Online stores need to pay taxes, too

People who conduct business out of their homes should be praised for their business and personal fortitude. However, if they are forced to collect individual state taxes, “there will be an app for that,” or some reasonable way for them to do it without lawyers and accountants. It will be an extra burden but not one that will put them out of business.

States need the income, and it’s not fair that brick-and-mortar stores (which already bear the costs of huge overheads) should also be the only ones who must be less competitive because others do not charge sales tax. I think it’s so wrong for a consumer to go to a store, handle the merchandise, grill the salesperson with technical questions, and then leave the store to “think about it” when, in fact, they go home and order it online to save a few bucks. Do the right thing. Collect the sales tax and be a big boy like the rest of them. If you are a consumer and intend to purchase online, stay out of the store.

Thomas Reeber

Livingston, Texas