[bbq]

> Amazon supports federal legislation that would explicitly let states require tax collections by all online retailers above a certain size.

This would give Amazon a huge competitive advantage (given their existing infrastructure). Of course they support this.

[adventured]

They get hit with flack coming or going. If they're against online taxes, then they're accused of not doing their fair share to support government coffers, or they're accused of getting an unfair competitive advantage (per offline retailers).

It's similar to Walmart's minimum wage support. If Walmart were against minimum wage increases, their opponents would lambast them for it. If they're in favor of it, they get accused of only being in favor of it because they know they can more easily afford it compared to smaller retailers.

[bbq]

You're right, I said this accusingly and that's unproductive. I think legislation like this should exist. I don't think it's right to ignore the advantage (assuming we accept they have one here) and the legislation should take it into account.

[justinsb]

Amazon fought tooth and nail against paying sales tax, even in states where they clearly had a presence (California in particular).

Now that they agreed to start paying sales tax going forward (in return for no back-penalties), they are lobbying for their competitors to have to pay sales tax as well.

They are also building warehouses in-state now and trying to compete on speed of delivery, which is a more respectable way to compete against out-of-state rivals.

[RodericDay]

poor walmart, poor amazon