Should Shoppers Pay Internet Sales Tax?

U-T San Diego -- Should shoppers pay Internet sales tax?

Norm Miller, University of San Diego, ANSWER: YES

For the sake of equity in the face of ever increasing on-line sales there is no choice but to impose sales taxes on vendors. Imposing this burden will trigger a wave of third party vendors who will track all the various sales tax districts and automatically calculate, collect and assist in payments to local governments which will allow small to mid-size vendors to comply. Until these third party vendors fully emerge the burden on small vendors will be disproportionate, so it would be wise to provide a fairly slow phase-in period with some more generous exemptions for the very smallest vendors. (Full Story)