Maine trolling sheople for more $$$

[maineiac]

There's a big push going on over here to collect "use" taxes. Those are defined as the sales taxes levied on purchases from out-of-state; internet, catalog, or otherwise.

Spending God Knows how much on ceaseless television advertisements, the govgoons here are "offering" to "waive" the taxes, in the 3 years out of the last 6 years with the least amounts due, when anyone comes forward to pay said taxes. "It's the right thing to do," solemnly intones the commercial's actor, implying that everyone's a naughty, thieving schoolchild, purloining the collection money to lavish upon himself someone's perception of extravagence.

Funny and vile and disgusting, all at one time!

???

[aries]

Highest taxed state in the country, isn't it? Or at least one of em

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Of course, do you think the machine wants to miss out on a few internet sales?  I mean, what do they care how their local businesses are doing, as long as the gubmint don't starve.




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[cathleeninnh]

I think all the states with sales taxes have a use tax. In the past it was virtually never enforced, but they are getting diligent and creative lately in their detection methods. I wonder how successful this pressure for voluntary compliance can turn out to be. Massachusetts has an offer to "pay X and forget even keeping track". I remember a church in SC being assessed huge fines for outfitting a youth program building with internet purchased equipment and not paying up the use tax. I have never known anyone to volunteer/pay any use tax.

Cathleen