New taxes to vendors online. Speaking with Republican Representative Jim Kelly, he gave us notes on the final few weeks of the session. Stating after an original tax plan was vetoed by governor Kelly, they came up with a hopeful revision. Included in the bill is a state sales tax to online merchants, after not having to pay state sales tax for sometime, online merchants will now have to provide that tax in their price. Representative Kelly thinks this part of the new tax plan is positive for the economy and the business owner downtown. He stated some individuals will go into local businesses, ask about a product seeming interested, which prompts the owner to order that product. Great service right? Some will just go home and order that product online after receiving great service, but found a better price. Kelly is hopeful this will discourage that.

Many major online based corporations have had to collect state sales tax if they reside inside state lines. But if they do not and their affiliated merchant does, they, for a long time did not have to include sales tax. Driving sales away from the community and the state.

A struggle for some local businesses with some online merchants getting to surpass state tax, is going to end.