Laugh all you want - Maryland comptroller (and former Governor) William
Schaefer is trying to track down "use tax dodgers" in MD. This is a notable
"problem" in Maryland, since we're remarkably close to Delaware--which has
no sales tax. Since I alternate back and forth between Boston and
Baltimore, and since the Maryland government is an incompetent shibboleth,
I'm not too worried about being hounded for receipts - but you never know.
Yesterday's absurdity is tomorrow's policy - as always.
(By the way, has anyone read or heard any attempts to justify the "use tax"
by government financiers? Is anyone capable of saying with a straight face,
"Purchases made outside of a given state should benefit that state's tax
coffers"?)
-JP
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: Ignorance, Taxation, and Making Amends
>Date: Thu Jun 29 11:49:32 2000
>
>In the 6/29/00 issue of the Wall Street Journal, specifically a lengthy
>article on the revival of legislation dealing with internet taxation, the
>following comment was made:
>
>* * * * * * *
>Everyone knows how sales taxes work, but few people realize that they are
>supposed to pay that same tax to their state government every time they buy
>a product outside the state's borders. This is called a "use tax." For
>instance, if a person lives in New York and buys a stereo system in
>Connecticut -- either via the Internet or by mail -- he or she is required
>to keep the receipt and pay the home-state tax at year's end. Most states
>provide a line on annual tax forms to remit the tax. Few people pay this
>use tax, though, because most don't understand it, aren't aware it exists,
>or know states can't really enforce it. Most states don't bother to crack
>down, but this tax loophole could become a major problem as Internet sales
>proliferate.
>
>* * * * * *
>I feel like I’m the last person on the planet who’s heard of this tax.
>Wow! This is my favorite type of tax wedge – the “imaginary tax wedge”
>However, I feel like I’ve been depriving my local Statehouse of its fair
>share of tax dollars. I implore all list members to reopen their files for
>the last three tax years, compute their respective shortfall, and then pay
>the amount with interest and penalty. If our local governments can’t
>count on the Armchair List members to do the right thing, then how can they
>expect the same from the rest of the citizenry? Lead on. I’ll be right
>behind you.
>
>New York, NY
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