ARLINGTON — Congressman Marc Veasey, TX-33 was joined recently by U.S. Reps. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, Councilman Jimmy Bennett, Bill Porter, Mayor Cluck and Arlington business owners at a press conference in support of the Marketplace Fairness Act.
The act is proposed bipartisan legislation in Congress that would allow states to collect sales and use taxes from out-of-state retailers, as well as streamline sales tax laws.
Arlington Camera hosted the gathering as part of its support of the legislation. Owner, Bill Porter, shared a personal account of his own struggles competing with vendors that do not have to charge sales tax.
“As I saw here today, it is clear that Congress must address the ability of cities and states to collect sales taxes from online and catalog retailers,” said Rep. Veasey. “This inequity allows online companies to play by a different set of rules.”
“As of now, if an online retailer does not have a physical presence within a state, they are not required to collect and remit sales tax there,” Veasey continued. “This loophole, created before the Internet, gives online-only companies an unfair advantage. This special treatment also means that cities and states lose millions of dollars in revenue that would go to local schools, police and fire departments, as well as road and bridge maintenance.”
“That is why I am proud to serve as a cosponsor of H.R. 684, the Marketplace Fairness Act, that not only allows states to levy sales taxes on online purchases but also allows each state to decide how best to do so while protecting consumers,” he said.
Veasey added, “I look forward to working with my colleagues like Congressman Barton on a bipartisan basis to ensure that the House follows suit and we pass this important legislation as soon as possible.”
