Ayotte Fights Renewed Efforts to Pass Online Sales Tax

Press Release

Following reports that the Senate Majority Leader plans to force a vote on onerous online sales tax legislation, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) took to the Senate floor today to renew her opposition to burdensome online sales tax requirements that would hurt online retailers in New Hampshire and across the nation. She expressed concern regarding plans to attach the mis-named "Marketplace Fairness Act" to a separate bill, the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA), which would extend the current ban on new Internet access taxes. The current moratorium, which prevents state and local governments from imposing new taxes on the Internet, is set to expire in November.

"It's wrong that the Majority Leader is pushing forward with an online sales tax bill by attaching it to the Internet Tax Freedom Act, which should be voted on by itself," said Senator Ayotte. "I've fought to protect online retailers in New Hampshire and across the country from the onerous online sales tax bill, which would force them to become tax collectors for nearly 10,000 jurisdictions nationwide. While we should take up and pass the Internet Tax Freedom Act right away, it makes no sense to pair it with the Internet sales tax collection bill, which obviously undermines Internet freedom."

Senator Ayotte has worked diligently to protect New Hampshire Internet businesses from online sales tax requirements, which would require online retailers to collect sales taxes for nearly 10,000 jurisdictions across the country. Yesterday, she helped lead a bipartisan group in urging Senate leadership to extend the ITFA without any sales tax measures in order to provide certainty to the marketplace and ensure that the Internet continues to be a driving force for jobs and economic growth. She also recently introduced an amendment aimed at blocking Internet sales tax legislation.

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