Post by CMF Newsman on Jul 25, 2012 6:15:03 GMT -5
NASHVILLE — Gov. Bill Haslam urged a congressional committee Tuesday to pass legislation allowing Tennessee and other states to collect sales taxes on items residents buy from out-of-state online retailers and catalog companies.
"This discussion isn't about raising taxes or adding new taxes. This is about states having the flexibility and authority to collect taxes that are already owed by their own in-state residents," he told members of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
Haslam, who appeared on behalf of the National Governors Association, said Tennessee is not alone when it comes to losing out on substantial revenues that are owed but not collected by online retailers.
Tennessee's revenue loss is about $400 million annually, money the state could use to cut taxes elsewhere as well as for needs such as infrastructure and higher education, he said. "Let me be clear," Haslam told committee members. "I am a Republican governor that does not believe in increasing taxes."
www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jul/25/haslam-urges-federal-fix-for-web-taxes/
"This discussion isn't about raising taxes or adding new taxes. This is about states having the flexibility and authority to collect taxes that are already owed by their own in-state residents," he told members of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
Haslam, who appeared on behalf of the National Governors Association, said Tennessee is not alone when it comes to losing out on substantial revenues that are owed but not collected by online retailers.
Tennessee's revenue loss is about $400 million annually, money the state could use to cut taxes elsewhere as well as for needs such as infrastructure and higher education, he said. "Let me be clear," Haslam told committee members. "I am a Republican governor that does not believe in increasing taxes."
www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jul/25/haslam-urges-federal-fix-for-web-taxes/