VRMA Celebrates Signing of Amazon Sales Tax Bill

(Richmond, Virginia)A battle for tax equality among businesses has come to an end.  Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has signed the sales tax fairness bill into law, ensuring that all retailers will be required to pay the same sales taxes in the Commonwealth.  The bill was strongly supported by the Virginia Retail Merchants Association (VRMA) and retailers across Virginia.

Businesses with a physical presence in Virginia are required to pay state sales tax on online purchases made by individuals with a Virginia address.  Amazon.com, which has a warehouse in Northern Virginia and two distribution centers planned for south of Richmond, has been using a loophole to avoid those taxes.  The bill signed by the governor, which was introduced by Senator Frank Wagner, closes that loophole.  As part of an agreement with the governor, Amazon will begin collecting sales taxes on purchases made by Virginians in September of 2013.

“We appreciate the efforts by Governor McDonnell and Senator Wagner on behalf of the retailers of the Commonwealth,” said VRMA Governmental Affairs Director Jodi Roth.  “We would also like to thank officials at Amazon, who were willing to negotiate to bring sales tax fairness to Virginia.”

For more information on the e-fairness issue in Virginia and across the country, please visit http://standwithmainstreet.com.

About VRMA
The Virginia Retail Merchants Association (VRMA), established in 1905, is a not-for-profit trade association representing retailers to educate, inform, and serve as a resource. VRMA and its retail member associations represent more than 5,400 retailers and other associated businesses throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.  For more information, please visit www.virginiaretail.org.

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