Context for E-commerce Sales Tax Estimate
Last week the Board of Equalization released its updated e-commerce revenue estimate. The Legislature and others have long cast their attention on e-commerce revenues. It is true there are many taxable transactions from which tax is not being collected from either the Sales tax, which must be collected by companies that have California nexus, or Use tax from individuals and businesses who order something from the Internet and use or consume purchases in California.
The report states, “We now estimate annual revenue losses of $1.085 billion in calendar year 2009 (to be remitted in fiscal year 2009-10). Of the total, $600 million are owed by consumers and $485 million were unpaid by businesses. These revenues are spread among approximately 12.7 million households and 2.9 million businesses.”
This may seem like a big number, but look more closely at the math. “Unpaid sales and use tax liabilities in 2009-10 average $166 per year for each California business, and $47 per year for each California household.” To recover these unpaid liabilities, the Board staff would need to go after all these individuals and businesses. Right now it cannot be… Read More