Comment Re:United Kingdom (Score 1) 762
There are certain categories of product in the UK that Amazon must charge VAT and then pay that to the Gov; if they can do it here - and elsewhere in Europe - why not in the US?
From a technical (as opposed to a legal standpoint) the problem is that both the sales tax rate and the types of products to which the sales tax applies is set individually by each state, and in some cases, by individual cities or counties. According to wikipedia, Michigan charges a 6% sales tax on books, but no sales on magazines, while Texas exempts "school supplies" from its 6.25% to 8.25% sales tax (rate depends on the location) one weekend each year.
From a technical (as opposed to a legal standpoint) the problem is that both the sales tax rate and the types of products to which the sales tax applies is set individually by each state, and in some cases, by individual cities or counties. According to wikipedia, Michigan charges a 6% sales tax on books, but no sales on magazines, while Texas exempts "school supplies" from its 6.25% to 8.25% sales tax (rate depends on the location) one weekend each year.