Lame!

[Ktulu]

I live in washington, so this isn't anything new or different from a regular purchase I've made. Just like how I can go tax free if I trip down to Oregon, you'll have to pay that sales tax when buying from stuff in WA.

Meh. No biggy to me.

 

[Mishihari Lord]

Well technically you have to pay tax on stuff you buy online... you just have to report it on your tax return... You all do that RIGHT????

I've heard that quite a few times, but it's got me confused. I remember from high school history class that only the federal government is allowed to control/regulate/tax interstate transactions. So how is it that they can get away with this. If any lawyers or other knowledgable people could comment I'd be very interested.

 

[Glyfair]

I've heard that quite a few times, but it's got me confused. I remember from high school history class that only the federal government is allowed to control/regulate/tax interstate transactions. So how is it that they can get away with this. If any lawyers or other knowledgable people could comment I'd be very interested.

I don't know the rationale behind the internet taxes discussed here. However, PA has a "use" tax on items that are taxable in PA that are bought elsewhere. That's how they get around that bit.

 

[Scribble]

Word!

They didn't end up charging me any tax after all!

 

[Cadfan]

I've heard that quite a few times, but it's got me confused. I remember from high school history class that only the federal government is allowed to control/regulate/tax interstate transactions. So how is it that they can get away with this. If any lawyers or other knowledgable people could comment I'd be very interested.

They're not regulating interstate commerce. The fact that there is a transaction taking place between you and WOTC is irrelevant to the fact that your decision to purchase stuff is regulated by your laws, and WOTC's decision to sell you stuff is regulated by theirs.

Or to put it another way, California can't require a Pennsylvanian resident to pay Californian sales tax. But California can require a Californian business to collect Californian sales tax when it sells something to you, a resident of Pennsylvania. This turns out to amount to the same thing, but that's how it goes.