Amazon.com doesn’t like NC sales tax proposal

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 1, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) ó Amazon.com has threatened to cut off sales commissions in North Carolina for referrals to the online retailer if a new tax proposal becomes law.

Multiple media outlets reported Thursday the Legislature is considering a way to collect sales taxes for so-called “click-through” transactions.

Web site operators posting links to the company about its products receive up to a 15 percent cut on sales. Lawmakers wants to use the arrangements to collect sales tax on the purchases.

Amazon wrote a letter saying commissions would end if the provision became law. Patty Smith with Seattle-based Amazon said North Carolina would be violating the U.S. constitution.

State Sen. David Hoyle said the state should collect sales tax on Internet sales just like it would for a brick-and-mortar store transaction.