February 08, 2001 ABA Renews E-Fairness Efforts As Congress convened this January, ABA renewed its efforts to ensure the equitable collection of sales tax on Internet purchases. "Our strategy for 2001 has two prongs," said Oren Teicher, ABA's COO. On the federal level, the association will continue to urge Congress to carefully weigh the needs of both e-commerce and bricks-and-mortar retailers. Specifically, any legislation extending the federal Internet tax moratorium should make clear that it has nothing whatsoever to do with state sales taxes already on the books, and in no way should be construed by the states and/or localities as interfering with the enforcement of their existing laws. At the state level, ABA is encouraging booksellers to contact their state taxing authorities to urge equitable enforcement of existing laws. If these efforts fail to elicit an adequate response, booksellers are being urged to institute efforts in their state legislatures (as has been done in California) requiring the taxing authority to enforce the law. ABA is in the process of identifying those states where this kind of legislative initiative would make sense. With regard to the federal effort, last week ABA President Neal Coonerty sent a letter to the Senate and House majority and minority leaders urging that "any legislation to extend the current Internet tax moratorium must include a comprehensive solution that will both foster the growth of the Internet and provide equitable tax treatment for all retailers. Extending the existing moratorium without including language allowing the states to require collection from all retailers will mean at least five more years of tax-free sales for Internet retailers, and a strong likelihood that Internet sales will be given permanent preferential treatment, thereby harming both traditional retailers and our communities." A copy of the letter is available in the 2/12/01 issue of BTW and online at www.BookWeb.org/news/pressroom/4199.html. ABA is urging booksellers to adapt this letter to send to their senators and representatives in Congress, or to forward a copy of the Coonerty letter with a brief covering note. The association is requesting that booksellers forward a copy of their e-fairness letters to the attention of Scott McKinstry either via e-mail to [email protected]; via fax to (914) 591?2724; or via mail to ABA, 828 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591. Teicher said, "Knowing that our members have written helps enormously when we're talking to members of Congress." ABA soon plans to distribute a sample letter to be sent to state taxing authorities, along with additional information about the California legislative effort. -Rosemary Hawkins Topics: Internet Commerce, Fair Trade Practices, About ABA, Sales Tax Initiative,