Georgia passes on-line sales tax
Clinton Bourgeois
Story Created:
Oct 3, 2012 at 6:16 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Oct 3, 2012 at 6:48 PM EDT
On-line shopping has become widely popular. Consumers can find anything they need with leaving the comfort of their home, and for the most part, tax free. Until now.
"Now, if you're in Georgia and you order from any on-line retailer, your going to be responsible for sales tax," said local business owner Johnny Rohrbeck.
Previously shoppers were not required to a tax when shopping on-line with companies outside the state and sites like Amazon, Overstock, and Zappo's, who do not have brick and mortar locations. But taxes were enforced when shopping at retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and Home Depot since stores are located in the state.
"This will take it(tax) outside of the state," said Rohrbeck.
Rohrbeck owns Valor Candles here in Macon. He says since he is based out of Georgia, the move doesn't affect him much, but if the sales tax law went nationwide it could pose problems.
"As a small business owner, I will probably have a quite of reporting to have to do for every county that has a different tax rate," he said.
But since it's a state law, Rohrbeck says it will be more of a frustration for Georgia consumers who shop on-line at sites outside of the state.
Shopper's like Macon's Michael Hutto, who doesn't mind.
"I'm sure that they're trying to think of a way to create additional funding for the state," said Hutto.
The tax is expected to cost the average on-line shopper an estimated $167 per year and will raise an extra $18 million every year with the new on-line sales tax.
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