Copyright 2000 The Seattle Times Company
The
Seattle Times
January 3, 2000, Monday Night Final Edition
SECTION: EDITORIAL; Pg. B5; LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
LENGTH: 179 words
HEADLINE:
TAXING THE INTERNET|ONLINE SALES SHOULD BE TREATED THE SAME AS CATALOG SALES
BODY:
In The Times Dec. 22 editorial ("For the
online world, the taxman cometh"), you suggest a national sales
tax be collected to compensate state and local governments for revenue
lost to Internet sales. We don't need new
taxes.
The Internet is bringing new markets, new jobs,
better wages and a stronger economy - all of which boost tax
receipts.
Sales taxes "lost" on
Internet transactions amount to barely one-eighth of 1 percent
of total state and local sales-tax collections.
Internet commerce has led to a nationwide increase in taxable
sales of nearly 10 percent this year.
Local
taxes pay for schools, highways welfare and public safety.
Internet businesses located in distant states don't use our state's
infrastructure, why should they pay state and local taxes here?
Under
the logic of The Seattle Times editorial, we will need a "buggy-whip
tax" on automobiles because they threaten to put horse-drawn
buggies out of business. Internet sales should be treated the
same as catalog sales over the telephone. We don't need new
taxes. Fred McGee Redmon.
LOAD-DATE:
January 5, 2000 
