Electronic Retailer - December 2011 - 9

INDUSTRY REPORTS

Electronic Retailers Oppose New Online Sales Tax Proposals
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Electronic Retailing Association (ERA) has come out against new legislation that would give states the authority to collect sales tax from online retailers that do not have a physical presence in the state in question. Julie Coons, president and CEO of ERA, made the following statement regarding the introduction of the mislabeled “e-fairness proposals”: “New and misguided remote tax schemes will represent a dramatic blow to electronic retailers struggling to survive in these harsh economic times. New regulatory burdens and draconian cost increases would significantly damage both the marketplace and the consumers who rely on it. “ERA and its collective membership strongly urge Congress to protect electronic retailers, both large and small from these efforts and continue their support of our entrepreneurial work to create jobs and help stabilize the economy. Currently, electronic retailers are only required to collect sales tax from out-of-state customers only if they have a physical presence such as a store.” In November, Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) introduced the Marketplace Fairness Act, which was co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of Republicans and Democrats. The bill is similar to the Marketplace Equity Act, which was introduced to the House in mid-October. ERA also opposes that bill. eBay was one of the first electronic retailers to speak out against the Marketplace Fairness Act. “This is another internet sales tax bill that fails to protect small business retailers using the internet and will unbalance the playing field between giant retailers and small business competitors. It does not make sense to expand internet sales tax burdens on small businesses at a time when we want entrepreneurs to create jobs and economic activity,” Tod Cohen, vice president for government relations and deputy general counsel at eBay Inc., said in a statement. Under the 1992 U.S. Supreme Court Quill v. North Dakota decision, the court found that the 45 state and 7,600 local sales tax systems across the country were too complicated for an electronic retailer to realistically know how much tax to collect and remit. What can you do to help ERA in the fight against legislation that could hurt

ERA opposes legislation that would allow states to collect sales tax from online retailers.

the electronic retailing industry? Get involved with the ERA Government Affairs Committee and attend the Washington in Miami Networking Reception on February 28 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The event will feature high-powered special guests and will help raise funds for ERA’s E-Retail Political Action Committee (PAC), the most important advocacy effort in the direct-to-consumer marketing industry.

Dial800 Named to Inc. 5000

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Dia l800 has been named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 for 2011. The magazine, which ranks America’s fastest growing privately-held companies each year, made the announcement as part of its annual fall survey. Inc. recognizes companies that have posted an

extraordinary three-year growth rate from among the more than 7 million private, employee-based firms it estimates are in the U.S. “Our inclusion in this year’s Inc. 5000 is a direct reflection of the success we’ve had helping our customers optimize their marketing and advertising campaigns,” commented Dial800 CEO Scott Richards. He continued, “During a time of great economic challenge, it is also a tribute to the passion and commitment that the Dial800 team has to serving our clients.”

The company, which has posted an impressive three-year growth rate of 68 percent, provides marketing optimization tools for advertisers’ internet and media campaigns, including call routing, phone call tracking software, and memorable toll free numbers that increase inbound response and backend sales.

ERA Members Take Home EMPixx Awards
SANIBEL, Fla. – The American Pixel Academy recently honored two member 9

December 2011 | electronicRETAILER

Electronic Retailer - December 2011

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