SALT Blawg – State and Local Tax Blog
State and Local Tax ("SALT") blog issues require state and local tax knowledge. Chamberlain Hrdlicka's SALT Blawg (SALT Blog) provides exactly that knowledge with news updates and commentary about state and local tax issues.
You can expect to find relevant information about topics such as income (corporate and personal) tax, franchise tax, sales and use tax, property (real and personal) tax, fuel tax, capital stock tax, bank tax, gross receipts tax and withholding tax. SALT Blawg, offers tax talk for tax pros … in your neighborhood.
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by Stewart Weintraub and Jennifer Weidler
On June 15, 2011, the California Legislature followed an increasing number of states in passing an "Amazon" bill. The California Bill, like many of its predecessors, is attempting to expand its authority to require out-of-state online retailers, such as Amazon, to collect sales tax on online purchases made by in-state residents and still comply with the constitutional requirement that the online retailer has a "physical presence" in the state. According to the Bill, and similar bills, a physical presence includes the physical presence of the online retailer's "affiliates" – i.e., in-state Website operators who place ads or banners on their website for out-of-state online retailers and receive a commission or other type of compensation when customers make purchases via the ads. The bill was forwarded to Governor Jerry Brown for approval or veto.
During 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar Amazon bill after Amazon.com and Overstock.com threatened to discontinue their affiliate associations within the state. In other states that have passed similar Amazon laws, Amazon.com, Overstock.com and other online retailers have responded by eliminating all affiliate connections within the state. Amazon.com alone currently has 10,000 affiliates inCalifornia. The unanswered question is whether Amazon's (and other online retailers') disassociation with "affiliates" will reduce income taxes paid by the affiliates by more than the use taxes being collected pursuant to the Bill.
Connecticut is facing potential problems of its own relating to its enactment of an Amazon law. In response to the Governor's May 4th passage of the law, during June Amazon announced its intention to cut all ties with its Connecticut based affiliates by the commencement date of the legislation, July 1st. On June 7th, the General Assembly passed a budget update bill, which would change the effective date of the Amazon law from July 1st to May 4th. Connecticut could face legal action if it attempts to retroactively force online retailer's to collect sales taxes based upon the updated bill.
ShareholderStewart Weintraub’s practice has centered on taxation for more than 40 years. He helps clients plan and structure transactions so that all state and local tax obligations are minimized. He represents clients in all aspects of ...