search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
    • Breaking Flooring News
    • eNewsletters
  • PRODUCTS
    • Carpet & Area Rugs
    • Hardwood
    • Installation Products
    • Installation Tools & Equipment
    • Laminate
    • Resilient
    • Specialty
    • Tile & Stone
  • A&D
  • INSTALLATION
  • MARKETS
    • Commercial
    • Residential
  • AWARDS
    • Installation Awards
    • Top Flooring Products
  • EDUCATION
    • Continuing Education
    • Webinars
    • Sponsored Insights
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MEDIA
    • FLOOR Podcast
    • Videos
    • TISE 2025 Videos
    • eBooks
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP
Breaking Flooring News

WFCA supports legislation to collect taxes from online businesses

November 16, 2011


A new bill has been introduced in the Senate with bipartisan support to give states options to collect sales taxes from out-of-state online businesses, according to the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA).

Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) along with seven other senators introduced a measure in early November that would close a nearly 20-year-old loophole and provide a simpler method to collect sales taxes from Internet retailers rather than relying on consumers to pay, the association noted.

Durbin had earlier introduced a bill labeled the “Main Street Fairness Act” geared to accomplish the same goal, which the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) endorsed. That proposed legislation failed to attract any Republican support. Much of what was in the Durbin bill has been incorporated into this new proposed legislation.

“This will empower states to make the decision themselves,” Senator Enzi said. “If they choose to collect already existing sales taxes on all purchases, regardless of whether the sale was online or in a store, they can. If they want to keep things the way they are, it’s a state choice.”

This bill would close a loophole created in a 1992 Supreme Court decision that exempted retailers who had no physical presence in a state from collecting sales taxes in that state. At the time, the ruling was targeted at catalog purchases, but the explosion of Internet sales has since radically altered the retail landscape.

The legislation would streamline over 7,500 local tax systems, which at the time of the ruling, the Supreme Court said were too complicated for a retailer to determine the right amount of tax to collect.

Like Senator Durbin, the WFCA now is backing the new proposed legislation. “Our objective all along has been to level the playing field between ‘bricks and mortar’ retailers and etailers,” said D. Christopher Davis, president & ceo, WFCA. “This bill appears to be one many on both sides of the aisle can support and pass into law, and that is the end game.”

The Senate bill provides states with two options to meet certain requirements, including agreeing to voluntarily participate in the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. A total of 24 states have permanently changed their tax laws and implemented the requirements of the agreement, which would help harmonize states’ sales and use tax rules.

Alternatively, states that do not wish to join the group would be allowed to collect the taxes only if they adopt certain minimum simplification requirements – setting up a single state agency through which retailers can send the taxes, providing a uniform sales and use tax base, providing software to help collect taxes and protecting remote sellers from liability for mistakes made in collections if the information was provided by the state.

The legislation allows sellers that make less than $500,000 in total sales in the year preceding the sale to qualify for an exemption and not be required to collect the tax.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • resilient flooring

    The 7 Types of Resilient Flooring

    The resilient flooring category is comprised of many...
    Resilient Flooring
    By: Resilient Floorcovering Institute
  • QuickDrain USA’s ShowerLine linear drain

    Tips for Curbless Shower Installation Using a Linear Drain

    Consider these four tips when planning for a curbless...
    Flooring Installation Products
    By: Darryl Jones
  • 2024 New Flooring Product Guide

    2024 New Flooring Products Guide

    We explore this year's introductions in area rugs,...
    Residential Flooring
    By: FLOOR Trends & Installation Editors
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the FLOOR Trends & Installation audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of FLOOR Trends & Installation or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Woodura Herringbone 2.0
    Sponsored byBjelin

    The Herringbone Floor of the Future

Popular Stories

company branding

Branding and Marketing Strategies for Flooring Contractors

Mimi Mulugeta and Michael Barrows

Military Vet Trades Retirement for New Flooring Venture in Alpharetta

how to properly trowel adhesive

Flooring Adhesives Education: The Key to Preventing Costly Installation Failures


Download the Free Moisture Meters Guide

Events

December 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Growth Challenges in the Flooring Industry

What’s holding you back from growth in 2025?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

2025 BNI Interiors Square Foot Costbook

2025 BNI Interiors Square Foot Costbook

See More Products

FLOORtalk podcasts - Listen Now

Related Articles

  • WFCA Searches for New Exec Dir of CFI.jpg

    WFCA Partners with CHIPD to Offer Members Online Payment Solution

    See More
  • WFCA creates online videos designed to help consumers

    See More
  • NRF-logo

    NRF Says Congress Needs to Act on Online Sales Tax Collection

    See More
×

We’re rolling out the red carpet of flooring knowledge!

Stay in the know on the latest flooring retail trends.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing