Which Way, L.A.?
Amazon, Traditional Business and the California Ballot
The US Supreme Court ruled in 1992 that online retailers don't have to collect sales tax unless they have a physical presence in the state.
The US Supreme Court ruled in 1992 that online retailers don't have to collect sales tax unless they have a physical presence in the state. Amazon is headquartered in Washington State, but Governor Brown has just signed a new law requiring it to pay taxes in California, on the grounds that Amazon's so-called "affiliates" give it a "presence" here. Amazon is trying to qualify a referendum for next year asking voters to turn that around.