Internet Lawyers Specializing in Website Agreements, E-Commerce Contracts & Internet Law

Will New York Online Sales Tax Legislation Kill E-Commerce?

eTail dTail Blog: Will New York Online Sales Tax Legislation Kill E-Commerce?

The headline for this entry may be drastic, but the bill that passed in the New York State legislature last week may have huge ramifications to e-commerce/mobile commerce, to how online retailers interact with their clients, and to how consumers shop online into the future.

The good news, if you are one who does not like online sales taxes, is that this recent move by the state of New York is not new. The Illinois legislature demanded onlines sales tax to be paid in 2003 and some larger retailers actually voluntarily paid these taxes to some states that demanded it. But, overall, there was no logical enforcement policy for all online merchants to pay the online sales tax, so people have simply ignored attempts by several states to enforce their laws and ensure that companies and consumers pay online sales taxes for purchases by residents in their respective state.

Furthermore, there is a lobbying organization representing 30 states that has tried to enforce an online sales tax code, but they started in 2000 and have had little success in passing legislation at the national level or enforcing laws at the state and local level.

Technorati Tags: e-commerce, sales tax, new york

New York Legislature Passes “Amazon Tax” Bill into Law: Online retailers must begin collecting sales tax on purchases shipped to New York

We recently posted about the so-called “Amazon Tax” in New York here.  Last night, the New York Legislature passed a Bill that requires online retailers to begin collecting sales taxes on purchases shipped to the state, even if they have no operations or employees working there.  New York Governor David Paterson is expected to sign the measure soon.

How to Avoid Email Blacklists, How to Be Removed If Your Email Ends up in the Blacklist Database

Email Blacklists “Kind Of A Crazy Thing”: How to avoid, how to be removed

What is an email blacklist?

Email blacklists are compiled by industry watchers who track down the originating servers for emails that have the earmarks of spam. The resulting lists of web hosts, domains or IP addresses are used by anti-spam software companies, Internet service providers and corporate IT departments to determine what emails get through.

E-Commerce CLE: Protecting Your Brand in Cyberspace

Protecting Your Brand in Cyberspace - West LegalEdcenter

The Internet can be a scary place for intellectual property. Online content creators and owners are susceptible to theft, counterfeiting, and worse at the hands of skilled pirates who know the ins and outs of technology and the law. Only businesses and attorneys with the knowledge to protect their trademarks, and their online content will be able to preserve the quality of their brand name and their revenue stream.

Amazon Tax: Sales Tax Proposed for e-commerce Affiliate Sites in New York

InternetNews Realtime IT News – N.Y. Lawmakers Near Vote on 'Amazon Tax'

As New York lawmakers hash out the state's budget, one contentious issue may have a dramatic impact beyond the Empire State: A provision requiring many online retailers to collect sales tax on state residents' purchases.

The provision, now facing a coming vote as part of state legislators' 11th-hour efforts to pass a state budget, could require e-tailers to collect taxes even if they have no employees or offices within the state.

If signed into law with the budget, the so-called "Amazon tax" would apply to merchants offering commissions in exchange for customer referrals, a practice known among Internet retailers as an affiliate program.

Many online retailers, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Buy.com, have programs that allow individuals or organizations to include a link to the e-commerce site on their own Web page. The affiliate receives a commission for sales generated through the referral.

Technorati Tags: e-commerce, affiliate, amazon