The Senate easily passed the Internet sales tax bill on Monday in a 68-27 vote after Republicans and Democrats alike supported is passage. But, according to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) the measure is not a top priority for the House.
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) was one of those who supported the bill while Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) gave it a thumbs down.
In a statement, Rubio said:
“The Internet sales tax is a terrible idea that will crush small businesses with the new burden of having to collect taxes from their out-of-state consumers. The Internet sales tax is nothing more than a money grab by tax-hungry state and local governments that are desperate for more revenue because they refuse to cut spending.
“As far as job-killing taxes go, the Internet sales tax is the worst kind because, rather than only take the hard-earned money of small businesses, it imposes more complications and burdens for businesses to comply with.
“To illustrate how bad an idea this Internet sales tax is, if it ever becomes law, it will force businesses in Florida to collect sales taxes imposed by over 9,000 jurisdictions throughout the U.S. That means companies will be forced to spend more time and money figuring all of this out and making sure they send the right amount to each state and municipality where their consumers reside. The more companies are burdened with new mandates like this, the less time and money they have to grow their businesses and create new jobs.”
Brick-and-mortar stores that sell goods over the Internet and are required to collect sales taxes have long argued that they are at a disadvantage when compared to many online sales tax-free Internet retailers. If passed, the bill would empower states to require businesses to collect taxes for products they sell on the Internet, in catalogs and through radio and TV ads.
The Internet sales tax bill is expected to face a much tougher time in the House.
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) implied Tuesday that the online sales tax legislation that easily cleared the Senate was not one of the House’s top priorities, according to news reports.
