) you got it wrong. These are transactions where no tax is paid, and it indeed is devastating to local businesses and the mom and pop stores that make up our communities and pay for schools, little leagues, community events, etc, etc. The competitive disadvantage to our community businesses is devastating. This is so unfair and this change is so long overdue, to restore some balance for local businesses. (For those with long memories, remeber Rick White was critical to creating this local business-killing measure. Thanks alot Rick, your one legacy sucks.) Keep fighting Suzan, and help us get this done. And shop local.
7
#5

Sales taxes punish the poor.
Income taxes punish the middle class.
Asset taxes punish the rich.

Pick your class, take your punishment.
8
#5, a small problem: Majorities in every county in the state voted against an income tax. Fuckin' voters! Let's see if the WA Supreme Court can do something about that!
9
Goldy- have you heard of that thing where, when a journalist presents an argument, they're kinda required to at least attempt to outline the opposing argument as well? I don't know *what* Amazon agues in fiercely opposing this bill, but I'm pretty sure your article leaves me ill equipped to respond to that position when bleated out by our Republican caucus.

And for the record, I'm a complete income tax supporter. We don't know what voters really think of income taxes, because the last time it was presented to them it was not revenue neutral and didn't do away w the sales tax. Who knows the reaction a good bill would receive?
10
#9, revenue neutrral? Please! You totally misperceive what Goldy and the WA State Democrats are about. Their sole reason to exist is to raise taxes, you silly fool. Revenue neutrality, or equity of any kind, has utterly nothing to do with anything at all.
11
"Who knows the reaction a good bill would receive? "

Most everyone. There will never, ever be an income tax in Washington State.
12
@9 Umm...Amazon doesn't oppose this bill.

13
@12: oops. Thanks for the correction. I appear to be stuck in a Moebius loop in 2010. That would explain a lot, actually...
14
@3 & 6 - I don't think I'm against this tax nor do I know the details of it, but to address part of your points (that I think a lot of people assume); local brick-and-mortar can (and often does) mean national chain store, and internet often means mom and pop business.
15
Goldy--Megan McArdle has weighed in on this topic.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/20…

You and she have different takes on the subject,but I'd go with you every single time against her. You almost always know what you're talking about.
16
You guys don't quite understand how thin margins are for ebay sellers. You sell $1M a year in stuff, and you pocket $60K. And that involves shipping 50+ boxes per day. Your entire day is spent printing labels, putting stuff in boxes, going to the post office, dealing with returns, answering questions via email. Note, too, that is a very profitable business if you can do the volume. Your local supermarket makes a penny for every dollar of merchandise they sell. So, an ebay selling making six pennies per dollar is doing better than a supermarket. But you need to move a lot of stuff to make $50K, and the $1M exemption doesn't mean much. Note, too, that it takes 2 hours to fill out state taxes quarterly. And that's using software that already knows about my state. Suppose I find the perfect software that can do all states. Suddenly I'm looking at 100 hours per quarter of paperwork, not to mention the odds being audited being increased by 50X. Finally, keep in mind that some states require different taxes for different items. Honey is taxed differently than cookies, for example. And suddenly I need to know this for every state? How many hours will that take to figure out? What software will figure this out for me? Will I be able to type in "Honey" and it'll figure out the right tax for every state? No way that'll work. Which means I'll have to spend time figuring that out myself. This is a disaster. If the states want this, then they need to agree on a uniform tax scheme amongst themselves. Or charge me an intenret sales tax and let the gov collect it and disperse to the states.
17
I own and run a successful drop shipping business. With my razor thin margins already I think this will put me under. You sell $1M a year and maybe have a take home of 50-80K. It's barely enough for a family of 4 and let me tell you $1M a year in volume is quite alot of work for one person. Now throw in even more paperwork and paying for software(yes....I have not found any free software or service) to do the calculations for you. Now throw in all the time to file 50 returns on a quarterly basis. Why can't there be a standard internet sales tax that all 50 states charge and we send that to the IRS and they divide it up. If you look up the person who started this bill he resides in Arkansas. What company also resides in Arkansas...you guessed it the largest retailer out there. This does not create a level playing field. It only creates more leverage for the big box stores and a way for them to get more business.
18
#16 and #17, Goldy and the rest of Seattle's fuckwits couldn't possibly care less what happens to you. They never did, and they never will.

Please wait...

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